2026 DRESSED TO KILT - We can now confirm that the date of the next show is Saturday evening, April 11, 2026, in New York City. Should you wish to be involved in this show as a model, designer or sponsor, please contact us at dressedtokilt1@earthlink.net
2026
Theme
The 2026 Dressed to Kilt show will not be focusing on any single genre of clothing, but rather we will explore the wide range and diversity of Scottish fashion. We shall of course promote and showcase the traditional attire of Scottish heritage, the kilts and the tartans. We shall be highlighting contemporary Scottish designers who blend tradition with innovation. We shall be promoting Scotland’s rich textile history, including wool, tweed and cashmere. We shall also show you how Scottish fashion is influenced by its landscapes and cultural history. We shall show you some of the designs from the top university fashion & textile programs and students. And we will of course explore the growing trend of sustainable fashion within the Scottish industry. You will see that Scottish fashion is an intersection of history, culture and innovation. Following tonight’s show we hope that you will all better appreciate our rich heritage and the contemporary relevance of Scottish fashion.
For those of you who are new to Dressed to Kilt, it is the largest, most prestigious and exciting Scottish fashion show in the world. It was co-founded in 2003 by Sir Sean Connery and Dr. Geoffrey Scott Carroll. It is also one of the highest profile fashion shows in the United States in terms of press & media generation. Though the fashion runways of New York City are the home of Dressed to Kilt, this annual celebrity show has recently performed to sold-out standing room only audiences in a castle, a cathedral, Washington DC, an airplane hangar in Houston and most recently in Toronto, Canada. The Toronto show was by far the largest DTK fashion show ever in terms of audience size and in terms of media impressions. The Toronto show generated between 8-9 million media impressions.
Scotland Cool – Braveheart to Outlander
The
Venue
New York Academy of Medicine
1216 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029
The 2026 DTK show will be held at the New York Academy of Medicine building on Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue and 103rd Street across from Central Park. The NYAM is a health policy and advocacy organization founded in 1847 by a group of leading New York metropolitan area physicians as a voice for the medical profession in medical practice and public health reform. In 1866, NYAM was instrumental in the establishment of the Metropolitan Board of Health, the first modern municipal public health authority in the United States. For over 178 years , NYAM has been a driving force for progress, helping transform the landscape of health through independent thinking, rigorous research and dynamic collaboration. Today NYAM has over 3,000 fellows, that include doctors, nurses, health care administrators and professionals in all fields dedicated to maintaining and improving health.
In 1926 the Academy moved to its current six-story building. The Academy’s first connection to Scotland occurred here, as the funds for the construction of this building were provided by the Carnegie Corporation, the philanthropic arm of Scot’s industrialist, Andrew Carnegie. The building exterior has a very unique and eclectic style. The Academy Library is home to one of the most significant collections of medicine and public health and is open to the general public. The library today holds more than 550,000 volumes and bridges centuries of medical knowledge, and their community of diverse Fellows amplifies their collective impact to address future needs and health trends. United by a common purpose and strengthened by their independence, they are not only imagining a better future; they are turning vision into lasting progress for healthier communities, generation after generation. We think that you will agree that this building is an incredible venue to hold our 2026 Dressed to Kilt show.
The
Chairman's Remarks
Dear Friends of Scotland,
For the first time the Dressed to Kilt team decided to create a “Greatest Highlights” video from the past 20 years of our show (seen below). It was not an easy process to select these few best moments and we left so many more on the cutting room floor. We very much hope that you are able to feel from this video the excitement, the joy, the spirit of philanthropy and the pure passion and enthusiasm and pride that we share for our Scottish culture. We have shared with the audiences our fashion, our music, our celebrities and even some of our history. You will also recognize many of the stars that have graced our runway through the years. We want to thank all of you who have supported our event and our efforts throughout the years. This includes our sponsors, our contributing designers, our models and the individuals who have purchased tickets to our events. We owe our success to you guys. Coming from just an idea in 2003 to now being considered one of the highest profile fashion shows in the world according to the press & media on both sides of the Atlantic. And if you are being introduced to Dressed to Kilt for the first time, we hope that you will want to come and join us at our next show which is now confirmed for Saturday evening, April 11, 2026 here in Manhattan. It has been a very exciting and rewarding two-decade ride for all of us involved and we are now ready to get started on this next decade.
With kindest regards,
Dr. Geoffrey Scott Carroll / Co-Founder & CEO
The Sean Connery Tartan & Dressed To Kilt
Featured on BBC
The
Charity
The pulsating rhythm of fashion runways usually reverberate with cutthroat competition, rapid trend evolution and insatiable hunger for novelty. Amidst this dazzling, ever-changing spectacle, Dressed to Kilt has etched a distinctive identity that goes beyond merely showcasing celebrity models in traditional kilts or stunning professional models in the latest fashion-forward attire. At the heart of this show is charity and philanthropy. The charity facet of the show is well-recognized within industry corridors. DTK has raised significant sums for Veteran’s causes throughout the years, earning acclaim and extensive recognition. Our partnership with the Navy SEAL Foundation has drawn renewed attention and admiration for our endeavors. In every recent show there have been several former Navy SEALs doing their best to imitate Fifth Avenue runway models.
The Navy SEALS are considered the most elite warriors in the world, and their Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF) focuses on helping the families of the SEALS and they stand at the forefront of crucial care for this unique community. They are there to help the SEAL families every step of the way. The Navy SEALS operate with deliberate stealth beyond the reach of conventional forces, engaging in direct action, hostage rescue and many other specialized mission sets. Through these clandestine missions the SEALS continue to sacrifice for our nation, maintaining their global presence and always at the ready.
Like the special warfare community that they serve, the Navy SEAL Foundation is also a very high-performing organization. Charity Navigator has awarded the NSF a 4-star rating since 2009 and a prfect score of “100” since 2014 for their financial health, accountability and transparency. The NSF ranks higher than 99.9% of charities nationwide and importantly, ninety-four cents of every dollar donated directly funds their programs.
THE DRESSED TO KILT
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
“I wanted to personally thank you and your Dressed to Kilt colleagues for your significant financial contribution. Your generous partnership with the Navy SEAL Foundation makes a difference for these brave warriors, their Naval Special Warfare teammates and to their families”
Robin King , Chief Executive Officer
Navy SEAL Foundation