4 June 2026 
Quick Read
The annual fashion show of the Fashion Class at the University of Applied Arts Vienna offered a snapshot of a new generation of designers entering the professional field. Held on 2 June in the atrium of the university's campus in Vienna's third district, the event brought together diploma projects and works from students across all years of study. Under the leadership of British designer Craig Green, who has headed the programme since 2023, the show presented the work of 40 students, including six diploma collections.
• The Fashion Class of the University of Applied Arts Vienna presented its annual graduation show on 2 June 2026 in the university atrium at Vordere Zollamtsstraße 7, Vienna.
A Public Platform for Emerging DesignersFashion shows at art universities often function as more than graduation events. They provide a testing ground where ideas, materials and concepts are presented to professional audiences before entering wider fashion and cultural discussions.This year's show combined fashion presentations with live performances by artist and singer Alex Franz Zehetbauer and performer Stina Fors. The six diploma collections were created by Alisa Tegin, Benedikt Götz, Felix Schmidt, Jara Dilara Noori, Alara Koçman and Linda Artemis Bergstötter. An international jury of curators, designers, journalists and talent scouts reviewed the final projects. Palimpsest Award IntroducedOne of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the first Palimpsest Award from the Collection and Archive of the University of Applied Arts Vienna. The term "palimpsest" originates from manuscript culture and describes a document that has been written over while traces of earlier layers remain visible. In a contemporary artistic context, the concept often refers to layered histories, memories and meanings.The new €5,000 award, which includes the acquisition of a work for the university's art collection, was presented to Felix Schmidt for his diploma collection a day. According to the university, the award recognises an outstanding graduation collection. The prize was handed over during the show by curator and collection director Cosima Rainer together with Craig Green. The award ceremony can be viewed in the complete video documentation of the fashion show published by the university. National Media AttentionThe event also reached audiences beyond the university. Austria's public-service broadcaster ORF featured the show in its lunchtime news programme ZIB 13:00 on 3 June, including an interview with Felix Schmidt following the announcement of the Palimpsest Award. ORF is Austria's national public-service broadcasting organisation and one of the country's most influential media institutions.Further Awards and ScholarshipsAdditional distinctions recognised a broader range of student achievements. Jara Dilara Noori and Linda Artemis Bergstötter received the WIEN MITTE The Mall Award, each endowed with €3,000. The award supports emerging creative talent and strengthens connections between cultural and commercial spaces in the city.Three further grants honoured outstanding student work. Two Fred Adlmüller Scholarships and one Adlmüller International Grant, each worth €2,000, were awarded to Felix Schmidt, Marie Matondo Nsimba and Alara Koçman. Named after Austrian fashion designer Fred Adlmüller, who taught at the university during the 1970s, the grants continue a tradition of supporting young designers at a formative stage of their careers. As the show demonstrated, contemporary fashion education increasingly combines craftsmanship, conceptual thinking and interdisciplinary approaches. The 2026 edition offered a view of how emerging designers are responding to cultural, social and material questions through clothing and performance. Images: Diploma collections presented during Show Modeklasse 2026 at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. Designs by (from left) Felix Schmidt, Linda Artemis Bergstötter and Jara Dilara Noori. © Mario Ilic |