Madrid Fashion Week Moves Into the City for the First Time

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid (MBFW Madrid) is making a historic move this September: for the first time in its 40-year history, the event will take place inside the city of Madrid itself. Previously held at a venue a 20-minute drive outside the city, the fashion week will now unfold across grand palaces, institutional buildings, and the streets of the Spanish capital.

A City Having Its Moment

The shift comes as Madrid experiences a wider cultural and commercial renaissance, driven largely by an influx of Latin American residents and visitors. Venezuelans, Colombians, and Mexicans have taken to calling Madrid “the new Miami,” setting up businesses and establishing residency in the city. Creative director Valentina Suárez-Zuloaga, appointed to her role in February 2025, has been capitalising on this momentum — most notably by inviting international names such as Colombian label Johanna Ortiz to show during the March edition.

For September, Colombian resortwear brand Agua Bendita will headline in partnership with the Latin American Fashion Awards (LAFA), with a special showcase on 15 September featuring a live performance by a prominent Hispanic artist.

Building a Global Platform

Suárez-Zuloaga’s broader ambition is to position MBFW Madrid as the leading platform for Hispanic fashion in Europe. She has reorganised the runway calendar, restructured the schedule around distinct brand identities, and assembled an internationally experienced committee. To avoid clashing with the major fashion weeks, the September dates have been deliberately aligned with the post-Formula 1 window in Madrid — creating a lifestyle itinerary that blends sport, culture, and fashion for visiting press and buyers.

The goal, in Suárez-Zuloaga’s words, is simple: “I can’t miss Madrid.”