The 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards take place on Monday, November 2, 2026, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, with Keke Palmer as host. Anthony Vaccarello is this year's International Designer of the Year, and Tory Burch leads the field as both a womenswear nominee and the Positive Change honoree.
CFDA Awards 2026 at a glance
| Date | Monday, November 2, 2026 |
| Venue | American Museum of Natural History, New York (fourth year there) |
| Host | Keke Palmer |
| Presented by | Amazon Fashion |
| Presenters | Lupita Nyong'o, Matt Damon, Naomi Osaka, Cole Escola |
| International Designer of the Year | Anthony Vaccarello, Saint Laurent |
Who is nominated for the 2026 CFDA Awards?
The Council of Fashion Designers of America announced four competitive categories with five nominees each, as reported by FashionUnited and Daily Front Row.
| Category | Nominees | Presenter |
|---|---|---|
| American Womenswear Designer of the Year | Catherine Holstein (Khaite), Michael Kors, Rachel Scott (Diotima), Tory Burch, Wes Gordon (Carolina Herrera) | Lupita Nyong'o |
| American Menswear Designer of the Year | Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne (Public School New York), Ralph Lauren, Thom Browne, Todd Snyder, Willy Chavarria | Matt Damon |
| American Accessory Designer of the Year | Ana Khouri, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (The Row), Raul Lopez (Luar), Sophie Buhai, Stuart Vevers (Coach) | Naomi Osaka |
| Google American Emerging Designer of the Year | Colleen Allen, Emily Dawn Long, Julia Ferentinos (Juju Vera), Julian Louie (Aubero), Zane Li (Lii) | Cole Escola |
Rachel Scott is worth watching: alongside her own label, Diotima, she now also designs Proenza Schouler, where Harper's Bazaar Singapore reports she debuted in February 2026.
Who are this year's honorees?
| Award | Honoree |
|---|---|
| International Designer of the Year | Anthony Vaccarello, Saint Laurent |
| Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award | Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin |
| Positive Change Award | Tory Burch |
| Founder's Award in honor of Eleanor Lambert | Linda Fargo |
| Media Award in honor of Eugenia Sheppard | Eva Chen |
| Isabel Toledo Board of Directors' Tribute | Susan Cianciolo |
The CFDA said more presenters for the honoree awards will be announced closer to the night.
Why does the Vaccarello award matter this year?
Vaccarello has led Saint Laurent since 2016, and the CFDA's recognition comes as his departure from the house has become public. That turns his International Designer of the Year moment into something closer to a send-off. We covered the exit and the succession question in our story on Anthony Vaccarello leaving Saint Laurent.
It is also a reminder of how much the industry has shifted in 2026. Creative directors have left or moved at Alexander McQueen, Calvin Klein and others. See our report on Veronica Leoni leaving Calvin Klein.
How can I watch the CFDA Fashion Awards?
The CFDA has not announced a public livestream. The ceremony is a private, invitation-only event, so the best way to follow it is through the CFDA's website and social channels on the evening of November 2, when winners and red-carpet photos are expected to be shared.
What to watch on the night
- Tory Burch's double: a womenswear nomination and the Positive Change Award.
- Menswear heavyweights: Ralph Lauren and Thom Browne face newer names such as Willy Chavarria and Todd Snyder.
- The Olsens' The Row in the accessories race against Coach's Stuart Vevers and Luar's Raul Lopez.
- The red carpet: with presenters including Lupita Nyong'o, Matt Damon and Naomi Osaka, arrivals will be one of the season's biggest New York style moments.
Published Monday, October 19, 2026. Nominee, honoree and presenter details are from the CFDA, FashionUnited and Daily Front Row.
