Fashion fans in the UK and USA have another reason to tune in every Thursday as Project Runway Season 22 arrives with the biggest cast in the history of the franchise. Rather than easing viewers into the competition, the new season immediately raises the stakes with an unprecedented number of designers, a dramatic opening twist, and multiple eliminations before many contestants have even settled into the workroom.
Premiering on July 9, 2026, the latest installment of the long-running American fashion design reality competition series promises bigger challenges, more personalities, and higher pressure than ever before. Here’s everything officially confirmed so far.
Project Runway Season 22 Release Date, Judges, Streaming Details and Format
Project Runway Season 22 premiered on July 9, 2026, with a two-episode premiere on Freeform. Episodes stream shortly afterward on Hulu and Disney+, while new episodes continue to air weekly on Thursdays.
The series celebrates its 22nd season by introducing a record-breaking cast of 22 designers, making it the largest lineup the show has ever featured. It follows the success of Season 21 on Freeform.
Official Season Details
| Category | Official Information |
| Premiere Date | July 9, 2026 |
| Network | Freeform |
| Streaming | Hulu and Disney+ |
| New Episodes | Every Thursday |
| Host/Head Judge | Heidi Klum |
| Resident Judges | Nina García, Law Roach |
| Recurring Judge | Tyra Banks |
| Mentor | Christian Siriano |
| Episode Count | 10 episodes |
| Expected Finale | Early-to-mid September 2026 |
Heidi Klum returns as Host and Head Judge, joined once again by Nina García and Law Roach as resident judges. Tyra Banks joins the judging panel in an expanded recurring role after previously appearing as a guest judge, while Christian Siriano, winner of Season 4, returns as mentor.
The prize package remains consistent with recent seasons, including a fashion spread in Elle, cash, mentorship, and other grand prizes.
Project Runway Season 22 Premiere Twist Changes the Competition Immediately
Instead of beginning with a conventional challenge, the premiere asked every contestant to present a pre-made “signature look” created at home.
The judges selected six winners, who earned advantages and immunity moving forward, while several contestants were eliminated almost immediately. With 22 designers entering the competition, the dramatic twist quickly reduced the oversized field and established that this season would move at a much faster pace than previous installments.
The six designers advancing as winners of the opening challenge were:
- Elizabeth Shevelev
- Jude Mikulencak
- Varvara “Bobby” Diakonenkova
- Bryan Barrientos
- Chloe Magleby
- Andriy Volkov
Meanwhile, the episode concluded on a cliffhanger involving several other contestants, including Plane Jane, Q/Robby, R’Bonney, and Jeffrey, leaving viewers waiting for the next episode.
Complete Project Runway Season 22 Contestant List
Season 22 features designers from diverse backgrounds, including a returning contestant, RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni, a former Miss Universe, and a Next in Fashion finalist.
| Contestant | Background |
| Aaron Potts | Detroit, MI — Unisex label A.Potts blending function, modernity, and drama |
| Andrea Moore | New York City, NY — Street-fashion, gender-neutral silhouettes (eliminated early) |
| Andrew Dunayevskiy (Plane Jane) | 28, Boston, MA — RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16 alum |
| Andriy Volkov | Manhattan, NY — Ukrainian-born couture artist |
| Anna Molinari | New York City, NY — Sustainable fashion influencer |
| Bao Tranchi | Los Angeles, CA — Next in Fashion Season 2 finalist, celebrity costume designer and mother |
| Bi Pham | Da Nang, Vietnam / Pacific Northwest — Transitioned from science into modern ready-to-wear |
| Bryan Barrientos | New York City, NY — Peruvian-American designer with NYFW and Met Gala experience |
| Chloe Magleby | Provo, UT — Sustainable label Public Parts |
| Dani Bennett | Los Angeles, CA — Upcycling brand moonhAg; advanced past initial cuts |
| Elizabeth Shevelev | New York City, NY — Experimental textiles and anti-perfect philosophy |
| Jeffrey Kelly Abess | Orlando, FL — Lebanese-American couture glamour designer |
| Jennifer Daniels | Atlanta, GA — FIT graduate and former Project Runway model (eliminated early) |
| Joseph McRae | Charlotte, NC — Returning from Season 21 after finishing ninth |
| Jude Mikulencak | Brooklyn, NY |
| Naheim Muhammad | Los Angeles, CA |
| Octavius Terry | Atlanta, GA |
| Omolara “LRÉ the Artist” Odupita | Los Angeles, CA — Eliminated early |
| R’Bonney Nola (R’Bonney Gabriel) | 32, Houston, TX — Miss Universe 2022 and sustainable designer |
| Robert Crone (Q) | 29, Kansas City, MO — RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16 alum |
| Varvara “Bobby” Diakonenkova | Moscow, Russia |
| Yangyang Xu | New York City, NY |
Guest Judges Bring Star Power Throughout Project Runway Season 22
The season also welcomes an impressive lineup of guest judges and celebrity appearances.
Confirmed guest judges include Ciara, Fausto Puglisi, Ice Spice, Iman, Kiernan Shipka, Niecy Nash, Nina Dobrev, Sergio Hudson, Willy Chavarria, Winnie Harlow, and others.
Additional cameos feature Dancing with the Stars professionals alongside Summer House personalities including Paige DeSorbo and Hannah Berner.
Project Runway Season 22 Early Eliminations and What Comes Next
The premiere confirmed the eliminations of Jennifer Daniels, Andrea Moore, and LRÉ the Artist following the signature-look runway presentation.
As of July 10, 2026, immediately after the premiere, the competition remains underway. The season winner, complete elimination order, and later episode outcomes have not yet been revealed.
Early recaps have highlighted standout first impressions from several designers’ signature looks while emphasizing the heightened pressure created by the show’s largest cast and its bold elimination format. With only 10 episodes scheduled before an expected early-to-mid September 2026 finale, every runway presentation could prove decisive as the competition continues.
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