Venice Design Week 2026 | Design Across Venice from October 9 to 18
From October 9 to 18, 2026, Venice once again becomes a living, breathing design laboratory.
Venice Design Week is an international, city-wide event dedicated to design in all its forms—an immersive experience that unfolds across historic palazzi, galleries, museums, ateliers, universities, workshops, and unexpected corners of the city.
Rather than concentrating everything in a single venue, Venice Design Week embraces the very fabric of Venice itself. The city becomes the exhibition.
What Is Venice Design Week
Founded in 2010 and organized by the Associazione Culturale Arte e Design Venezia, :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} is a participatory platform that brings together designers, companies, artisans, institutions, students, and an international audience.
For ten days every October, Venice hosts:
- Exhibitions and site-specific installations
- Design talks and round tables
- Workshops and interactive labs
- Guided tours and studio visits
- Performances and experiential routes through the city
The event encourages dialogue between tradition and innovation, craftsmanship and technology, heritage and contemporary vision.
A Widespread Festival in Symbiosis with Venice
Venice Design Week is not simply hosted by Venice—it is shaped by it.
The festival winds its way through calli and campielli, private galleries and museums, designers’ homes, artisans’ laboratories, shops, and historic buildings that open their doors specifically for the occasion.
This widespread format allows visitors to experience design as part of everyday Venetian life, creating a continuous exchange between cultures, disciplines, and generations.
Design here is not isolated. It lives among stone façades, canals, and centuries of history.
Design Disciplines Explored
During Venice Design Week 2026, the city becomes a platform for exploring the frontiers of contemporary design, including:
- Product and industrial design
- Lighting design
- Jewelry design
- Digital interfaces and interaction design
- Sustainable and circular design
- Material research and experimentation
Each edition of Venice Design Week is built around a specific theme, offering a focused lens through which current design challenges and opportunities are explored.
A Platform for Dialogue, Networking, and New Generations
One of the core values of Venice Design Week is its role as a connector.
The festival fosters direct encounters between:
- Established and emerging designers
- International brands and independent creators
- Artisans, architects, academics, and students
- A curious, informed, and passionate public
Thanks to collaborations with universities and academies, Venice Design Week actively involves younger generations, offering them visibility, professional exchange, and real-world experience within an international context.
Special Events and Iconic Venues
Throughout the festival, special events animate Venice’s neighborhoods, transforming everyday spaces into moments of discovery.
Among the most prestigious recurring highlights is the Venice Design Week Jewelry Selection award ceremony, hosted in exceptional locations such as :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}, underscoring the dialogue between contemporary creativity and historic architecture.
These moments reinforce Venice Design Week’s identity as both a cultural festival and an urban experience.
Your Visit Starts Here
Visitors are encouraged to explore the festival using the official Venice Design Week map, which helps navigate between venues and the nearest vaporetto stops.
You might choose to:
- Follow a curated route through exhibitions and installations
- Visit workshops, stores, and artisans’ studios
- Attend talks and conferences with international designers
- Or simply get lost in Venice, discovering design where you least expect it
Every route is valid. Every discovery is personal.
For Designers and Creatives
Venice Design Week is also a unique opportunity for designers to present their work within an inspiring and globally recognized setting.
Participants can:
- Exhibit projects in historic Venetian venues
- Take part in talks, round tables, and public discussions
- Expand their international network
- Engage directly with a knowledgeable audience
Enrollment for exhibitions typically closes on May 30 each year.
Organization and International Network
Venice Design Week is organized by Art and Design in Venice, based in Lido di Venezia, and is part of the Italian Design Weeks and World Design Weeks networks.
This international positioning strengthens its role as a meeting point between global design cultures and the unique creative heritage of Venice.
Official Website and Practical Information
Dates: October 9–18, 2026
Location: Venice, multiple venues across the city
For the full program, participation details, and updates, visit the official website:
Why Experience Venice Design Week with Tour Leader Venice
Venice Design Week is best experienced with context, timing, and local insight.
Tour Leader Venice helps visitors navigate the city-wide nature of the festival, combining design highlights with seamless logistics, insider access, and a deeper understanding of Venice’s creative ecosystem.
Because in Venice, design is never just about objects—it’s about place, history, and perspective.
FAQs
When does Venice Design Week 2026 take place
Venice Design Week 2026 runs from October 9 to October 18, transforming the city into a widespread design festival.
Where are the exhibitions held
Exhibitions and events take place across Venice in historic buildings, galleries, museums, ateliers, workshops, and public spaces.
Is Venice Design Week suitable for non-professionals
Absolutely. The festival is designed for both professionals and design enthusiasts, offering accessible exhibitions, guided visits, and opportunities for discovery throughout the city.
When does Venice Design Week 2026 take place?
Venice Design Week 2026 runs from October 9 to October 18, transforming the city into a widespread design festival.
Where are the exhibitions held?
Exhibitions and events take place across Venice in historic buildings, galleries, museums, ateliers, workshops, and public spaces.
Is Venice Design Week suitable for non-professionals?
Absolutely. The festival is designed for both professionals and design enthusiasts, offering accessible exhibitions, guided visits, and opportunities for discovery throughout the city.
