Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) has announced the finalists for its 2026 Awards, bringing together some of the most promising emerging designers from across the Middle East and North Africa. With creativity, craftsmanship and innovation at the forefront, this year’s selection reflects the region’s increasingly diverse fashion landscape and the rising voices determined to make their mark internationally.
A total of 21 finalists have been selected, with 18 designers competing across six main award categories and three representing Mexico, this year’s Guest Country. The finalists will present their collections to the FTA Jury in Doha on November 28, 2026, with seven winners announced during the awards ceremony later that evening.
Among this year’s finalists, Lebanese talent makes a particularly strong showing across several categories. Cindy Abi Chala of CIN and Haidar Krayem of Oscar Kraye are competing in Evening Wear, while Alia Zaki of L’alingi is shortlisted for Accessories. Joelle Kharrat represents Lebanon in Jewellery, Youssef Zogheib is nominated for the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award, and Sirine Kobeissi of GIRLE is a finalist in Fashion Tech.
Beyond Lebanon, the shortlist highlights an exciting mix of creative perspectives from across the region. In Ready-to-Wear, Algeria’s Rayana Heemskerk joins Jordan’s Sara Mannei Boruc of THE MANNEI and Saudi Arabia’s Ahmed Hassan of Kml. The Evening Wear category includes Palestinian designer Dana Riad, while the Accessories finalists feature Qatar’s Maryam Al-Malki and Tunisia’s Safa Boudokhane.
In Jewellery, Egypt’s Varouj Vartan Kazandjian of Harry V and Kuwait’s Layal AlSultan of ELURA join Joelle Kharrat. Meanwhile, the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent category spotlights Layla Al Tawaya, representing Palestine and Jordan, alongside Lebanon’s Youssef Zogheib and Syria’s Zeina Issa.
The Fashion Tech category brings another dimension to the awards, recognising designers working at the intersection of fashion and innovation. Egypt’s Shaimaa and Fatma El-Alawy of Mesh–Mesh, Lebanon’s Sirine Kobeissi and Tunisia’s Emna Hussein complete the shortlist.
This year also marks a new international exchange, with Mexico joining as the 2026 Guest Country. Supported by Vogue Mexico and Latin America, the partnership introduces a dedicated seventh award and welcomes three finalists: Patricio Campillo of Campillo, Neithan and Anga Ruiz of NEITHAN HERBERT, and Camila Banzo of Banzo. The initiative reflects FTA’s commitment to creating connections between emerging designers and international fashion communities.
For the winners, the opportunity extends well beyond recognition. Financial grants range from $100,000 to $200,000, depending on the size of the business, while the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award recipient will receive $50,000. Winners in the Ready-to-Wear, Evening Wear, Accessories and Jewellery categories will also have their collections stocked for one season by luxury retail partners Harrods and Ounass.
Professional development remains central to the initiative, with winners receiving a year-long bespoke mentorship with Brand x Society, alongside a two-day programme in London organised in partnership with The Bicester Collection, Brand x Society and the British Fashion Council.
Founded in 2018, Fashion Trust Arabia has become an important platform for identifying and supporting emerging regional talent, offering designers the financial resources, mentorship and international exposure needed to develop their businesses.
As the 2026 finalists prepare to take centre stage in Doha, this year’s edition offers another glimpse into the future of regional fashion: one defined by new perspectives, ambitious creativity and a generation increasingly ready to compete on the global stage.
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