The Spring/Summer 2026 fashion month, which saw historic creative director debuts at houses like Chanel, Dior, and Gucci, was defined by a seismic shift in casting. Beyond the new design visions, the runways introduced an unforgettable cohort of models—a mix of high-fashion debutantes, children of music and movie icons, and established actors claiming the catwalk for the first time.

This season’s breakout stars didn’t just walk the shows; they made the news, cementing a new era where runway presence is less about a traditional pedigree and more about cultural impact.

Here are the 10 breakout models who defined the Spring/Summer 2026 runways:

The Debutante Stars

This season’s biggest headline was the unprecedented influx of “Nepo-Models,” whose high-profile debuts turned shows into viral moments.

1. Sunday Rose Kidman Urban

  • The Moment: After a stealth debut last season, the daughter of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban solidified her high-fashion standing with coveted turns on the Calvin Klein and Khaite runways in New York. Her reserved elegance was a perfect fit for the American sportswear reset.

2. Scarlett Teresa White

  • The Moment: Following in her legendary mother Karen Elson’s footsteps, the daughter of the supermodel and musician Jack White made her European runway mark, walking the highly-anticipated shows for Simone Rocha and Ann Demeulemeester. Her rock-n-roll meets romantic aesthetic instantly captivated the fashion crowd.

3. Vivian Wilson

  • The Moment: The estranged daughter of Elon Musk made a significant, buzzed-about runway debut, appearing in a total of three shows including Prabal Gurung and Dauphinette during New York Fashion Week, showcasing a confident, new-generation presence.

The New Guard Ascendant

While the season featured fewer traditional fresh faces, a few rising stars cemented their status as the industry’s new runway queens with key placements.

4. Awar Odhiang

  • The Moment: While already a rising name, Odhiang became a true breakout by stealing the show at Matthieu Blazy’s historic first ready-to-wear collection for Chanel. Her finale walk in a magnificent, feathered ball skirt instantly became one of the most talked-about looks of Paris Fashion Week.

5. Stella Hanan

  • The Moment: Hanan, who has been quietly building a massive resume, confirmed her status as one of the hardest-working and most versatile models of the moment, walking for virtually every major house from Milan to Paris, including Versace and Gucci, confirming her dominance for seasons to come.

6. An unnamed New Face at Loewe

  • The Moment: Jonathan Anderson’s debut womenswear collection for Dior and his collection at Loewe were highlights. While an official name has not yet broken through the noise, the model who opened Loewe’s show in a beautifully deconstructed trench created a quiet, powerful moment that defined the brand’s new, artisanal direction.

The Iconic Walkers

This season, the definition of a “breakout” expanded to include A-list actors who unexpectedly graced the runway, adding an undeniable cinematic drama to the shows.

7. Sandra Hüller

  • The Moment: The Oscar-nominated star of Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest made a dramatic, unforgettable high-fashion debut by opening Miu Miu. Her walk set the tone for Miuccia Prada’s collection, blending cerebral talent with everyday style.

8. S. Coups (Seventeen)

  • The Moment: The K-Pop idol and leader of the group Seventeen made a high-impact debut in Milan by closing the Hugo Boss show. His appearance underscored the growing power of K-Pop’s influence on global fashion and luxury brand campaigns.

9. Laura Dern

  • The Moment: The Oscar-winning actress of Jurassic Park and Marriage Story walked for Gabriela Hearst, lending her signature gravitas and earthy elegance to the brand’s sustainably-minded, sophisticated collection.

10. Tracey Norman

  • The Moment: The legendary model and boundary-breaker, who was the first Black transgender woman to be featured on a box of Clairol in the 1970s, made a powerful return to the runway for Luar in New York. At 71, her appearance was a cultural exclamation point on the industry’s embrace of icons and lasting representation.