The British Fashion Council has announced the nominees for The Fashion Awards 2026, with Sarah Burton and Simone Rocha each shortlisted in two categories.
The ceremony, which is organised by the BFC and once again presented by Pandora, will take place on Monday 30 November at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The awards are the primary fundraising event for the BFC Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to securing the future of the British fashion industry through education, grant-giving, and business mentoring.
The ceremony honours fashion’s powerful influence at the intersection of culture and entertainment, while spotlighting the creative minds behind 2026’s most defining fashion moments.
Designer of the Year nominees
The Designer of the Year shortlist recognises a British or international designer who has made an outstanding impact on the global fashion industry in 2026, with the six-strong shortlist including Burton for Givenchy and Matthieu Blazy for Chanel.
The nominees, listed alphabetically, are:
- Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent
- Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row
- Haider Ackermann for Tom Ford
- Matthieu Blazy for Chanel
- Michael Rider for Celine
- Sarah Burton for Givenchy
Burton, who joined Givenchy in September 2024, is also nominated for British Womenswear Designer of the Year. She won that category at the 2025 awards.
The British Womenswear Designer nomineesÂ
This award recognises a leading British womenswear designer who has demonstrated significant impact on the global fashion industry in 2026.
This year’s nominees are:Â
- Clare Waight Keller for Uniqlo
- Erdem Moralıoğlu for Erdem
- Louise Trotter for Bottega Veneta
- Sarah Burton for Givenchy
- Simone Rocha for Simone Rocha
The British Menswear Designer nomineesÂ
This award recognises a leading British menswear designer who has demonstrated significant impact on the global fashion industry in 2026.
It marks Rocha’s second nomination in the category, where she is shortlisted alongside designers including Labrum founder Foday Dumbuya and Dunhill Creative Director Simon Holloway.
This year’s nominees are:
- Foday Dumbuya for Labrum
- Kiko Kostadinov for Kiko Kostadinov
- Nick Wakeman for Studio Nicholson
- Simon Holloway for Dunhill
- Simone Rocha for Simone Rocha
Dumbuya’s nomination follows Labrum’s BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund win in June. The award provided the London-based brand with a £100,000 grant and a year-long mentorship.
The Vanguard nomineesÂ
The award recognises a designer at the forefront of a new wave in British fashion who is shaping the future of the industry.
This year’s nominees are:Â
- Conner Ives for Conner Ives
- Ellie Misner for Ellie Misner
- Steve O Smith for Steve O Smith
- Tolu Coker for Tolu Coker
The BFC has separately confirmed that Jimmy Choo Creative Director Sandra Choi OBE will receive a Special Recognition Award. The award marks her three decades shaping the luxury accessories brand, alongside her mentoring and wider industry work.