Seventeen Years of Style: Fashion Week Columbus Returns With Eight Citywide Events
Fashion Week Columbus returns for its 17th annual run on Sunday, launching a week-long series of runway shows, designer features, and community events that will stretch through Nov. 14.
Organized by the Columbus Fashion Council, the nonprofit behind the annual showcase, this year’s programming centers on the theme “Your Body is a Work of Art.” The schedule spans eight distinct gatherings across the city, putting local talent at the forefront.
“We create a platform for designers, for models, photographers [and] different creatives within the central Ohio region,” Yiema John, executive director of the Columbus Fashion Council, said.
A Local Headliner Marks a Milestone
Joan Madison, owner of Joan’s Bridal Couture in Reynoldsburg and a “Project Runway” alum, is headlining the 2026 event. Madison opened her own bridal boutique for custom, couture bridal gowns in 2000 before launching her full-service salon, Joan’s Bridal Couture, in 2006, eventually joining Fashion Week Columbus as a participant in 2013.
When she takes the stage for the 17th Annual Finale Runway Show on Nov. 14, Madison will become the first local designer to headline the week.
“This year, I will be the first local designer to headline, and it kind of gives me a reflection of my experience with them, and then I get to look at my career and, just to see where I was 13 years ago with them, and then where I am today,” Madison said.
For her final presentation, Madison plans to showcase a collection reflecting her career, featuring statement pieces she describes as wearable art designed to empower women.
Find Schedules and Registration Details for Local Runway Events
Events are scattered across various prominent locations in the city. The schedule includes a High Fashion Tea Runway Show at The Joseph, an OSU Luncheon at Campbell Hall, the Recycled Runway Show at The Loom supported by Victoria’s Secret, Nurtur Aveda and Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD), and the Luxe Levels Fashion Show.
Registration is required for all events, with tickets starting at no cost for the Macy’s Destination Holiday Show at Polaris Fashion Place. Organizers intend the events to offer accessible entry points for students and residents seeking cultural engagement outside of traditional nightlife.
“Columbus is home to the highest concentration of fashion professionals in the U.S. and Fashion Week Columbus is when our city’s style shines the brightest,” according to the Columbus Fashion Council.
