5 New York Fashion Week events open to the public
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With American icon Michael Kors kicking off the official New York Fashion Week (NYFW) spring/summer 2026 ready-to-wear season on September 11, industry leaders and fashion professionals take over the city once more.
Among the designers set to present their collections are Anna Sui, Alexander Wang, Calvin Klein Collection, Christian Siriano, Coach, Jason Wu Collection, Norma Kamali, Off-White, Simkhai, Todd Snyder, and Ulla Johnson.
Supported by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), which has sought to promote and encourage the creativity linked to American fashion designs since its founding in 1962, this season’s event sees the CFDA collaborate with the Rockefeller Center to make the excitement of NYFW more accessible to the broader public.
Hosting a live streaming of all the official catwalk shows across three screens at the world-famous Rock and Channel Gardens, known as NYFW Live, it is one of the many NYFW events open to the public. “If you think about history and fashion and how fashion has influenced our city and our country, there is a lot of purpose and opportunity to connect to people,” said Steven Kolb, President and CEO of the CFDA, during an event celebrating the opening of NYFW.
“It’s about inspiration, it’s about culture, it’s about business, and it’s about creativity, first. Fashion Week is a representation of that.” Further linking the boldness and vision of the American fashion industry with the 400th anniversary of New York City, CFDA chairman Thom Browne added, “New York is here, New York is strong. The creativity is unparalleled, and everyone needs to stand up and take notice.”
As NYFW continues to unfold, FashionUnited takes a look at five NYFW events taking place across the city open to the public.
CFDA x Rockefeller Center NYFW Live
The CFDA collaborated with Rockefeller Center once more to host the NYFW Live initiative for the second time. Bigger than before, attendees can access real-time broadcasts of selected runway presentations for free, including Anna Sui, Calvin Klein Collection, Christian Siriano, Coach, Collina Strada, Jason Wu, KidSuper, Michael Kors, Off-White, Ralph Lauren, Sergio Hudson, and Tory Burch from September 11 through to September 16.
Caffè Guess
Lifestyle brand Guess is stepping into the New York Fashion Week space by inviting the public to enjoy an Italian experience in the center of Chelsea. Hosting an all-inclusive, pop-up experience at 530 W 25th Street, the Italian-inspired cafe offers consumers a break from the fashion week hustle and bustle.
Customers can enjoy a cup of coffee, gelato, exclusive gifts, and explore the latest collections from Guess. Brand-sponsored activations include live fashion illustrations and an interactive photography experience. All experiential elements and complementary offerings are available on a first-come basis. Caffè Guess will be open to the public from 2 pm to 5 pm on Saturday, September 13, and 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday, September 14.
True Religion Pop-up Truck
Denim and lifestyle brand True Religion is offering its customers access to its autumn collection alongside branded photo opportunities and engagement activations during NYFW from a pop-up truck at 410 Lafayette Street.
Taking place on September 12 from 10 am to 4 pm, Love Island” Season 7 participant Chelley Bissainthe is set to make a guest appearance at True Religion’s Queen store from 2 pm to 6 pm and will offer exclusive giveaways and next-to-meet-and-greet opportunities.
Champion Hoodie across Manhattan
Making a giant statement, sportswear brand Champion unveiled a larger-than-life hoodie which made its way through the city, stopping at Times Square, SoHo, and the Tudor City Bridge. Garnering the attention of thousands of locals and tourists alike, many stopped to take photographs with the sweatshirt.
The outdoor activation was designed to create further anticipation for Champion’s fashion week event, House of Champion. Sponsored by Sports Illustrated, the event in SoHo celebrated the brand’s 100-plus-year legacy through heritage exhibitions, showcasing international and local product lines, with a live musical finale to conclude the evening.
Lilly Pulitzer Vintage Vault
Lifestyle brand Lilly Pulitzer celebrated six decades of its iconic prints and resort style by hosting a special exhibition called Lilly’s Vintage Vault. Taking place at the New York Design Center, the space was transformed into a tropical oasis that showcased pieces from Lilly Pulitzer’s Resort 2026 Vintage Vault Collection. A reimagined curated collection, it revisits Lilly’s most recognizable archival designs, updated for the modern resort customer.
Opened from September 8, attendees experienced a gallery-format presentation highlighting the brand’s heritage, with visual merchandising displays and live modeling that demonstrated the new collection’s aesthetic direction. The Lilly Pulitzer Vintage Vault exhibition was open to the public through September 11.