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September 7, 2026
October brings something new to Nantucket this year. From October 9 to 11, 2026, the island will host The Nantucket Edit — its very first fashion weekend. This three-day event brings together runway shows, designer conversations, trunk shows, private receptions, and island shopping, all set against the backdrop of one of New England’s most beautiful fall destinations. Additionally, the event carries a meaningful philanthropic purpose: a portion of proceeds supports women’s health programming at Nantucket Cottage Hospital.
Whether you are a fashion lover, a curious traveler, or a local looking for something exciting this Columbus Day weekend, this guide covers everything you need to know.
What Is The Nantucket Edit?
The Nantucket Edit is an inaugural fashion and lifestyle weekend created by founder and executive producer AJ Williams. Williams described the vision simply: “I created The Nantucket Edit to bring fashion, commerce and community together during one of the island’s most beautiful seasons.”
The event is built around three core values — culture, community, and change. It is not just a runway show. It is a full weekend experience designed to connect designers, retailers, media, and guests in a setting that feels personal and intimate. Nantucket’s small size and off-season quiet make it the perfect backdrop. The island measures just 14 miles across, so every venue, conversation, and encounter feels close and genuine.
Furthermore, The Nantucket Edit aims to extend Nantucket’s tourism season beyond the busy summer months. October on the island means smaller crowds, cooler air, golden light, and a more relaxed pace. That atmosphere shapes the entire event.
Key Dates and Schedule Overview
The weekend runs from Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11, 2026. Each day has its own identity and focus.
| Day | Theme | Key Highlights |
| Friday, October 9 | The Edit Arrival | Welcome Reception (7–9 PM), cocktails, first looks at collections, designer meet-and-greet |
| Saturday, October 10 | The Main Event | Designer Talks, pop-ups, trunk shows, Signature Fashion Show, The After Party |
| Sunday, October 11 | The Last Word | Designer Brunch, fashion presentation, retail therapy, pop-ups |
Friday sets the tone. Guests gather for the Welcome Reception from 7 to 9 PM, where cocktails flow and conversations begin. Designers, retail partners, media, and island leaders all come together before the main program starts.
Saturday is the heart of the weekend. Designer talks happen throughout the afternoon at various intimate locations around the island. The evening brings the Signature Fashion Show — a seated runway experience featuring island retailers and visiting designers. After the show ends, The After Party begins. Importantly, your Fashion Show ticket includes entry to The After Party, so the evening keeps going after the runway lights come down.
Sunday offers a quieter close. The Designer Brunch runs from 10 AM to 2 PM and includes a luxury fashion presentation and a moderated panel conversation. Pop-up shops and retail events continue through the afternoon, giving guests one last chance to discover something worth taking home.
Featured Designers and Luminaries
The inaugural edition of The Nantucket Edit features a strong and carefully chosen lineup of designers and industry voices.
Jonathan Simkhai is among the most prominent names. As the founder and creative director of SIMKHAI, he has built a modern fashion house known for its refined aesthetic and thoughtful craftsmanship. He will appear at The Business of Fashion talk on Saturday alongside legendary retailer Debi Greenberg.
Debi Greenberg is a fashion retail authority with decades of experience. She spent years discovering emerging designers and shaping retail culture through Louis of Boston, one of the most influential fashion boutiques in New England. Her presence brings serious industry credibility to the conversation.
Tara West is a celebrity stylist and on-air fashion expert. She will join creative director and image-maker Julie Matos for The Cult of Good Taste, a conversation about how personal style is shaped and who gets to decide what looks good.
Additionally, Katherine Jetter of The Vault Nantucket and winemaker Joseph Carr of Josh Cellars will join The Founders talk on Saturday. That conversation, moderated by journalist Lisa Pierpont, explores what it takes to build brands that people genuinely want to belong to.
Ticket Options and Pricing
The Nantucket Edit offers several ticket options to match different interests and budgets. Because venues across Nantucket are intentionally intimate, capacity is strictly limited. Here is a full breakdown:
| Ticket | Day | Price |
| All-Access Badge (limited to 50) | Full Weekend | $1,250 |
| Signature Fashion Show + After Party | Saturday Evening | $400 |
| Welcome Reception | Friday, 7–9 PM | $175 |
| The Business of Fashion Talk | Saturday Afternoon | $150 |
| The Founders Talk | Saturday Afternoon | $125 |
| The Cult of Good Taste Talk | Saturday Afternoon | $125 |
| Designer Brunch + Fashion Presentation | Sunday, 10 AM–2 PM | $125 |
| Pop-up Retail and Trunk Shows | All Three Days | Free |
The All-Access Badge is the most complete option. It covers every door across all three days — Friday’s Welcome Reception, Saturday’s talks, a reserved front-row seat at the Signature Fashion Show, The After Party, and Sunday’s Designer Brunch through the closing toast. It also includes early access to Saturday’s pop-up shops before they open to the general public. Only 50 badges exist, and the organizers have made clear they will not be reissued.
However, if you only want to experience one or two moments, individual tickets are available for each event separately. Tickets go first to email subscribers, so it is worth joining the list at nantucketedit.com before public sales open.
The Signature Fashion Show
The centerpiece of the weekend is the Signature Fashion Show on Saturday evening. It is a seated runway experience presenting a curated selection of designers and collections chosen for craftsmanship, relevance, and point of view.
Featured retail partners on the runway include The Wheat, ASHA by Ashley McCormick, Faherty, Erica Wilson, Beau and Ro, Remy, Nomad, Bodega, Center Pointe, Inkerman, and Ellsworth + Ivey. Josh Cellars serves as the official wine partner for the event.
Therefore, the fashion show is not just about seeing beautiful clothes on a runway. It is also a celebration of Nantucket’s own retail community — the local shops and makers that give the island its distinctive style. Each brand on the runway has a story, and the show gives guests a reason to visit those stores in person throughout the weekend.
Designer Talks: Saturday Afternoon Conversations
Three separate designer talks take place on Saturday afternoon. Each one is a ticketed, limited-seating event held at intimate locations across the island.
The Business of Fashion features Debi Greenberg and Jonathan Simkhai in conversation about creativity, retail, and what it means to build something original. Journalist Lisa Pierpont moderates. The talk is hosted at Billie’s Nantucket.
The Cult of Good Taste brings together Tara West and Julie Matos to explore the nature of personal style. They will examine the tension between individuality and the influence of social media, algorithms, and broader cultural forces. Boston Common Magazine’s Francesca Mills Purcell moderates.
The Founders gathers Katherine Jetter, Lindsay Rose Rando, and Joseph Carr to discuss the decisions behind building brands that endure. This one is moderated by Lisa Pierpont and promises candid conversation about instincts, mistakes, and the moments that define a brand’s direction.
Shopping and Retail Events
Not every part of the weekend requires a ticket. Pop-up retail shops and trunk shows run across all three days and are free and open to the public. Island retailers host in-store events, special sales, and launch collections throughout the weekend.
The full roster of participating retail partners includes:
- The Wheat
- ASHA by Ashley McCormick
- Faherty
- Erica Wilson
- Beau and Ro
- Remy
- Nomad
- Bodega
- Center Pointe
- Res Ipsa
- Murray’s Toggery Shop
- Sara Campbell
- Legit
- Vineyard Vines
- Inkerman
- Ellsworth + Ivey
These shops represent some of Nantucket’s most beloved local businesses. Therefore, even guests who attend only the free retail events will get a meaningful taste of the weekend’s spirit.
Community and Philanthropy
The Nantucket Edit is designed with purpose from the ground up. Nantucket Cottage Hospital is the official philanthropic partner. A portion of net ticket proceeds goes directly to their women’s health programming.
This commitment ties the event to something larger than fashion. It connects guests to the island community in a genuine way. All financial transactions are processed through Givinga Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Visitor Guide: Planning Your Stay
October is one of the best times to visit Nantucket. Crowds thin out after Labor Day, and the island takes on a quieter, more personal character. Restaurants remain open. Shops stay welcoming. The light turns golden and the pace slows down.
The organizers suggest arriving Friday afternoon and staying through Monday morning for the full experience. That gives you time to settle in before the Welcome Reception and allows a leisurely final morning before departure.
Getting to Nantucket requires either a ferry or a short flight. The Steamship Authority and Hy-Line Cruises both run ferries from Hyannis, with the trip taking approximately one hour. Alternatively, Cape Air offers frequent flights from Boston, Hyannis, and other regional airports. Booking early is strongly recommended, as Columbus Day weekend is one of the most popular times to visit.
Hotel accommodations on the island are limited. The official hotel partner for The Nantucket Edit is offering a group rate for the weekend. Guests can find the link through the stay and travel section of nantucketedit.com. Additionally, vacation rentals are widely available across the island through platforms like VRBO and Airbnb, though availability during Columbus Day weekend fills up quickly.
Here are a few practical tips for visiting:
- Book travel and lodging as early as possible. October on Nantucket is popular.
- Dress in layers. October temperatures typically range from the mid-40s to the low 60s Fahrenheit.
- Most venues are walkable from downtown. The island is small and easy to navigate on foot or by bike.
- Sign up for The Nantucket Edit email list to receive ticket release announcements before the general public.
- The dress code for the Designer Brunch is described simply as “fashionable, of course.”
What Makes This Weekend Different
Most fashion events happen in large cities. They take place in big venues, surrounded by crowds, with little time for genuine conversation. The Nantucket Edit is built on a different premise entirely.
The island itself is the venue. Every event happens across Nantucket’s intimate downtown spaces, boutiques, and hospitality venues. The size of the island means you might run into a designer at a coffee shop in the morning and sit next to a retailer at the runway show that evening. That kind of closeness is rare in the fashion world.
Furthermore, the event is inaugural. There is something exciting about being part of the first edition of something new. The organizers have thought carefully about each detail, from the ticket structure to the philanthropic tie-in. The result feels considered rather than rushed.
Conclusion
The Nantucket Edit is a brand-new kind of event for a destination that has always had style. Running October 9 to 11, 2026 across Columbus Day weekend, it brings together a runway show, intimate designer conversations, curated retail experiences, and a genuine philanthropic mission — all on a 14-mile island at its most beautiful time of year.
The key names to know are Jonathan Simkhai, Debi Greenberg, and Tara West, among others. Ticket options range from free retail events to a $1,250 All-Access Badge limited to just 50 guests. The Signature Fashion Show on Saturday evening is the anchor event, with The After Party included in every show ticket. Sunday closes with a Designer Brunch and fashion presentation.
If you have been looking for a reason to visit Nantucket in the fall, this is it. Book early, dress well, and get on the email list before tickets sell out.
Visit nantucketedit.com for the latest announcements, ticket availability, and schedule updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Nantucket Fashion Weekend 2026?
The Nantucket Edit runs from Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11, 2026, coinciding with Columbus Day weekend.
How do I buy tickets for The Nantucket Edit?
Tickets are available at nantucketedit.com/tickets. Subscribers to the email list receive access to ticket releases first. Options range from individual event tickets starting at $125 to the All-Access Badge at $1,250.
Who are the featured designers at The Nantucket Edit 2026?
The confirmed lineup includes fashion designer Jonathan Simkhai, retail authority Debi Greenberg, celebrity stylist Tara West, and jeweler Katherine Jetter of The Vault Nantucket, among others.
Are any events free to attend?
Yes. Pop-up retail events and trunk shows run across all three days and are free and open to the public, featuring a full roster of Nantucket island retailers.
Where should I stay during The Nantucket Edit?
The event website lists an official hotel partner with group rates available at nantucketedit.com/stay-travel. Vacation rentals are also available, but Columbus Day weekend fills up fast. Book accommodations as early as possible.
