Applications closed.

Sunday 14 September 2025 - Applications Open  

Friday 3 October 2025 - Applications Close  

w/c 13 October 2025 - Applicants Notified 

Thursday 15 January 2026 - Programme Launch

Saturday 14 - Sunday 22 February 2026 – Independent Programme 

What is the Independent Programme? 
The Independent Programme is a curated collection of dynamic and diverse events that reflect the vibrancy of fashion’s role in Melbourne’s contemporary culture. These events can be in the form of runways and intimate open studios to workshops, performances, screenings, exhibitions and more. 

Uniquely positioned within the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival, each event in this programme is self-funded and independently produced. This model allows local creatives, collectives, institutions and community organisers to retain creative control and ownership of their work, while benefiting from the reach and visibility of the Festival’s platform and promotional campaign. 

Through this collaborative framework, the Independent Programme offers a vital space for practitioners to push boundaries, explore fashion’s intersections with art, design, identity and society, and connect with new audiences. It reflects the richness and breadth of contemporary fashion practice in Victoria, grounded in culture, storytelling, and bold ideas beyond the commercial mainstream. 

Why should I be part of the Independent Programme? 

Listing and promoting your event as part of the official festival programme connects you to a highly engaged, fashion focused audience. All programmes will be supported through our promotional campaigns and integration into our digital and social channel activations. Key fashion media will be provided with an itinerary for all Independent Programme events for consideration in their overall festival attendance and coverage schedules.  

What does it cost to be part of the Independent Programme? 

There is no cost to be part of the Independent Programme. However, note that all activities promoted through the programme are self-managed and self-funded, must engage and be available to the public to attend, whether free or ticketed. 

You are responsible for the production of your activity, including compliance across venue hire, talent booking and image usage rights, stakeholder management, legal employment conditions, insurance, and all related activity components, including a highly recommended Acknowledgement of/or Welcome to Country. You are also responsible for ensuring your activity is safe and accessible for all in attendance.  

What is an Independent Programme event? 

Workshops, open studios, exhibitions, performances, runways, screenings and more. If you have an idea that you think works, please apply!  

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival is proud to showcase a wide range of fashion makers, creatives and cultural organisations from the creative community at the festival. The Festival curates an exciting Independent Programme of events staged by independent organisers and promoted in the Festival’s official schedule.  

The Festival does not own, produce or operate the activities on the Independent Programme. The organisers of these activities are responsible for the complete event delivery, compliance and regulatory and mandatory requirements to operate an event safely.

Will the festival fund my event? 

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival is not a ‘commissioning’ festival. Applicants are encouraged to apply for funding or grants, should they need financial assistance to fulfil their events.

Can I get a sponsor for my event? 

The festival engages a suite of sponsoring partners to fund our year-round activities and festival produced events, and as such is responsible for ensuring their contractual rights and benefits are protected across the festival’s platforms and activities.    

As an independent participant in the Independent Programme should you be in the process of obtaining or will seek to obtain financial sponsorship or in-kind support for your activity, we request that you disclose this to the festival. This will enable us to manage any potential conflict risks.

When should I have my event? 

The majority of the Independent Programme will run from 14 to 22 February 2026. 

Please ensure that your event is scheduled to fall within or in part of these dates to be included as part of our official program. Reach out to our programming team if you would like to guidance on selecting a day/time that would work well with the rest of the official program.  

While the Festival will endeavour to accommodate all proposed date(s) and time(s), you may be advised to select an alternative date and/or time to reduce activity clashes and maximise audience attendance.  We recommend that you contact the festival to schedule your proposed date(s) and time(s) as soon as possible.  

What is involved with putting on an event? 

You are responsible for the production of your activity, including compliance across venue hire, talent booking and image usage rights, stakeholder management, legal employment conditions, insurance and all related activity components, including a highly recommended Acknowledgement of/or Welcome to Country. You are also responsible for ensuring your activity is safe and accessible for all in attendance.  

The festival advises that every participant should do a risk assessment analysing any risks connected to their event that includes identification of risks, controls and checklists for how to mitigate them, responsibilities of the person/people controlling the risks, and actions to be taken should incidents occur.  

For any questions event organisers should email programming@mff.com.au

View full terms and conditions HERE.