Winners of National Designers Runway 2026 celebrate their titles after the grand finale in Kathmandu.
A stylish night as “The National Designers Runway 2026” wrapped up with energy, creativity, and fresh talent on full display. This year’s show stood out for one clear reason, it focused only on female designers, giving young women in fashion a strong platform to shine.
Among them, Aakriti Shrestha stole the spotlight. A student from Namuna College of Fashion Technology (22nd batch), she won the title with a bold and creative collection that impressed both judges and audience. Along with the win, she took home a cash prize of Rs. 25,000.
Anisha Thapa from IIFT Nepal secured the First Runner-Up position, while Unika Rai from Namuna College became the Second Runner-Up. The audience favorite award went to Samjhana K.C., showing her strong support from the crowd. On the runway, Bibika Poudel stood out and won the Best Runway Model title with her confident walk and strong presence.
Aakriti Shrestha crowned winner of National Designers Runway 2026, holding her trophy and Rs. 25,000 prize.
A total of 19 female designers from across Nepal presented their collections. The designs were modern, stylish, and made for female models, but what made them special was the mix of tradition and trend. Many outfits combined Nepali fabrics like Dhaka with modern cuts, giving a fresh and unique look.
This year, designers also took inspiration from international red carpets. From flowing gowns and bold cuts to sequins, metallic shades, and dramatic styles, the runway felt glamorous. Some designs even carried a touch of Hollywood and Bollywood fashion, with off-shoulder styles, high slits, and statement looks.
Beyond style, the collections told a bigger story: confidence, strength, and the changing identity of modern women.
Winners of National Designers Runway 2026 celebrate their titles after the grand finale in Kathmandu.
The event was judged by Bishal Gurung, Swikriti Pakkurel, Suchita Sachi, and Ashwini Kant Jha, who evaluated the designers based on creativity, originality, and overall presentation.
The show was hosted and choreographed by Rojin Shakya, Organized by Evento’s Nepal under Devil Singh Rajput, the event was successfully managed with the support of Yadav Bahadur Thapa, Parmanand Chaudhary, and Shailesh Nepali.
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