THE FIFTH EDITION
Heritage in Motion. The Future in the Making.
On 20 September 2026, the fifth edition of the 920 Hat Festival opened at the Hat Creative Park in Nantong.
The programme brought together headwear manufacturers, fashion businesses, designers, universities, heritage craftspeople, cultural organisations and technology specialists. Through exhibitions, publishing, industry dialogue and live presentation, the festival examined how traditional knowledge, original design, artificial intelligence and modern manufacturing can contribute to the future of headwear.
The fifth edition also marked a new stage for the festival: moving beyond a single day of celebration towards projects designed to support creation, education, craft and cultural exchange over time.
2026 HIGHLIGHTS
Ideas, Craft and People Brought Together
FROM A FESTIVAL TO A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT
The World Headwear Fund
Launched during the fifth 920 Hat Festival, the World Headwear Fund was initiated by Jeffrey Sun, founder of the Foremost Hat Museum and chairman of Foremost, to support original headwear design, heritage craft, professional education and international cultural exchange. Later in 2026, it was presented to an international audience in Paris during the European launch of 101 HATS.
A Festival That Continues To Evolve
From its beginnings in Nantong to editions in Shanghai and Beijing, the 920 Hat Festival has grown through fashion, craft, cultural exchange and public participation. Each edition has explored a different way of bringing the world of hats to life.
2014: Nantong, Where It Began
The first 920 Hat Festival brought designers, industry professionals and hat lovers together for exhibitions, runway presentations and cultural activities. It also marked the public opening of the Foremost Hat Museum, establishing a lasting connection between the festival, headwear heritage and public education.
2015: Shanghai, Headwear Meets The Fashion City
Headwear Meets the Fashion City Moving to Shanghai, the second edition placed hats within a wider fashion conversation. International designers, creative professionals and hat lovers explored how headwear can shape personal style, visual identity and contemporary design.
2018: Beijing, Craft Without Borders
The third edition explored the cultural journey of the Panama hat and the craftsmanship of Ecuadorian toquilla straw. Runway presentations, publishing and international exchange connected material heritage with contemporary headwear design.
2023: Nantong, Culture, Industry And The Future
Returning to Nantong, the fourth edition brought together headwear heritage, contemporary design, education and industry. International guests, designers and cultural representatives joined exhibitions, publishing activities and runway presentations.
2026 · Nantong,Heritage in Motion
The fifth edition connected heritage craft, original design, professional education, artificial intelligence and manufacturing. It unveiled 101 Heritage Crowns, released *101 HATS*, launched the World Headwear Fund and presented a programme in which historic knowledge met contemporary technology.
THE STORY BEHIND THE DATE
A Date Chosen For The Love Of Hats
In Mandarin, the sound of “920” echoes an affectionate phrase meaning “just love you.” Jeffrey Sun chose the date as an expression of his lifelong love for hats—and as an invitation for others to discover what headwear can mean.
Since its first edition in 2014, the festival has created a meeting place for designers, makers, collectors, cultural institutions, industry professionals and people who simply love wearing hats.
“A hat carries design, craftsmanship and culture. The 920 Hat Festival gives the people who create, preserve and enjoy headwear a stage of their own.”
Jeffrey Sun
Initiator of the 920 Hat Festival
Chairman of Foremost Hat
BEYOND THE FESTIVAL
A Deeper Commitment to Headwear
The 920 Hat Festival is part of a wider commitment that includes the Foremost Hat Museum, industry research, publishing, education and the preservation of specialist knowledge.
Together, these activities deepen how Foremost understands headwear—as a product, a discipline and an expression of material, construction, culture and identity. That understanding continues to inform how we approach design development, craftsmanship and responsible manufacturing.
Five Editions. Thousands of Moments.
Festival archive.
