Now in its 24th edition, ITS Contest reaffirms its standing as one of the most authoritative international platforms dedicated to discovering and championing emerging talent in fashion design. The contest, whose final stages will take place in Trieste next March, presents the new concept “Rise and Shine“: “An invitation to young creatives to get involved and respond with awareness, courage, and imagination to the challenges and uncertainties of our time,” explain the organisers.

 
“Every ITS project is born from an act of trust and a shared vision. I believe in creativity as a force that unites, that heals, that builds bridges between people and generations. Those who choose to walk with us do not just support a contest or a museum, but participate in a movement that puts beauty at the service of the future,” said Barbara Franchin, president of the ITS Foundation and founder of ITS Contest and ITS Arcademy – Museum of Art in Fashion.

The format of ITS Contest 2026 reaffirms the approach successfully adopted in the previous edition. Ten designers, selected from hundreds of applications from around the world, will receive the “I:C 10 × 10 × 10 Award”, which includes: participation in a ten-day creative residency in Trieste, supported by tutors and industry professionals; the opportunity to present their work for ten months in the Rise and Shine exhibition, hosted by ITS Arcademy – Museum of Art in Fashion; and a cash award of €10,000.

The selection of new talent is currently underway, with an international jury set to conclude its work during the final event from March 19 to 20, 2026. ITS Contest 2026 enjoys the support and collaboration of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and PromoTurismoFVG. It is organised in partnership with the OTB Group, Swatch and Ray-Ban, part of EssilorLuxottica, and under the patronage of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, Fondazione Ferragamo, Fondazione Sozzani, Modateca Deanna, Pitti Tutoring & Consulting, and Inside Out FTH.

“ITS is an extraordinary laboratory of creativity that, for over two decades, has discovered some of the most influential fashion talents of our time within the luxury industry. Younger generations have a fresh vision of fashion; for them, sustainability is innate and indispensable, and the courage to explore new forms, materials and perspectives comes naturally. As we await this year’s finalists, I hope they all shine and are always guided by instinct,” said Renzo Rosso, chairman and founder of OTB Group.

In addition to the Rise and Shine exhibition featuring the contest finalists, next year ITS Arcademy – Museum of Art in Fashion will host other exhibitions, including “Exposure”, in which Tom Eerebout — an internationally renowned Belgian stylist and collaborator of artists such as Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue, Rita Ora and Harry Styles — shares his world through a selection of creations worn by some of pop culture’s most famous personalities, including those of designers who took their first steps in Trieste during their experience at ITS Contest.