New York City has seen its share of high-profile fashion moments, but the upcoming arrival of the Unique Fashion Show feels like something the city has not experienced before. More than a runway event, UFS positions itself as a cultural crossroads, a place where creativity, diplomacy, sustainability, and technology are meant to meet in one shared space.
On January 31, 2026, Park Avenue will host the 6th International Edition of the global showcase. The choice of New York speaks to the city’s role as a cultural capital where new ideas move quickly and where global perspectives are not only welcomed but expected.
The Unique Fashion Show has spent the last several years expanding its reach across Europe and Asia, with its Paris 2025 edition earning critical praise for the way it blended design with technology and cultural storytelling. Now the organisation is looking to New York to continue that evolution. The 2026 edition carries official support from the French Ministry of Culture, the Georgian Tourism Association, and several international institutions that see the event as more than fashion entertainment. They view it as an opportunity for cross-cultural collaboration.
The event’s media presence will be powered by Paris Runway Official, a major global fashion platform with a digital audience of more than 12 million viewers. Their involvement signals a high level of global visibility for designers selected to show in New York. Their network through magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Grazia, Marie Claire, and VOGUE brings a large international readership to the brands presenting at UFS.
For New York, the arrival of the show highlights a continued shift in how fashion functions in the city. It is no longer only about garments and collections. It is about conversations around sustainability, equity, technology, and how people want to express identity in both physical and digital worlds. UFS leans into this larger mission by creating space for artists, technologists, investors, and policymakers to participate in the same dialogue.
Gita Dzhavid, Founder and CEO of the Unique Fashion Show, describes New York as the next step in that global conversation. “New York allows us to open the door even wider for exchange. The city has always shaped culture, and we want to contribute to that story by bringing together creators who see fashion as a platform for ideas.”
The 2026 edition is expected to welcome more than 600 guests from across the world, along with thousands of additional viewers through an AI-powered Metaverse broadcast that will mirror the physical show in a virtual environment.
The schedule includes a curated runway presentation featuring 20 international designers, a showroom for business and retail connections, a two-day pop-up at a New York concept store, contemporary art installations, and multiple innovation programs that spotlight sustainability and digital design.
One of the major highlights of the event is the Sustainable Designers Contest, created in partnership with Sustainable Fashion Week US. The program showcases emerging and established designers who prioritise environmental responsibility. Winners will gain global visibility along with placement in post-event exhibitions.
Another feature is the AI and 3D Designers Contest, built around the theme of Self-Transformation. Created in collaboration with PROGENIUS STUDIO and supported by CHOICE, the contest invites creators to design digital garments and avatars that rethink identity, evolution, and self-expression through technology.
The show will also continue its Women Empowerment Initiative, supporting female designers and artisans from regions where creative opportunities are still limited. The initiative provides mentorship, visibility, and a platform for global cultural exchange.
This year’s featured artist is Chandra Li, known for her phygital approach that blends art and avatar design. Her installation, Women in Search of Freedom, examines identity in transition and reflects the emotional themes that run through much of the UFS program.
For New York City, the arrival of the Unique Fashion Show signals a forward-looking addition to the cultural landscape. It blends high fashion with social purpose and aims to position the city as a place where global perspectives and creative innovation continue to move the industry into the future.
About Unique Fashion Show
Unique Fashion Show (UFS) is a global phygital platform merging fashion, art, technology, and sustainability. Recognised by cultural institutions including the French Ministry of Culture, UFS continues to pioneer new models of responsible, digitally enhanced fashion presentation.
Designers worldwide are invited to apply for the NYC 2026 edition and join a global conversation where creativity meets purpose.
Apply via: https://www.unique-fashionshow.com/blank2