Applications are Now Open for Global Change Award 2026: €200,000 Grant for Fashion Innovators

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Application Deadline: October 6, 2025

The H&M Foundation has officially opened applications for the Global Change Award (GCA) 2026, one of the world’s leading innovation challenges for sustainable fashion. Launched in 2015, the award was created to accelerate the transition toward a circular, climate-positive fashion industry by supporting groundbreaking ideas, innovators, and changemakers.

Each year, GCA identifies and supports ten winners who are pioneering solutions that could reshape the future of fashion. Winners gain international recognition, access to global industry leaders, and financial support to develop and scale their ideas.

Focus Areas of the Global Change Award 2026

The H&M Foundation is looking for innovations that fall within four key categories shaping the future of fashion:

  • Wildcards – Bold, unexpected ideas that could transform multiple areas of the fashion value chain.
  • Sustainable Materials and Processes – Solutions such as low-energy fabrics, recycled fibers, alternative wet processes, eco-friendly finishes, and new construction techniques.
  • Responsible Production – Innovations that improve energy efficiency, introduce renewable energy, enable waste reduction, promote on-demand models, or achieve zero-waste manufacturing.
  • Mindful Consumption – Concepts that extend garment life cycles, promote garment care, enable recycling solutions, and introduce circular business models.

These categories highlight GCA’s commitment to reimagining how clothing is designed, produced, consumed, and recycled.

Benefits of Winning the Global Change Award

The GCA is more than a prize; it is a launchpad for changemakers who want to shape the future of fashion. Winners receive three powerful benefits:

1. A Yearlong Changemaker Programme

Winners join the Changemaker Programme, developed with Accenture, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and contributing partner The Mills Fabrica. The program features immersive in-person weeks, expert sessions, mentorship opportunities, and an expansive peer network that helps innovators refine and scale their solutions.

2. €200,000 Grant and Global Recognition

Each of the ten winners is awarded an unrestricted €200,000 grant to support the growth of their idea. Winners are also celebrated at the prestigious Stockholm City Hall, home of the Nobel Prize banquet, and showcased on a global stage before leading textile industry players.

3. Access to Industry and the GCA Community

Winners gain entry into GCA’s thriving global network of brands, suppliers, researchers, investors, and changemakers. This community provides the partnerships and resources needed to test, refine, and expand innovative solutions across the fashion value chain.

Application Timeline for GCA 2026

The application and selection process is structured as follows:

  • Proposal Period: Open until 6 October 2025, 8:00 AM CET. Applications are reviewed by The Mills Fabrica, with notifications sent by the end of October 2025.
  • Screening: December 2025 – March 2026. Submissions will be reviewed in collaboration with industry experts, partners, and an expert panel.
  • Winner Notification: April 2026.
  • Public Announcement: May 2026.
  • Changemaker Programme: Begins May 2026.
  • Award Ceremony: October 2026, at Stockholm City Hall, Sweden.

Why Apply for the Global Change Award?

The Global Change Award has become a benchmark for sustainable fashion innovation. Since its inception, it has empowered dozens of startups and changemakers who are now influencing how the fashion industry produces, distributes, and consumes clothing. For forward-thinking entrepreneurs, innovators, and researchers, GCA offers visibility, funding, and the connections required to bring transformative solutions to life.

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Applications are now open and will close on 6 October 2025. This is a unique opportunity to join a global community of changemakers working toward a sustainable, circular, and innovative fashion future.

For more information and to apply, CLICK  HERE 

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