H&M Design Award Returns to Spotlight Emerging Global Fashion Talent
After a six-year break, Swedish fashion giant H&M has officially revived its prestigious H&M Design Award, reigniting a major platform for emerging designers worldwide. Announced through a press release, the competition is set to return this autumn with a stronger international outlook than ever before. Open to BA and MA students from more than 60 fashion schools across 25 countries, the award now expands its global footprint with new participating nations including Australia, Mexico, Poland, Spain, and Colombia. The initiative is aimed at identifying and nurturing the next generation of creative forces in fashion.
The winner of the 2026 edition will receive a grand prize of €150,000 along with a year-long, tailor-made mentorship covering sustainability, circularity, production, and marketing. In a rare opportunity for young designers, the winning collection will also be produced and sold in selected H&M stores worldwide as well as online. Eight finalists will each receive €10,000. The award emphasizes creativity, innovation, craftsmanship, and a forward-thinking approach to sustainability, encouraging designers who challenge conventions within the industry.
The last recipient of the award in 2020 was Latvian designer Sabine Skarule, a Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp graduate, who won €50,000 for her collection “+371,” inspired by traditional craft practices from her childhood. The award has previously helped launch the careers of now-renowned designers such as Richard Quinn, Stefan Cooke, and Priya Ahluwalia. Applications for the revived H&M Design Award open on January 29, 2026, via designaward.hm.com through digital portfolio submissions, with 20 semi-finalists to be announced in October.
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