The Arunachal Fashion Week 2026—The Artisans’ Movement—will be held in Naharlagun, close to Itanagar, from March 14 to 21 by the Arunachal Pradesh textiles and handicrafts department. Pema Khandu, the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, will be the main guest during the opening ceremony. The 2026 edition will commemorate five years of the Arunachal Pradesh Artisans’ Movement and eleven years since Northeast India Fashion Week was first introduced in Itanagar in April 2015, when the area lacked a formal fashion platform.
What started out as a groundbreaking project has developed over the last ten years into an expanding industry interface that links designers, young professionals, indigenous weavers, creative businesses, and policy stakeholders. Curated runway shows showcasing indigenous weaving and modern fashion interpretations will take place on the opening night, which is themed “Night of Opulence.” March 15 has been declared Cultural Heritage Day, honoring indigenous textiles from all throughout Arunachal Pradesh and fostering designer-artisan partnerships. Designer runway segments, exhibition-cum-sale counters, handloom and handicraft displays, furniture presentations, and organized buyer-artisan encounters are all part of the venue’s transformation into a public exhibition and engagement hub from March 16 to 20.
The Arunachal Fashion Week Awards Night, which honors excellence in a number of categories, including Model of the Year, Best Fashion Designer, Best Weave Designer/Weaver, and Youth Excellence Recognition, will take place on March 21. “Arunachal Pradesh has a rich textile heritage that reflects the identity, craftsmanship, and cultural depth of our indigenous communities,” stated Nyato Dukam, the state minister of textiles and handicrafts. The department is still dedicated to bolstering this industry through improved market access, modernization, and organized exhibiting.
