Agua by Agua Bendita, awarded the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid International Designer Award, opens official calendar in September 2026

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid, the runway platform organized by IFEMA MADRID alongside Madrid City Council, continues to advance its international outlook with the addition of Latin American Fashion Awards as a special guest for its upcoming September 2026 edition. As part of this collaboration, the platform will present Colombian label Agua by Agua Bendita—one of the most compelling voices in contemporary Latin American fashion—which will open the official Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid calendar. 

Renowned for its distinctive visual language and its celebration of Latin American craftsmanship, Agua by Agua Bendita has established itself as one of Colombia’s most internationally resonant fashion houses. Its participation at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid, in collaboration with Latin American Fashion Awards, marks a new chapter in the creative dialogue between Latin America and Europe—aligned with a shared vision to champion design that brings together cultural identity, sustainability, and creative excellence. 

From Agua by Agua Bendita, the brand has welcomed its participation on the Madrid runway: “For us, opening the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid calendar at this moment represents a particularly significant milestone. It is an opportunity to bring our identity—deeply rooted in craftsmanship—to a globally recognized stage. Being part of this platform reinforces our commitment to building cultural bridges and sharing the creative richness of our region with new audiences.”

The Colombian brand arrives at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid supported by Latin American Fashion Awards, the globally influential platform created to democratize access, amplify visibility and foster the development of the best Latin American talent on the international stage. Open and free to creatives from more than 27 countries, it has generated over 4.8 billion global media impressions—firmly establishing itself as the most relevant and prestigious platform for Latin American fashion worldwide. Its mission is supported by a jury featuring some of the industry’s most influential figures, including Donatella Versace and Haider Ackermann as jury presidents in recent editions, alongside leading voices such as Nina García, Carmen Busquets, and Gabriela Hearst.

“Today, Latin American fashion holds a central place in the global fashion conversation, and our designers are redefining the narrative of the industry. Collaborating with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid and presenting a brand like Agua by Agua Bendita at such a significant moment represents exactly the kind of bridges we must continue building together,” said Silvia Argüello and Constanza Cavalli Etro, founders of Latin American Fashion Awards.

With this addition, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid further strengthens its commitment to opening its platform to new creative voices—while expanding its international reach and its capacity to shape the global fashion conversation. The collaboration with Latin American Fashion Awards and Agua by Agua Bendita not only elevates the visibility of Latin American designers but also contributes to positioning Madrid as a key capital for Ibero-American fashion.

Agua by Agua Bendita’s participation at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid, supported by Latin American Fashion Awards and recognized with this edition’s International Designer Award, marks a strategic step that further strengthens both the international reach of Madrid’s runway and the global projection of Latin American talent—consolidating the city as a natural bridge between the two markets.