The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has announced its nominees and honorees for the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards, with Anthony Vaccarello set to receive the International Designer of the Year award in recognition of his decade of work at Saint Laurent.

The awards, presented by Amazon Fashion and hosted by Keke Palmer, will take place on November 2. The announcement arrives as New York prepares for a busy stretch of spring 2027 runway shows, with the fashion community gathering to celebrate established names, returning contenders, and emerging talent.

American Womenswear Designer of the Year

Wes Gordon of Carolina Herrera has earned a nomination for American Womenswear Designer of the Year for the second consecutive year, coinciding with the brand’s 45th anniversary.

He joins a competitive lineup that includes Khaite’s Catherine Holstein, a two-time winner; Michael Kors, a previous recipient; Tory Burch, a two-time nominee; and Rachel Scott of Diotima, who won the award in 2024.

The nominees represent multiple generations of American fashion, highlighting the range of creative voices shaping the industry today.

American Menswear Designer of the Year

Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne of Public School New York are nominated for American Menswear Designer of the Year following the label’s relaunch earlier this year. The duo previously won the award in 2014, making their return to the category particularly noteworthy.

They will compete against familiar contenders Todd Snyder, Thom Browne, Willy Chavarria, and Ralph Lauren. Each has contributed to the renewed attention surrounding American menswear in recent seasons.

American Accessory Designer of the Year

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen of The Row have once again secured a nomination for American Accessory Designer of the Year, reinforcing their continued presence in the category.

The other nominees are jewelry designer Ana Khouri, Sophie Buhai, Stuart Vevers of Coach, and Raul Lopez of Luar. Lopez’s nomination comes as Luar prepares to return to the New York Fashion Week schedule after taking a break last season.

Google American Emerging Designer of the Year

The Google American Emerging Designer of the Year category highlights a new generation of designers making their mark on the industry.

This year’s nominees include Colleen Allen, Julian Louie of Aubero, and three finalists from the 2026 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund: Emily Dawn Long, Julia Ferentinos of Juju Vera, and Zane Li of Lii.

Li enters the awards season with significant momentum, having won the 2026 Karl Lagerfeld Prize at the LVMH Prize in Paris the previous week.

The 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards Honorees

Alongside the competitive categories, the CFDA has announced a distinguished group of honorees recognizing contributions to fashion, photography, media, innovation, and positive change.

  • International Designer of the Year: Anthony Vaccarello, for his decade of work at Saint Laurent.
  • Innovation Award, presented by Amazon Fashion and Demi Moore: Gap Inc.
  • Positive Change Award: Tory Burch.
  • Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award: Photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.
  • 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.

Vaccarello’s recognition marks a milestone in his leadership at Saint Laurent, while the other honorees reflect the breadth of influence across fashion design, business, photography, media, and cultural innovation.

Looking Ahead to November 2

The 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards will bring together leading American designers, established international names, and rising creative talent for an evening celebrating the industry’s achievements.

With returning winners, notable comebacks, and emerging designers competing across the categories, the ceremony promises a wide-ranging look at the people shaping contemporary fashion.

The winners will be announced at the ceremony on November 2.