India Couture Week 2026 opened in Hyderabad on July 24 with Anamika Khanna’s Moonlit Palace at Taj Falaknuma Palace, marking the first time the event has travelled outside New Delhi. The multi-day calendar features prominent designers and concludes on July 29 with Rahul Mishra’s Delhi showcase.
India Couture Week shifted its geographical center for its 19th edition, opening outside the national capital for the first time in its history. On July 24, designer Anamika Khanna inaugurated the couture season at Hyderabad’s historic Taj Falaknuma Palace with a collection titled Moonlit Palace.
Anamika Khanna Opens the 2026 Season in Hyderabad
The opening presentation drew inspiration from a lost civilization and the lingering memories left behind, translating that thematic concept into fluid drapes, sculptural silhouettes, intricate embroidery, metallic details, and integrated jewellery. Traditional craft techniques appeared across contemporary forms, integrating textile traditions from Barmer alongside the visual language of Kolkata’s Kalighat paintings. Women artisans contributed generations of craft knowledge directly into the creative process, blending structured silhouettes with fluid drapes across both menswear and womenswear within a single visual world.
The move to Hyderabad served as the first stop on the couture calendar before shows shifted to New Delhi for the remainder of the event. The schedule brings together a lineup of established and emerging names in Indian fashion, including Falguni Shane Peacock, Rohit Bal, House of Masaba, JJ Valaya, Tarun Tahiliani, Roseroom by Isha Jajodia, Rimzim Dadu, Arpita Mehta, Kunal Rawal, Dolly J, Jayanti Reddy, Aisha Rao, and Rahul Mishra.
Arpita Mehta’s Debut Couture Showcase Explores 1970s Aesthetics
Among the debut presentations on the calendar, Arpita Mehta brought her signature aesthetic to the FDCI India Couture Week 2026 runway with a collection titled Ceremonial. The designer retained traditional textile identities—incorporating Bandhani, Banarasi silk, and tissue fabric—while introducing Kantha embroidery into her design vocabulary alongside signature mirrorwork and vintage-inspired gemstone embroidery.
The runway presentation featured structured lehengas, movement-driven saris, blouses with corseted detailing, and adaptable separates. The color palette transitioned from soft coconut and rose tan into sage and seafoam, finishing in violet and a deep sindoor red.
Creative director Pranav Goswamy designed an immersive set inspired by private lounges from the 1970s and 1980s, utilizing Indo-European furniture, brass details, suede, velvet, and fringe. Jaipur Rugs contributed Turkish- and Persian-inspired floor coverings, while fringe lamps and warm lighting set an intimate mood accompanied by house tracks interwoven with old Bollywood echoes.
“Presenting CEREMONIAL at India Couture Week was a very special milestone for us. The collection came from a desire to celebrate Indian textile heritage as something living and evolving rather than something preserved in time. Every craft, every silhouette and every detail was designed to reflect the way women celebrate today—rooted in tradition but deeply personal in expression. Seeing that entire world come together on the runway, from the collection to the immersive set and music, was incredibly fulfilling, and I’m grateful to FDCI and everyone who helped bring this vision to life.”
Arpita Mehta
The showcase was complemented by jewellery from official partner Jatin Mor and presented in association with Indian cookware brand Bergner.
Rahul Mishra and Sobhita Dhulipala Close the Week in New Delhi
The 19th edition concluded in New Delhi with Rahul Mishra’s grand finale presentation on July 29. Actress Sobhita Dhulipala served as the showstopper for the designer’s Devi collection, which previously made an international debut at Paris Haute Couture Week.
The showcase centered on a theatrical performance inspired by the divine feminine. Sobhita initially appeared in an ivory and champagne-toned ensemble featuring a fitted bodice with crystal beadwork arranged in cascading layers across the neckline, paired with a voluminous lehenga skirt displaying embroidered floral motifs, a statement diamond choker, and center-parted hair.
The runway presentation shifted during a dramatic live styling sequence when performers joined Sobhita on stage to layer a richly embellished lehenga over her existing outfit piece by piece, accompanied by additional jewelry. The transformation evoked imagery of a goddess being ceremonially adorned by attendants before a royal appearance, after which Sobhita completed a final walk in her fully transformed attire.
Automotive Partnerships and Broad Industry Collaborations
The 2026 event marked the fourth consecutive year of Hyundai Motor India’s partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India. As part of this collaboration, automotive design was integrated into the broader creative programming, with the Hyundai IONIQ 5 being presented alongside the brand’s 30-year journey in India.
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