Colombiamoda 2026 is set to begin a new chapter in its international expansion, positioning Medellín as a key destination within the global fashion circuit. From July 25 to 31, the event will welcome more than 70,000 attendees from 50 countries and 17,000 specialized buyers, reaffirming its role as one of Latin America’s most influential platforms for design, culture, and creative industries.
This year’s edition opens with a milestone moment: Manuela Álvarez, founder of MAZ, will lead the Opening Runway with Oh My Heart, a collection conceived as a sensorial journey through vulnerability, rupture, and emotional expansion. Inspired by the R.E.M. song of the same name, the proposal arrives during a period of significant global recognition for the designer, who was recently selected among the 20 semifinalists of the LVMH Prize and highlighted by Vogue México y Latinoamérica as a leading voice in the redefinition of contemporary luxury in the region.
A Debut Rooted in Craft, Emotion, and Contemporary Identity
For more than a decade, Álvarez has developed a design language grounded in sustainability, traceability, and collaboration with artisan communities across Colombia. Oh My Heart continues this trajectory, integrating around ten artisanal techniques created alongside makers from different regions of the country.
The runway will unfold in four chromatic acts black, red, Klein blue, and white accompanied by an original composition performed live by the Orquesta Filarmónica de Medellín and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Medellín. The staging reinforces Álvarez’s vision of fashion as a medium that bridges craftsmanship, science, emotion, and contemporary aesthetics.
A Strengthened International Platform
The 2026 edition also reflects Colombiamoda’s growing global reach. Countries such as Ecuador, the United States, Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Mexico will have strong buyer representation, while new business opportunities are emerging in the United Arab Emirates, France, Puerto Rico, Chile, and the United Kingdom.
For the first time, the event expands into a full week of experiences under the Opening Weekend concept:
- Opening Show – July 25
- Wellness Warm Up – July 26
- Opening Runway – July 27
- Commercial showcase – July 28–30
- Closing Show / Party – July 31
Throughout the week, Medellín will host runways, brand activations, and knowledge spaces such as the Sustainability Route, Circular Fashion Market, Material Library, Trend Forum, and Green Talks, reinforcing the event’s evolution into a comprehensive ecosystem where creativity, innovation, and business converge.
A New Stage for Latin American Fashion
As Colombiamoda enters its 38th year, the event consolidates its transformation into a global influence circuit, connecting design, industry, and culture at a moment when Latin America is gaining visibility in international conversations about the future of fashion. The selection of Manuela Álvarez to open the 2026 edition underscores this momentum, celebrating a vision of luxury that is deeply human, culturally grounded, and emotionally resonant.