Gran Canaria Swim Week

Karolina Kurkova is the face of Gran Canaria Swim Week 2025, which is gaining momentum and attracting more talent in its 17th edition

2025-10-17

The president of the Gran Canaria Island Council, Antonio Morales, and the Minister of Economic Development, Minerva Alonso, have unveiled the highlights of the new edition

Gran Canaria Swim Week 2025 promotes emerging talent and sustainable fashion, combining the essence of Gran Canaria with major international brands

Europe’s leading swimwear fashion show returns this October witha firm commitment to expanding both its international influence and its support for local designers

Karolina Kurkova, the iconic international supermodel, will be the face of this edition of GCSW 2025

The Pasito Blanco Marina will once again be the centerpiece of GCSW’s opening day

The fashion shows can be followed live via GCSW website

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, October 17, 2025.

The Cabildo of Gran Canaria has today revealed the new features of the upcoming edition of Gran Canaria Swim Week, which will begin on October 22 with an opening day of shows at puerto deportivo Pasito Blanco. On this occasion, international top model Karolina Kurkova will take to the runway to inaugurate the 17th edition.

The event will continue for three additional days, until October 25, at Expomeloneras in Maspalomas. The key elements of GCSW 2025, Europe’s leading swimwear runway and an international benchmark in the sector, were presented by Antonio Morales, President of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, and Minerva Alonso, Councillor for Economic Development. The presentation was also attended by Modesto Lomba, President of the Spanish Fashion Creators Association (ACME).

Statements

Antonio Morales, President of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, stated during the presentation of this new edition that “Gran Canaria Swim Week represents an essential part of our identity as an island. This event reflects not only our commitment to the landscape and sustainability, but also a clear and well-established mission and vision.”

From Gran Canaria, he added, “we want to continue elevating the swimwear sector in Europe by bringing together creativity, diversity and sustainability. Our goal is to consolidate our position as an international benchmark through a progressive, responsible and inclusive approach.”

Moreover, the island’s president highlighted that “Being Gran Canaria: an island of values represents our commitment to a fashion industry that reflects the very best of our identity. Gran Canaria Swim Week incorporates an ethical code based on diversity, equity, inclusion and sustainability, with brands that use 100% recycled fabrics and implement responsible practices to reduce environmental impact. We promote respect, freedom of expression, emerging talent, community collaboration and cultural integration, reaffirming Gran Canaria as a creative, sustainable and inclusive island that projects its values to the world.”

For her part, Minerva Alonso, Councillor for Economic Development of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, stated: “Gran Canaria Swim Week 2025 returns this October as Europe’s leading swimwear runway, with more participating brands and a strong commitment to expanding its international influence, while reinforcing our support for local designers. In this edition, we will bring together a total of 44 designers and brands, of which 27 are from the Canary Islands —14 from Gran Canaria, 3 from La Palma, 1 from Lanzarote and 2 from Tenerife—, 9 from mainland Spain and 8 international. All of them will present their collections exclusively on the Canary runway.”

The councillor added that this year they have "renowned designers returning to our runway, such as Guess, Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada or Carlos Sanjuan, as well as brands such as Agüita Swimwear, Fiona Ferrer and Gogana, which are participating for the first time."

Alongside them, "GCSW 2025 will also serve as a platform for emerging talents representing the future of fashion made in the islands: Arantxa Arenas, Mare Far Niente, MR&G Design, Patricia Caro, Sandra Jaurrieta and Sirago. All of them will contribute to consolidating the prestige of this unique event in Europe, which combines creativity, Canary identity and global projection,” she concluded.

Gran Canaria Swim Week: economic driver and international projection of the island

According to the data presented at the press conference prior to Gran Canaria Swim Week 2025, this international event generates an economic impact of 6.25 million euros, benefiting not only the fashion sector but also industries such as catering, hospitality, business services, transport and communications, among others. For every euro invested by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, 3 euros are generated in production.

In addition, GCSW acts as a springboard for the growth of the sector on the island, since, according to the study carried out in the 2024 edition, nearly 80% of the participating brands increased their sales. Without forgetting that, of the more than 10,200 visitors, 70% purchase fashion products from companies on the island, and the turnover growth of Gran Canaria companies is 24.58% compared to the previous year, with physical points of sale also increasing by 32%.

In the previous edition, it achieved 12,979,323 euros in advertising value, with more than 700 media publications, reaching more than 13 million people on social media and reinforcing its position as the leading swimwear runway in Europe.

Four days of runway shows

During the opening day on Wednesday, October 22, at the outdoor venue of Pasito Blanco, runway shows will be held by Joana Michaela (Barcelona, Spain), Gisela (Málaga, Spain), Victoria Cimadevilla (Oviedo, Spain), Nuria González (Gran Canaria, Spain) and Alexandra Miró (United Kingdom).

On Thursday, October 23, the runway will continue at Expomeloneras, featuring the shows of Isla Bonita Moda (La Palma, Spain), Macaronesia (Lanzarote, Spain), Arena Negra Swimwear (Tenerife, Spain), Lava (Tenerife, Spain), Volcano Blood (Gran Canaria, Spain), Dolores Cortés (Castellón, Spain), Kamilla Velmont (Sweden), Starlite (Marbella, Spain), Diazar (La Palma, Spain), Gogana Swimwear (Seville, Spain), Elena Morales (Gran Canaria, Spain) and Guess (USA).

On the third day, Friday, October 24, GCSW will continue with the runway shows of Mare Far Niente (Gran Canaria, Spain), Arantxa Arenas (Gran Canaria, Spain), both emerging talents, and Melissa Odabash (United Kingdom), Macaed (Colombia), Bohodot (Barcelona, Spain), Dan Ward (Italy), Agatha Ruiz de la Prada (Madrid, Spain) and Palmas (Gran Canaria, Spain).

Finally, the closing day on Saturday, October 25, will begin shortly after midday with emerging talents Sirago (Gran Canaria, Spain), Patricia Caro (Gran Canaria, Spain), MG&R Design (Gran Canaria, Spain) and Sandra Jaurrieta (Gran Canaria, Spain). In the afternoon, presenting their collections will be, Pomeline (La Palma, Spain), Mommy Loves (Gran Canaria, Spain), Banana Moon (Monaco), Agüita Swimwear (Gran Canaria, Spain), Carlos San Juan (Gran Canaria, Spain), Miss Bikini (Italy), Fiona Ferrer (Madrid, Spain) and Maldito Sweet (Gran Canaria, Spain).

Once again, the general public will be able to enjoy the runway shows, which can be followed on a large screen from the GCSW terrace at Expomeloneras. In this space, where visitors can closely follow the event and its parallel activities, there will be a gastronomic area and a chill-out zone.

The iconic top model Karolina Kurkova becomes the face of Gran Canaria Swim Week 2025

Karolína Kurkova, an internationally renowned supermodel, has been chosen as the image of GCSW for its 2025 edition. Kurkova, with a long-standing career on the runway since the late 1990s, has walked for major luxury houses such as Chanel, Versace, Louis Vuitton and as a “Victoria’s Secret angel,” a title that took her to the peak of her career. A regular on the covers of magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Elle, Karolina will bring the image of GCSW to a global audience interested in the fashion industry.

Celebrities and influencers at GCSW 2025

Celebrities, influencers and opinion leaders will also attend the runway, sharing their experience at Gran Canaria Swim Week with their respective digital communities. Among them are designer Vicky Martín Berrocal, her daughter Alba Díaz, actress María Pedraza, actor Franco Masini, Portuguese influencer Caetana Botelho, as well as other national digital prescribers such as Paula Viana from The Backstage Talks, Marta Camin and Marina Muñoz.

Canarian influencers will also play an active role in this edition, with the presence of Amalia Fajardo, Omar Sánchez, Yaiza Mencia, Minerva Hers, Gema Betancor, Marta Ibrahim, Priscila Betancort, José León and Rassul. The combined digital communities of the Gran Canaria Swim Week influencer plan in this edition total 14 million followers, amplifying the event’s reach on social media.

An international and diverse model casting with a strong presence of Canarian models

With a comprehensive and diverse program, together with a selection of nationally and internationally recognized models such as Karolina Kurkova, Cindy Kimberly, Irene Esser, Desirée Cordero, Lidia Santos and Lorena Durán, the casting becomes a true celebration of fashion and life.

A unique selection of profiles that radiate beauty, freshness and joie de vivre, shaping a vibrant and energetic runway show. Each face, each body and each style come together to form a diverse and fascinating mosaic, faithfully reflecting the evolution and richness of contemporary fashion.

The female casting, composed of 34 models from Spain —11 of whom are Canarian—, the Czech Republic, Argentina, Venezuela, Portugal, the United States, Colombia, Brazil, Puerto Rico and Norway, provides an inclusive and authentic perspective that not only enriches the runway, but also guarantees each brand the perfect stage to express its essence with personality, coherence and creative power.

For their part, the male casting, made up of 17 models, 10 of whom are Canarian, also includes international representation from Germany, Argentina and Senegal.

In total, in this edition of GCSW, 51 Canarian models will take part in the runway, representing 21.41% of the total casting.

The runway thus becomes a space where plurality and individuality shine strongly, recognizing and honoring the identity of each person.

GCSW 2025 Awards

Gran Canaria Swim Week celebrates its passion for swimwear fashion and creative talent through three awards that highlight excellence and innovation. These prizes recognize the best emerging collection—where the designer’s ingenuity and vision come to life—the most sustainable proposal, as a tribute to commitment to our planet, and the best overall collection, representing the perfect harmony between innovation and creativity.

Each award will be granted by a jury of experts—true guardians of taste and experience—capable of identifying the unique spark that turns every collection into a memorable story. At GCSW, awarding is not just about recognizing talent; it is about telling stories through fashion, inspiration and emotion, and offering each creator a stage where their vision can shine and transcend.

The deliberation and award ceremony will take place at the end of the final runway show, on Saturday, October 25 at 9:30 PM, in an event that promises to be a celebration of talent, artistry and emotion—a moment where swimwear fashion becomes a living, tangible story on the runway.

Internationalization and collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce

In this new edition, the internationalization plan promoted in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce of Gran Canaria is once again brought to the forefront, with the aim of attracting buyers and specialized agents. The showroom will host 31 industry professionals from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Italy, Turkey and the Benelux region. A working meeting with the German fashion organization will also take place, alongside Gran Canaria’s participation in the upcoming European Fashion Alliance, to be held in Berlin in November—further consolidating the island’s presence within Europe’s leading fashion forums.

Gran Canaria as a hub for fashion and creativity

This edition also sees the return of the mission aimed at international production companies, designed to showcase the wide range of possibilities Gran Canaria offers as both a natural and creative setting. A strategic agenda has been developed involving nine international production companies and 15 local ones, including visits to emblematic locations, meetings with local producers, and presentations highlighting the island’s competitive advantages as a destination for shoots and creative productions.

TVE to broadcast the event to a global audience

TVE once again becomes the official broadcaster of the event, airing runway-related programming both nationally and through its regional channels.

A commitment to digitalization

As in previous editions, the shows will be streamed live via the official website, which attracts users from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, among others. All the details will also be shared across the runway’s official social media channels—Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok and LinkedIn—using the hashtags #GranCanariaSwimWeek2025 and #GranCanariaSwimWeek.

Sponsors and partners

The runway is supported by sixteen sponsoring brands that have demonstrated their strong commitment to the fashion industry through their participation in this edition.

Iberia Express becomes the official airline of Gran Canaria Swim Week this year, reinforcing its support for events that contribute to the island’s international projection, positioning it as a key meeting point for the fashion industry and as an outstanding destination for hosting major events.

Audi Canarias returns as the official vehicle, strengthening a partnership that brings together style, innovation and design. This year, the brand will be present with the new Audi Q3 and a premium space that reflects its sophisticated character and ongoing commitment to excellence—an alliance that continues to elevate the Canary Islands on the international stage.

Additionally, this year’s edition is supported by Expomeloneras, Pasito Blanco, RTVE, Oribe, Rowenta, Mahou 5 Estrellas, Fund Grube, Perchel Beach Club, Helamore, The Mint Company, Grupo Galarza-Cadiex, Blat Vodka, Fever-Tree, Fonteide and Munchitos.

Gran Canaria Moda Cálida

Gran Canaria Moda Cálida is a comprehensive program designed to support, promote and develop the island’s textile sector. It was created and is driven by the Department of Economic Development, Industry, Commerce and Craftsmanship of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria.

Fashion—especially swimwear—has become a defining hallmark of the island. Thanks to the outstanding talent of local designers, the sector is experiencing significant growth, with strong potential and a clear international outlook.

Gran Canaria Moda Cálida provides the framework through which designers, entrepreneurs and companies can launch, develop and internationalize their projects.

Gallery

6746

Menu

News