No Vax, No Entry: NYFW Announces New COVID Attendance Restrictions
NYFW is restricting attendance to this year’s Fall shows to only include fully vaccinated guests.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America, in collaboration with IMG, have officially updated their attendance policies to only include fully vaccinated guests to this season’s New York Fashion Week. A spokesperson for The Council of Fashion Designers of America told Business of Fashion that anyone interested in attending this season’s events must have proof of vaccination upon entry: “Together, we encourage the broader industry to follow suit and protect the wellbeing of our fashion community this September,” a spokesperson said. “We will closely follow updates and recommendations from the CDC, New York State and City, releasing comprehensive health and safety guidelines in mid-August.”
This season’s NYFW: The Shows at Spring Studios are predicted to be a jam-packed in-person return to runway shows. It will include shows hosted by Christian Siriano, Jason Wu, Coach, and Telfar, among others.
On Monday, WWD reported that IMG sent out a memo to all interested parties– including designers, vendors, sponsors, and P.R. teams– stating that all guests hoping to attend NYFW: The Shows at Spring Studios this season must be fully inoculated against COVID-19. The memo was reported to outline severe restrictions regarding the event, in accordance with guidelines set at the state and federal levels: “Strict compliance will be enforced with admittance denied for non-compliance, subject to state and federal law.”
IMG also told designers that they would be responsible for upholding the new restrictions and guidelines set for the show. The restrictions apply to everyone involved in each show and its production– including guests, staff members, and contractors.
The two hosts have yet to announce regulations around COVID health-related procedure and protocol during the shows, particularly regarding mask-wearing and sanitation restrictions, but are said to roll-out these decisions within the coming weeks.
This news comes off the heels of updated COVID-related policy throughout New York City. Proof of vaccination is now required in all indoor spaces like gyms and restaurants throughout NYC, following concerns about the rapid transmissibility of the COVID-19 Delta variant.
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