NEW CALL FASHION & RETAIL: Your brand in the spotlight during Antwerp.Fashion Festival 2026, with city’s support.

Antwerp.Fashion Festival 2026

From 4 to 7 June 2026, Antwerp will become the ultimate fashion stage with the brand new Antwerp Fashion Festival. This initiative is a collaboration between the city of Antwerp, Flanders District of Creativity and MoMu. The festival will feature shows, dynamic presentations and installations, talks and exhibitions.

The festival aims to showcase the city's fashion talent. We therefore invite Antwerp fashion designers and fashion entrepreneurs to showcase their brand, collection or installation in a unique setting, ideally within a shop or catering establishment, during the festival.

Showcase your fashion brand in a captivating way

During the festival, you can organise a unique event to present your brand, collection or fashion design. You may propose a location for the event but ideally, you will collaborate with an Antwerp entrepreneur who has a commercial premise in a main shopping or hospitality area(*), where you will visibly display your fashion installation. 

Make sure to submit your project proposal before 2 pm on 28 January 2026. If your project is selected, you will receive financial support from the city.

Who can submit a project

• Either you represent an SME in Antwerp, or your company has a demonstrable link with the Antwerp fashion ecosystem.
• You are an active high-end, premium or mid-range fashion brand or talent (including fashion accessories and jewellery).
• The design of your fashionbrand was created in Antwerp/Flanders.

What fashion projects can you submit

There are two kind of fashionprojects you can submit:

• Call 1: Show or dynamic presentation Showcase your fashion brand/collection with a unique, interactive performance at a location of your choice in an Antwerp main shopping and hospitality area(*).

• Call 2: Installation in an Antwerp retail space Present your brand or fashion design with a unique installation or event in collaboration with a shop, hospitality venue or studio located in a main shopping and hospitality area(*) in Antwerp. Your fashion project should complement the location's existing activities, offering added value to attract new audiences and maximise cross-pollination.

You organise the event/installation yourself. Public is welcome to visit your installation from 4 to 7 June 2026 [during the Antwerp.Fashion Festival] or during a longer period in which the festival is held.

During the festival, you will also organise an event in the presence of the fashion entrepreneur/ fashion designer and entrepreneur of the location where it takes place.

Financial support per project

You must contribute at least 50% of the total cost, which cannot include other government support. The city's funding only covers operating costs.

• Financial support for call 1 is capped at 20.000 euro per project.
• Financial support for call 2 is capped at 5.000 euro per project.

Click here to find out more about the main shopping and hospitality areas in Antwerp (NL).

Project leader Véronique De Bruyne will explain this call during two information webinars. She will explain all the conditions for receiving financial support and demonstrate how to submit your fashion project.

• Tuesday 6 January – 6 pm
• Thursday 8 January – 9 am

You will receive the webinar links upon confirmation of your registration. A reminder will be sent to you on 5^th January.

Do you have a project proposal that you would like to discuss in depth with a project manager? Meet them at the MoMu Café:

• Friday 16 January - 10 am to 1 pm
• Monday 19 January - 10 am to 1 pm

Criteria for receiving support

Applications for support must meet certain criteria. These are clearly described in the regulations and relate to:

• the extent to which the financial support will stimulate the project
• the budget and action plan
• the quality and uniqueness of the fashion project/concept
• cooperation with other entrepreneurs
• the expertise required to successfully implement the project
• The project will contribute to the strong (inter)national image of the Antwerp.Fashion Festival and demonstrate that Antwerp is an entrepreneurial city

Timing of decision on financial support

• This call was launched on 16 December 2025.
• You can submit your application on 28 January 2026 before 2 pm at the latest.
• The projects submitted on time will be assessed by a jury on 4 February 2026.
• If your project is selected, you will present it during a (virtual) Q&A session on 9 or 10 February 2026.
• The jury will then produce a report. The final selection and financial support for each project will be decided by the College of Mayor and Aldermen.
• The selected projects will be announced to the applicants on 6 March 2026.

 Send your question to veronique.debruyne@antwerpen.be and she will respond promptly.