The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has announced the winners of the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards, with Rachel Scott, Ralph Lauren, Ana Khouri, and Colleen Allen among the evening’s biggest recipients. Held Monday night at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the ceremony brought together leading figures from fashion, entertainment, sports, and media to celebrate achievements across the American fashion industry.
Hosted by Keke Palmer, the event was presented by Amazon Fashion and presided over by CFDA Chairman Thom Browne and Interim CEO Hildy Kuryk. The evening featured an impressive lineup of presenters, including Anna Wintour, Matt Damon, Lupita Nyong’o, Naomi Osaka, Hailey Bieber, ROSÉ, and Zoë Kravitz. While the winners in the four main design categories were announced during the ceremony, several honorary recipients had been revealed ahead of the event.
Rachel Scott Wins American Womenswear Designer of the Year
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Rachel Scott took home the American Womenswear Designer of the Year award for her work at Diotima. Presented by Lupita Nyong’o and Francisco Costa, the recognition places the designer ahead of a competitive shortlist that included Catherine Holstein for Khaite, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, and Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera.
Scott’s win is another significant moment for Diotima, the label known for bringing Caribbean cultural references, traditional craftsmanship, and contemporary design together. Her work has continued to attract attention within the international fashion industry, making her recognition one of the notable outcomes of this year’s ceremony.
In the menswear category, Ralph Lauren was named American Menswear Designer of the Year. Matt Damon and Tremaine Emory presented the award to the designer, who emerged ahead of fellow nominees Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne for Public School New York, Thom Browne, Todd Snyder, and Willy Chavarria.
Ana Khouri and Colleen Allen Take Home Design Awards
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Ana Khouri received the American Accessory Designer of the Year award, presented by tennis star Naomi Osaka and designer Joseph Altuzarra. She won against nominees Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen for The Row, Raul Lopez for Luar, Sophie Buhai, and Stuart Vevers for Coach.
The Google Shopping American Emerging Designer of the Year award went to Colleen Allen. Presented by Cole Escola and Gabriela Hearst, the award recognized Allen ahead of fellow nominees Emily Dawn Long, Julia Ferentinos for Juju Vera, Julian Louie for Aubero, and Zane Li for Lii.
The four competitive categories highlighted a cross-section of American fashion, recognizing designers working across womenswear, menswear, accessories, and emerging talent. Together, the 2026 CFDA Fashion Award winners reflect the range of established and rising creative voices currently shaping the industry.
Anthony Vaccarello, Tory Burch and Other Honorees Recognized
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Beyond the main design awards, the ceremony celebrated several influential figures for their contributions to fashion and the wider creative industry.
Anthony Vaccarello received the International Designer of the Year Award for his work at Saint Laurent. Hailey Bieber, ROSÉ, and Zoë Kravitz presented the honor, recognizing the Belgian designer’s continued influence on the international fashion landscape.
Tory Burch received the Positive Change Award, presented by Anna Wintour, while photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin were honored with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award. Charles Star Matadin presented the recognition to the photographic duo.
Other recipients included Linda Fargo, who received the Founder’s Award in honor of Eleanor Lambert from Michael Kors, and Eva Chen, who was presented with the Media Award in honor of Eugenia Sheppard by musician Laufey. Susan Cianciolo also received the Isabel Toledo Board of Directors’ Tribute, presented by Adi Gil, Angela Donhauser, and Gabriel Asfour of threeASFOUR.
Meanwhile, architect Peter Marino received the Fashion Icon Award from Cornelia Guest, while Gap Inc. was named the recipient of the Innovation Award presented by Amazon Fashion. Demi Moore announced the company’s recognition during the ceremony.
CFDA Announces New Scholarship Initiative for 2027
The evening also highlighted the CFDA’s ongoing commitment to supporting emerging talent and fashion education. Sara Moonves marked the 30th anniversary of the CFDA Scholarship Fund and announced the upcoming CFDA and WYouth Scholarship presented by Nuuly.
Launching in 2027, the initiative will provide funding for two students pursuing fashion education, extending the organization’s efforts to create opportunities for the next generation of designers.
With its latest round of competitive awards and honorary recognitions, the ceremony brought together some of the industry’s most established names and promising talents. The 2026 CFDA Fashion Award winners reflect the breadth of creative work happening across American fashion, while the evening’s additional honors acknowledged the photographers, executives, designers, and cultural figures contributing to its continued development.
Here is the complete breakdown of the competitive categories, their winners, and the designers who were nominated…
American Womenswear Designer of the Year
Winner: Rachel Scott for Diotima
Other nominees:
- Catherine Holstein for Khaite
- Michael Kors
- Tory Burch
- Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera
American Menswear Designer of the Year
Winner: Ralph Lauren
Other nominees:
- Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne for Public School New York
- Thom Browne
- Todd Snyder
- Willy Chavarria
American Accessory Designer of the Year
Winner: Ana Khouri
Other nominees:
- Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen for The Row
- Raul Lopez for Luar
- Sophie Buhai
- Stuart Vevers for Coach
Google Shopping American Emerging Designer of the Year
Winner: Colleen Allen
Other nominees:
- Emily Dawn Long
- Julia Ferentinos for Juju Vera
- Julian Louie for Aubero
- Zane Li for Lii
Other 2026 CFDA Award Recipients
- Positive Change Award: Tory Burch
- Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award: Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin
- International Designer of the Year: Anthony Vaccarello
- 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
- Fashion Icon Award: Peter Marino
- Innovation Award Presented by Amazon Fashion: Gap Inc.
With Rachel Scott, Ralph Lauren, Ana Khouri, and Colleen Allen among the night’s leading recipients, the 2026 CFDA Fashion Award winners represent a mix of established industry figures and designers bringing fresh perspectives to American fashion. The ceremony also recognized the photographers, executives, and creative talents whose contributions extend beyond the runway, making this year’s awards a celebration of the wider industry.
Featured image: @cfda/Instagram
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