Following the success of his star-studded show at Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) in 2025, the iconic Indian couturier Manish Malhotra is set to return to the Dubai runway this February. He will once again be the closing designer for DFW’s Autumn/Winter season, which runs this year from 1-6 February at Dubai Design District (d3), reaffirming his growing creative dialogue with the global fashion industry.
Malhotra’s appearance at DFW AW25/26 marked a defining milestone for the brand with the unveiling of the ‘World Collection: Dubai’ – a landmark international debut that blended India’s rich artisanal heritage with a modern, globally resonant design language. The collection was met with widespread acclaim for its cultural depth, contemporary elegance, and relevance to the Middle Eastern market. The AW25/26 finale featured international supermodels Adriana Lima and Valery Kaufman, and celebrating 35 years of Malhotra’s legacy in fashion. The showcase highlighted a bold evolution of couture through regionally attuned silhouettes, including sequined abayas, fluid kaftans, and sharply tailored pantsuits, crafted specifically with the Middle Eastern luxury consumer in mind.
As the closing act of the upcoming Autumn/Winter 2026/27 (AW26/27) edition, Malhotra signals a continued commitment to Dubai as a global fashion capital and a creative crossroads between East and West. His upcoming presentation is expected to further expand on the vision of his ‘World Collection: Dubai’ – spotlighting Indian craftsmanship, contemporary couture, and cross-cultural storytelling at an international scale.