Orlando International Fashion Week teams up with Orlando International Fringe Festival for its 35th anniversary

Orlando International Fashion Week (OIFW) has entered into a new partnership with the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival as part of the theatre festival’s 35th anniversary celebrations this year.

As part of the partnership, OIFW will host a showcase on May 16, 2026, within the Outdoor stage that will include avant-garde, futuristic, and experimental fashion designs that reflect the spirit and nature of the Fringe festival. The collaboration between the two organizations is in line with their shared broader goal of uplifting artists, fostering inclusive creative spaces, and connecting communities through the arts.

“Fringe and OIFW share a commitment to creating platforms where artists can take risks, express themselves freely, and connect with diverse audiences,” said Rob Henlon, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Orlando International Fashion Week, in a statement. “This collaboration allows fashion to live within a broader artistic conversation, which is exactly where it belongs.”

Designers are now invited to register for OIFW's Fringe fashion showcase, with submissions encouraged to reflect modern, edgy concepts, artistic storytelling, and bold, experimental design.

“This partnership is exactly what Fringe is about, bringing different art forms together in a way that’s inclusive, expressive, and community-driven,” continued Tempestt Halstead of the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival. “We’re excited to create space for fashion to be part of that story.”

Now in its 35th year, the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival is the longest-running Fringe festival in the United States. Held each May, it offers an unjuried, uncensored platform for independent artists across performance, visual art, and music, and returns 100 percent of ticket sales directly to the artists.

“As someone who serves on the board with both organizations, this partnership represents the best of what Orlando’s creative ecosystem can be,” said Dr. John Payne-Rios, OIFW Advisory Board Member and arts advocate. “It brings together fashion, theatre, and community in a way that expands access, celebrates diverse voices, and creates meaningful opportunities for artists to be seen and supported.”