Ao dai Fashion Week 2026: Honouring Vietnamese heritage on the international fashion stage
WVR - On March 8 in London, United Kingdom, the press conference and model casting for Ao dai Fashion Week 2026 (ADFW26) took place, attracting around 100 invited delegates and nearly 200 international professional models, students, and Vietnamese-origin youth participating in the casting for the program.
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| Delegates attending the event. (Photo: Fil Mazzarino) |
At the event, the organizers officially announced the launch of ADFW26 aimed at promoting Vietnamese culture, while honouring and redefining the Ao dai (long dress) as a design symbol with national identity in the global fashion flow.
The program is supported by the Embassy of Vietnam in the United Kingdom, along with the collaboration of many community and cultural organizations in Europe such as: the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe, the Union of Vietnamese Women in Europe, the Association of Vietnamese Women and Children in the United Kingdom, the Vietnam Cultural Industry Association, and the Vietnamese Student Association in the UK.
Notably, the project also receives support from the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, under Ministry of Foreign Affairs. More than just traditional attire, the Ao dai has long been a profound and enduring cultural symbol of Vietnam.
With ADFW26, the ao dai is perceived as a vibrant design language, capable of evolving with modern creativity while maintaining core cultural values.
According to the organizers, each designer participating in ADFW26 will present not only a collection but also a personal story shaped by memories, heritage, and reflections on the intersection of tradition and modern life.
Instead of viewing tradition as a nostalgic element, designers will reinterpret the áo dài through contemporary perspectives, confidently and creatively bringing this iconic Vietnamese garment into the international fashion stream.
The ADFW26 runway is designed to deeply connect with the fashion industry, with expected attendance from international media, collectors, stylists, and experts seeking creative voices with distinct cultural identities.
Alongside the runway, the organizers place special emphasis on documenting the creative journey of designers through a professional media system, including high-quality runway images, fashion videos, photo books, designer interviews, and behind-the-scenes materials.
These materials not only serve international media activities but also contribute to building a long-term archive of contemporary Ao dai creativity.
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| With ADFW26, the áo dài is perceived as a vibrant design language, capable of evolving with modern creativity while maintaining core cultural values. (Photo: Fil Mazzarino) |
London – The starting point for the journey
London was chosen as the starting point for ADFW26 because it is one of the world's leading cultural and creative centers, bringing together many cultures and groundbreaking fashion ideas.
The openness and diversity of the creative environment in London have allowed many cultural communities, including the Vietnamese community, to confidently share their identities and contribute to the rich cultural tapestry of the UK.
The event is expected to become a special cultural space in the heart of Europe – a place where Vietnamese culture is honoured, where designers and artists showcase their talents, and where cultures meet through the common language of art and fashion.
In preparation for the event, the model casting program attracted over 200 candidates from various countries and cultures. This diversity reflects the international spirit that ADFW26 aims for. Among the candidates are many faces who have performed on major fashion runways in London and Paris.
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| Models participating in the Ao dai Fashion Week 2026 casting. (Photo: Fil Mazzarino) |
Notably, the program also attracted a large number of students and young Vietnamese-origin individuals born and raised in the United Kingdom. The presence of this young generation is seen as a meaningful cultural bridge between Vietnam and the international community.
Telling the story of Vietnamese culture to the world
Sharing the project's vision, founder Hoang Thi Hai Ha stated that ADFW26 was created not only to showcase fashion but also to tell cultural stories and connect the creative community.
According to Hai Ha, organizing the event in London is an important first step for the Ao dai to be recognized as a living heritage, with both traditional depth and the ability to engage with contemporary fashion.
Meanwhile, documentary filmmaker Han Le believes the event will be a place for designers to bring their creative visions, sharing how they interpret Vietnamese culture with the world.
Stage director Savita Kaye, a member of the program's advisory board, emphasized that fashion has the power to connect cultures. Bringing Vietnamese heritage to an international fashion stage right in London is a project full of meaning. The stage crew's task is to ensure the program meets international performance standards while keeping Vietnamese culture at the heart of the runway.
According to Van Anh Morris, advisor to the Association of Vietnamese Women and Children in the United Kingdom, when Vietnamese women wear the ao dai, they not only honor cultural heritage but also confidently introduce Vietnamese identity to the international community. For the young Vietnamese-origin generation, the event holds special significance as it helps them connect with their roots and feel a deeper sense of cultural pride.
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| Delegates and models participating in the event take a commemorative photo. (Photo: Fil Mazzarino) |
International model Lillia Langley, with over 6 years of experience in performing ao dai, also believes that models wearing ao dai need to understand the story behind each design.
"Each ao dai tells a story. When performing, you are not just wearing an outfit, but you are telling the cultural story of that design to an international audience," she shared.
(Source: Embassy of Vietnam in UK)
