On Tuesday, September 8, New York Fashion Week will begin with a runway experience unlike any other. For the fourth consecutive year, ELYSIAN Impact presents CatWalk FurBaby, bringing together fashion, philanthropy and the undeniable charm of our four-legged friends for one extraordinary evening at Sony Hall in the heart of Times Square.
The formula is beautifully simple: 10 animal charities. 10 designers. 10 four-legged furbabies. 20 models. One unforgettable night.
But CatWalk FurBaby is about far more than the spectacle of the runway. Conceived as a celebration of compassion and purpose, the event transforms one of fashion’s most iconic stages into a platform for organizations devoted to protecting, rescuing and improving the lives of animals. Each participating team brings together a designer, models, an animal charity and a beloved furbaby, creating a singular intersection of style and storytelling.
Under the lights of Sony Hall, fashion takes on a deeper meaning. The evening invites guests to experience the artistry, energy and glamour of New York Fashion Week while shining a spotlight on the remarkable people and organizations working every day on behalf of animals in need.
Produced in collaboration with Runway 7, CatWalk FurBaby officially launches the 2026 New York Fashion Week season at Sony Hall. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the runway beginning at 7:00 p.m., setting the stage for an evening filled with fashion, personality, entertainment and purpose.
This year’s CatWalk FurBaby runway brings together an extraordinary roster of creative talent, beginning with Marc Bouwer and continuing with Victor De Souza, Anne Fontaine, L’Agence, Cate Brown, D’Marsh Couture, Hot Girl Quilting, Bless by Bless, Magpies & Peacocks, Halyna Shunevych and Any Old Iron. Their distinctive collections will take the runway alongside models, rescue partners and the evening’s true stars: the FurBabies themselves. Together, these designers transform fashion into a celebration of compassion, using creativity and couture to shine a light on the animals waiting for a second chance and the people dedicated to giving them one.
And there is a competitive spirit woven into the evening. The 2026 presentation features People’s Choice (cast your vote here), Judges’ Choice and Publisher’s Choice awards, with a $25,000 award pool supporting the winning teams and their charitable partners. Participating nonprofits and designers also receive guaranteed financial support, ensuring that the impact of the evening extends well beyond the applause.
That is ultimately what makes CatWalk FurBaby so compelling. It is glamorous without being frivolous, sophisticated without losing its heart, and entertaining while remaining firmly rooted in purpose. It demonstrates that fashion can do more than capture attention. It can direct attention toward something meaningful.
For one night, the runway becomes a place where couture meets compassion, where designers become advocates, and where animals are not simply part of the show, but the reason for it.
As the lights rise at Sony Hall and the first model steps onto the runway, New York Fashion Week will begin with a message that deserves to be seen, celebrated and remembered: when fashion has a purpose, beauty can become a force for change.
On September 8, ELYSIAN Impact invites New York to witness it firsthand.
Ten charities. Ten designers. Ten furbabies. Twenty models. One night of amazing.
And one very important cause.