Design Wave Festival 2026

Bring Your Creativity to the Runway!

Catwalk Date: Thursday, 26 November 2026
Venue: KOKA Riga, Krāsotāju iela 12, Riga, Latvia
Application Deadline: 10 November 2026

Fashion. Costume. Innovation. Sustainability. Creative Expression.

Design Wave Festival 2026 invites emerging and established fashion designers, costume creators, students, wearable-art artists and digital fashion innovators to showcase their experimental designs, prototypes and finished collections on an international catwalk in Riga.

As part of the European Time for (S)Heroes initiative, the festival explores how creativity, sustainability and emerging technologies can challenge conventions and inspire positive change.

Reimagine heroism through fashion. Show us how your creativity can make a difference!

What Can You Present?

We welcome individual creations and collections exploring:

• Sustainable & Circular Fashion — Upcycling, reuse, responsible materials and zero-waste design.

• Avant-Garde & Experimental Fashion — Innovative silhouettes, unconventional constructions and artistic garments.

• Costume & Wearable Art — Theatrical, cinematic, sculptural and performative creations.

• Digital & Hybrid Fashion — 3D fashion and designs combining physical and digital elements.

• Innovative Materials & Technologies — Biomaterials, smart textiles and experimental techniques.

Both experimental prototypes and finished creations are welcome.

Who Can Apply?

The Catwalk is open to designers, artists, creative teams, students and independent fashion brands from any country.

Applicants must be 18 years or older. The festival's working language is English.

Applications are accepted in two Creative Readiness Tracks:

PROTOTYPE Track (CRL 4–6) — MAKE IT!

For experimental garments, physical or digital prototypes and creative works undergoing development, testing or refinement.

Eligible PROTOTYPE teams may also compete for further development opportunities through the CREASheroes international residency pathway, subject to the hackathon competition rules.

PRODUCT Track (CRL 7–9) — BRING IT TO LIFE!

For completed or nearly completed garments, costumes, collections and wearable artworks ready for public presentation.

This is a showcase track and does not participate in the residency competition.

For more information, visit the CREATIVE READINESS LEVELS page.

Catwalk Presentation

The Catwalk will take place on Thursday, 26 November 2026.

• Presentation time: Approximately 5 minutes per designer or team.

• Collection size: Normally up to 10 outfits or looks.

• Larger collections: Extended presentation time may be considered in justified cases.

• Presentation format: Physical catwalk, potentially accompanied by music, audiovisual or digital elements.

Applicants should indicate their number of looks, available models and any backstage, audiovisual or technical support requirements.

Final presentation arrangements and available support will be confirmed individually with selected participants.

Create Your Catwalk Experience with a Hackathon Team

Your designs tell a story. Let's bring that story to life!

Design Wave Festival is more than a traditional fashion show. Through its creative hackathon, designers will have opportunities to connect with performers, artists, digital creators, storytellers and technology specialists to develop their catwalk presentations.

Participants can form interdisciplinary teams and collaborate on:

• Storytelling & Creative Direction — Developing the concept, narrative and message behind the collection.

• Choreography & Performance — Planning model movement, stage interactions and performative elements.

• Music & Audiovisual Design — Exploring sound, projections, lighting concepts and digital effects.

• Stage Presentation — Developing the sequence of looks, transitions and overall audience experience.

• Digital Integration — Experimenting with animation, virtual fashion, AI-generated visuals and interactive technologies.

Team formation and creative preparation can begin through the festival's online matchmaking platform and continue during the hackathon, with opportunities for mentoring and collaboration.

This is also an opportunity for hackathon participants without their own project ideas to contribute their creative or technical skills to a designer's presentation.

Bring your collection. Find your creative team. Turn your catwalk into a performance!

Creative collaboration is optional and subject to available expertise, time and technical resources. Participation in catwalk teamwork does not automatically constitute entry into the residency competition.

Why Participate?

• Showcase your creativity to an international audience of designers, artists and creative-industry professionals.

• Develop your presentation with support from an interdisciplinary creative community.

• Gain visibility through festival showcases, documentation and potential digital exhibitions.

• Meet collaborators from fashion, art, technology, education and creative entrepreneurship.

• Explore new opportunities for innovation, international cooperation and future development.

How to Apply

Applications are open until 10 November 2026.

1. Register on the Design Wave Festival 2026 platform.

2. Select the participant type I Have an Idea / I Want to Hack a Challenge / I Want to Present My Product.

3. Choose the PROTOTYPE (CRL 4–6) or PRODUCT (CRL 7–9) Track.

4. Select Catwalk Presentation — Thursday, 26 November.

5. Describe your creative work and upload your Project / Concept Portfolio, including photographs, sketches or visualisations.

6. Specify your number of outfits, presentation requirements and any creative, technical or organisational support needed.

Designers interested in developing their catwalk presentation with a creative team are encouraged to indicate their collaboration needs and connect with other participants through the festival's matchmaking platform.

Selection

Applications will be reviewed based on creative quality, relevance to the festival's themes, presentation feasibility and available catwalk capacity.

Presentation slots are limited. Registration does not automatically guarantee selection. Selected applicants will receive further information about catwalk arrangements, technical preparations and available collaborative support.

Ready to Make Your Wave?

Bring your designs. Challenge conventions. Reimagine heroism.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 10 NOVEMBER 2026

REGISTER & APPLY FOR THE CATWALK

Design Wave Festival 2026
25–27 November 2026 | Riga, Latvia

Organiser: Latvian Technological Center (LTC)
Contact: techcenter@techcenter.lv

Organised as part of the Time for (S)Heroes project, co-funded by the European Union under the Creative Europe Programme.