ELLE Australia has announced Swarovski, Uber Elite and Essential Parfums as official partners of the 2026 ELLE Next Gen Awards, taking place at The Press in Sydney on 2 September.

The annual awards celebrate Australia’s most exciting emerging talent across fashion, film, music, beauty, art and literature, continuing ELLE’s longstanding commitment to identifying and championing the creative voices shaping culture’s next chapter.

As Headline Partner, Swarovski will feature across the awards and ELLE’s print, digital and social coverage, including a dedicated on-site experience and content celebrating the 2026 nominees and winners.

Image: Anna Robinson, Winner 2025 ELLE NEXT GEN AWARDS – Model of the Year

Sonia Kudatov, Director of Sales, Swarovski, said: “At Swarovski, innovation, creativity and self-expression are at the heart of everything we do, making ELLE Next Gen a natural partnership for our brand. We are proud to return as Headline Partner and celebrate the next generation of Australian talent whose fresh perspectives, ambition and creativity continue to shape the future of fashion, entertainment and culture.”

Uber Elite, Uber’s premium ride experience featuring professional chauffeurs, luxury vehicles and first-class service, joins the 2026 awards as Official Ride Partner. The partnership will help nominees and guests arrive in style, while offering an exclusive first look at what’s next for Uber Elite in Australia.

Essential Parfums, represented in Australia by Cosmax Prestige Brands, will join as Exclusive Fragrance Partner, creating a luxury sensory experience through premium gifting, experiential touchpoints and editorial content, while paying homage to ELLE’s French heritage.

ELLE Australia Editor Jessica Bailey said: “The ELLE Next Gen Awards continue the brand’s 81-year global legacy as an incubator of emerging talent by spotlighting the young, bold, fascinating creatives who are pushing boundaries, embracing authenticity, and inspiring the next generation to see themselves as they are. 

“In Australia, we were the first publishing brand to put Margot Robbie on the cover just as The Wolf of Wall Street sent her into the stratosphere. We featured Milly Alcock on the cover a year before she soared into cinemas as Supergirl, and in March, that baton was passed to fashion muse Sunday Rose Kidman Urban.

“With Swarovski, Uber Elite and Essential Parfums, we can give this year’s nominees a platform and experience that feels unmistakably ELLE.”

The 2026 nominee class spans nine categories: Actor, Model, Fashion Designer, ELLE Man, Musician, Filmmaker, Artist, Beauty and Writer. Nominees include Shabana Azeez, Catherine Laga’aia, Teagan Croft, Geraldine Viswanathan, Josh Heuston, Budjerah, Joseph Zada, Costa D’Angelo, Lathalia Hickling, Audrey Lees, Lucy Knox, Catho D’Souza, Jacotene, Evelyn Araluen, Tigest Girma and Madeleine Gray.

Nominees for the 2026 ELLE Next Gen Awards can be viewed here: https://www.elle.com.au/culture/elle-next-gen-awards-nominees-2026/ 

ENDS

For more information, please contact:
Luke Robinson, 0417 548 688, luke@storydisco.com.au

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