Project Runway is evolving with the times, bringing in fresh faces like Ice Spice and Kiernan Shipka alongside fashion heavyweights to create an inclusive, cross-industry celebration of design. Tyra Banks' return as a recurring judge signals a full-circle moment — the original host coming home to guide a new generation of designers.
Sources close to the production say the guest judge roster was strategically built to drive social media engagement, not just fashion credibility. The Summer House alums getting cameos? That's a calculated play for Bravo's massive audience to tune into Freeform. This isn't just about design anymore — it's about clicks.
Season 22 premieres July 9, 2026 on Freeform and streams July 10 on Hulu and Disney+. The full guest judge list includes Nina Dobrev, Ciara, Kiernan Shipka, Niecy Nash-Betts, Ice Spice, Willy Chavarria, Winnie Harlow, Sergio Hudson, and Fausto Puglisi. Christian Siriano returns as mentor alongside judges Heidi Klum, Law Roach, and Nina Garcia.
Project Runway is clearly trying to recapture lightning in a bottle with Tyra's return and an A-list guest judge roster — but whether star power translates to actual drama on the runway remains to be seen when the cameras start rolling.
Project Runway season 22 is assembling what might be its most buzzed-about lineup yet, and at the center of it all? Tyra Banks, back as a recurring judge after years away from the competition series that made her a household name. The announcement dropped Friday via Hollywood Reporter, confirming what insiders have been whispering about for months — this isn't just a guest appearance, it's a full-fledged return to the judging panel alongside Heidi Klum, Law Roach, and Nina Garcia. The season's guest judge roster reads like a who's-who of pop culture crossover appeal. Nina Dobrev brings acting credibility; Ciara adds Grammy-nominated musical artist energy; Kiernan Shipka represents the younger streaming demographic; Niecy Nash-Betts just won an Emmy for her role in Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story; and Ice Spice, the Bronx-born rapper who dominated 2023 with "Princess Diana," brings Gen Z internet culture straight into the runway deliberations. Also tapped as guest judges are fashion industry figures Willy Chavarria, Winnie Harlow (who's also a model), Sergio Hudson, and Fausto Puglisi — giving the season legitimate sartorial gravitas alongside the celebrity wattage. But it's the cameo appearances that have raised eyebrows in Bravo-watching circles. Paige DeSorbo and Hannah Berner, both alumni of Summer House and co-hosts of the "Giggly Squad" podcast, are listed for cameo appearances — a move that looks suspiciously like network cross-pollination between Freeform's parent company and Bravo's reality empire. Also popping up in cameo roles: influencer Nara Smith (known for her unconventional fashion content), Emmy-winning costume designer Molly Rogers (who worked on Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada), fashion critic Nicky Campbell, and influencer Becca Bloom. Christian Siriano returns as mentor, a role he's held since season 14 and one that's made him a fan favorite for his theatrical reactions and genuine design expertise. But make no mistake — this season's guest judge strategy screams of executives trying to reverse the ratings slide that has plagued the franchise in recent years. Throwing Ice Spice and Niecy Nash-Betts into the mix alongside Tyra Banks is less about fashion credibility and more about generating social media moments that trend. Season 22 premieres July 9 on Freeform, with streaming availability beginning July 10 on Hulu and Disney+. Whether this star-studded approach translates to must-watch television or just a lot of Instagram posts from the set remains to be seen — but one thing's for certain: Project Runway is betting big that celebrity names will keep viewers tuning in past the first episode.
