What are the most important Design Events and Fairs not to be missed in 2020? Despite the various commitments and design projects we are currently working on, again this year I have prepared a list of the main events in our design sector for Italy and the world.
Ever since I started working as a designer, I’ve always tried to make the time to look and see what new things and innovations are going on in the design world.
At this year draws to an end, I would like to share with you what I consider to be useful list for inspiration and cultural enrichment.
Here is the list of all the design events not to be missed in Italy and the world.
As I have said the events are all around the globe. Many of these events I will attend personally, other events and trips will follow thanks to the power of the social network and my community. (Thumbs up for Instagram!)
Most likely, there will be updates and changes over the coming months, I may add some ‘mega’ event that I have overlooked!
Let’s begin!
We have had no official news for some time but in 2020 the project Museo del Compasso d’Oro (most famous design award) should materialise. It was announced by the Italian press and then unannounced by the International press.
I can say ‘officially’ as I know that Luciano Galimberti, president of the ADI (Association for Industrial Design), has published a series of photographs of his work in progress, on his Facebook page.
In the bottoom of the arcticle you can download the Google Calendar with all the design events. Useful, isn’t it?
January 2020
7th / 10th January: Heimtextil – Frankfurt, Germany | The biggest fair for materials and fabric.
Website https://heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en.html
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/heimtextil/
Twitter https://twitter.com/heimtextil
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/heimtextil/
10th / 13th January: Domotex – Hannover, Germania | International center for flooring. I attended!
Website https://www.domotex.de/en/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/domotex_hannover/
Twitter https://twitter.com/thedomotex
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/domotexhannover
13th / 19th January: IMM Cologne – Cologne, Germania | An important fair for interior design, not to be missed!
Website https://www.imm-cologne.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/immcologne/
Twitter https://twitter.com/imm_cologne
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/immcologne
16th / 19th January: Interior Design Show – Toronto, Canada | Interior design products and trends.
Website https://toronto.interiordesignshow.com/en/home.html
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/idstoronto/
Twitter https://twitter.com/IDSToronto
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/idstoronto/
16th / 20th January: Paris Déco Off – Parigi, Francia | A show dedicated to interior design and decor.
Website https://www.paris-deco-off.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/parisdecooff_official/?hl=en
Twitter https://twitter.com/parisdecooff?lang=fr
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ParisDecoOff
17th / 21st January: Maison&Object – Paris, France | You will be able to see news and new trends in “WHAT’S NEW?”. The themes are: Living, Sharing, Caring, Working.
Website https://www.maison-objet.com/en/paris
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maisonetobjet/
Twitter https://twitter.com/MaisonObjet
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/maisonobjetparis
17th / 26th January: DesignTO (Toronto Design Offsite Festival) – Toronto, Canada | The 10th edition of the biggest festival dedicated to design in Canada.
Website https://designto.org
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/designtofestival/
Twitter https://twitter.com/DesignTOFest
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DesignTOFestival/
22nd / 25th January: Klimahouse – Bolzano, Italy | Fair dedicated to innovations and the latest trends in the construction sector with an emphasis on sustainable and low energy impact.
Website https://www.fierabolzano.it/klimahouse/en/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fieramesse/
Twitter https://twitter.com/klimahouse
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/klimahouse
24th / 27th January: Homi – Milano, Italy | Once it was called Macef, now it’s an international fair dedicated to homes and lifestyle.
Website http://www.homimilano.com/it
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/homimilano/
Twitter https://www.facebook.com/homimilano
Facebook https://twitter.com/homimilano
February 2020
1st/3rd February: Firenze Home TexStyle – Florence, Italy | An important fair for household linen, textiles and furnishing.
Website https://firenzehometexstyle.com/fiera/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firenze_home_texstyle/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FirenzeHomeTexstyle
3rd / 9th February: Stockholm Design Week –Stockholm, Sweden | Probably the most important fair for Scandinavian design which revolves around the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair.
Website https://www.stockholmdesignweek.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stockholmdesignweek/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stockholmdesignweek
4th / 7th February: Abimad – São Paulo, Brazil | A fair dedicated to interior design and product design.
Website https://abimad.com.br
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abimadfeiras/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FeiraAbimad/
7th / 11th February: Ambiente-Sensational Exceptional Original – Frankfurt, Germany | International fair for consumer goods.
Website https://ambiente.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en.html
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ambientefair/
Twitter https://twitter.com/ambiente
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ambientefair
26th / 28th February: Design Indaba Conference – Cape Town, South Africa | The 25th edition of the biggest International Conference of Design.
Website https://conference.designindaba.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/designindaba/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNlmZtQdJe5weiDuC0eeTfw
Twitter https://twitter.com/designindaba
Postponed, tba – 29th February / 8th March: Casa su misura – Padua, Italy |Fair dedicated to furnishings.
Website https://casasumisura.com
March 2020
Postponed, tba – 1st / 8th March: Expo casa – Perugia, Italy | A show dedicated to building, furnishing and saving energy.
Website https://www.expo-casa.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/expocasaitalia/
3rd / 7th March: Bogotà Design Festival – Bogotà, Colombia | It has the ambitious goal of acting as a hub for creativity for innovation and design.
Website https://bogotadesignfestival.co
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bogotadesignfestival/
Twitter https://twitter.com/BogDesignFest
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bogotadesignfest/
4th / 6th March: Leading Design – San Francisco, USA | Great event for designers.
Website https://ti.to/clearleft/leading-design-san-francisco-2020/en
5th / 8th March: Collectible Belgium – Bruxelles, Belgium | A fair dedicated exclusively to unique pieces of contemporary design.
Website https://collectible.design
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/collectiblefair/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/collectiblefair/
12nd / 22nd March: Melbourne Design Week – Melbourne, Australia | Organized by National Gallery Victoria, it puts together business and creativity.
Website https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/melbourne-design-week/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ngvmelbourne/
Twitter https://twitter.com/ngvmelbourne
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NGVMelbourne/
Postponed, tba – 18th / 21st March + 28th / 31st March: Ciff-China International Furniture Fair – Guangzhou, China (with an autumn edition in Shanghai, China) Excellent opportunity to see the developments in the Asian market first hand.
Website https://www.ciff-gz.com/en/index
Cancelled – 19th/21st March: Art Basel – Hong Kong | An event concerned with the world of art and new emerging artists from all around the world.
Website https://www.artbasel.com/hong-kong
Instagram https://instagram.com/artbasel
Twitter https://twitter.com/ArtBasel
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/artbasel
16th / 22nd March: Arctic Design Week – Rovaniemi, Finland | The future of Arctic design created by a fusion of professionals and the citizens.
Website https://www.arcticdesignweek.fi
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/arcticdesignweek/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/arcticdesignweek/
18th / 24th March: Nairobi Design Week – Nairobi, Kenya | A festival celebrating the African spirit and the partnership with the designer.
Website http://www.nairobidesignweek.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nairobidesignweek/
Twitter https://twitter.com/nairobidesignwk
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nairobidesignweek
25th March / 5th April: Boston Design Week – Boston, USA | A festival that aims to encourage the public to explore all aspects of design.
Website https://www.bostondesignweek.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bostondesignweek/
Twitter https://twitter.com/bosdesignweek
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bostondesignweek/
28th February / 5th April: Expo Casa – Torino, Italia | The 57th edition always with new ideas for the home.
Website http://www.expocasa.it
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Expocasa.LingottoFiere/
Twitter https://twitter.com/LingottoFiere
April 2020
16th / 19th April: The Home Show – Melbourne, Australia | A big fair dedicated to the home.
Website https://www.melbournehomeshow.com.au
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/melbournehomeshow/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MelbourneHomeShow
17th / 19th April: Miart – Milan, Italy | An international fair of modern and contemporary art.
Website http://www.miart.it/en
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/miartmilano/?hl=it
Twitter https://twitter.com/MiArtMilano
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/miart.milano/
18th / 24th April: Portland Design Week – Portland, Australia | A network of independent events designed by the creative minds of the city.
Website https://designportland.org/festival/2020
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/designweekpdx/
May 2020
2nd / 5th May: Vancouver Design Week(end) – Vancouver, Canada | A multidisciplinary festival for design and creativity.
Website http://vancouverdesignwk.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vandesignwk/
Twitter https://twitter.com/vandesignwk
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vandesignwk
2nd / 10th May: Grand Design Live – London, UK | A fair dedicated to design in all its forms.
Website https://www.granddesignslive.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/granddesignstv/
Twitter https://twitter.com/granddesigns
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GrandDesigns/?ref=bookmarks
12th / 20th May: NYC X Design – New York, USA | A celebration of design around the world.
Website https://www.nycxdesign.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nycxdesign/
Twitter https://twitter.com/NYCxDESIGN
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NYCxDESIGN/
14th / 20th May: Wanted Design – New York, USA | Innovation and design.
Website https://www.wanteddesignnyc.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wanteddesign/
Twitter https://twitter.com/wanteddesign
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WantedDesignNYC
17th/ 20th May: ICFF – New York, USA | A point of reference for North American design.
Website https://www.icff.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/icff_official/
Twitter https://twitter.com/ICFF
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ICFFdesign/
19th / 21st May: Clerkenwell Design Week – London, UK | Immersion in the creative heart of London.
Website https://www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/clerkenwelldesignweek/
Twitter https://twitter.com/CDWfestival
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Clerkenwell.Design.Week/
19th / 27th May – Łódź Design Festival – Łódź, Poland | A significant event in Europe with an international scope.
Website http://www.lodzdesign.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lodzdesign/?hl=en
Twitter https://twitter.com/lodzdesignfest?lang=en
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lodz.Design/
26thd / 29th May: Design Shanghai – Shanghai, China | The top design event in Asia.
Website https://www.designshanghai.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/design_shanghai/
Twitter https://twitter.com/designshanghai
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DesignShanghai
27th / 31st May: Expodeco – La Molina, Perù | A show dedicated to furniture and architecture.
Website https://expodeco.pe
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/expodeco/
Twitter https://twitter.com/expodeco
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EXPODECO
June 2020
9th / 18th June: Barcelona Design Week – Barcelona, Spain | An important event with a 360° view of creativity and innovations in design.
Website https://www.barcelonadesignweek.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/barcelonadesignweek/
Twitter https://twitter.com/bcndesignweek
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BCN.Design.Week
16th / 21st June: Design Miami/ Basel – Miami, USA | A favorite for meeting architects, designers, collectionists and curators of galleries.
Website http://www.designmiami.com/page/future-dates
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/designmiami/
Twitter https://twitter.com/designmiami
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DesignMiami
16th / 21st June: Milano Design Week – Salone del Mobile – Milan, Italy |Does this need an introduction?
Website https://www.salonemilano.it/en/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/isaloniofficial/
Twitter https://twitter.com/isaloniofficial
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/salonedelmobileofficial
16th/ 21st June: Milano Design Week – Fuorisalone– Milan, Italy | Events scattered around the city that amplify the strength of the Salone del Mobile.
Website https://fuorisalone.it/welcome/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fuorisalone/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fuorisalone.it
15th/ 21st June: Los Angeles Design Festival – Los Angeles, USA | A celebration from one of the design capitals.
Website https://www.ladesignfestival.org
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ladesignfestival/
Twitter https://twitter.com/LADesignFest
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ladesignfestival
16th / 25th June: San Francisco Design Week – San Francisco, USA | An opportunity to learn about new innovations.
Website https://sfdesignweek.org
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sfdesignweek/
Twitter https://twitter.com/sfdesignweek
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sfdesignweek
27th / 30th June: Tendence – Frankfurt, Germany | An international fair of consumer goods with exhibitors linked to interior design – coming from 30 different countries.
Website https://www.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en.html
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tendencefair/
Twitter https://twitter.com/tendencefair
July 2020
7th – 10th July: Design Tokyo – Tokyo, Japan | All round design.
Website https://www.designtokyo.jp/ja-jp.html
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lifestyleexpotokyo/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DESIGN.TOKYO.FAIR/
16th – 19th July: Decor + Design – Melbourne, Australia | Events and exhibitions dedicated to design and home decor.
Website https://www.decordesignshow.com.au
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/decordesignshow/
August 2020
16 / 23 Agosto: São Paulo Design Weekend – São Paolo, Brazil | A festival that aims to promote the culture of design and its connections with architecture, art, decoration, urban planning, social inclusion, business and technological innovations.
Website http://designweekend.com.br/programa-dw-2019//
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/designweekendsp/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/designweekendsp
17th – 23rd August: Stockholm Summer Design Week – Stockholm, Sweden | Following on from the February show, the summer has arrived.
Website https://www.stockholmdesignweek.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stockholmdesignweek/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stockholmdesignweek
27th / 29th August: EFE – Kuala Lampur, Malesia | An important fair dedicated to interior design.
Website http://www.efe.my
28th – 30th August: The Home Show – Melbourne, Australia | The second fair this year dedicated to the home.
Website https://www.melbournehomeshow.com.au
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/melbournehomeshow/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MelbourneHomeShow
29th August / 29th November: Biennale architettura – Venice, Italy | Presented by the academic and architect Hashim Sarkis.
Website https://www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/2020
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/labiennale/
Twitter https://twitter.com/la_Biennale
September 2020
17th – 20th September: Feria Hábitat Valencia – Valencia, Spain | An international fair dedicated to furniture, lighting and fabrics.
Website https://www.feriahabitatvalencia.com/en/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/feriahabitatvalencia/
Twitter https://twitter.com/habitatvalencia?lang=es
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FeriaHabitat/
4th – 8th September: Maison & Objet – Paris, France | The second fair this year following on from the January fair.
Website https://www.maison-objet.com/en/paris
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maisonetobjet/
Twitter https://twitter.com/MaisonObjet
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/maisonobjetparis
9th – 13th September: Auckland Home Show – Auckland, New Zealand | A grand fair dedicated to the home.
Website https://www.aucklandhomeshow.co.nz
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aucklandhomeshow/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AKHomeShow
8th – 27th September: London Design Biennale – London, UK | The artistic director of this event Es Devlin has chosen for this year the theme Resonance.
Website https://www.londondesignbiennale.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/london_design_biennale/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Londondesignbiennale/
September, during London design festival (events not yet announced) – 100% Design – London, UK | International event dedicated to contemporary design.
Website https://www.100percentdesign.co.uk
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/design.london/
Twitter https://twitter.com/designlondon
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/100percentdesignshow
12th – 20th September: London Design Festival – London, UK | A celebration from the world’s capital of design.
Website https://www.londondesignfestival.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/l_d_f_official/
Twitter https://twitter.com/L_D_F
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LondonDesignFestival/
23rd/ 25th September: Proposte – Cernobbio (Como), Italy | A fair for manufacturers of furniture and curtain fabrics.
Website https://www.propostefair.it
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/propostefair/
Twitter https://twitter.com/propostefair
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/propostefair/
28th September – 2nd October: Cersaie – Bologna, Italy | An international exhibition of building ceramics.
Website https://www.cersaie.it/en/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cersaie/
Twitter https://twitter.com/CersaieOfficial
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CersaieCostruireAbitarePensare/
30th September – 3rd October: Marmo+Mac – Verona, Italy | An international event dedicated to companies in the stone industry for designers and those who work in this sector.
Website https://www.marmomac.com/it/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marmo_mac/
Twitter https://twitter.com/marmo_mac
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Marmomac
October 2020
3rd – 11th October: Casa Moderna – Udine, Italy | An important Italian fair for indoor and outdoor furniture.
Website http://www.casamoderna.it
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/udinegoriziafiere/
Twitter https://twitter.com/udinefiere
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CasaModernaUdine/
7th – 10th October: Salone del mobile.Milano Mosca – Moscow, Russia | Milan Salone on tour.
Website: https://www.salonemilano.ru/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaloniofficial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/isaloniofficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salonedelmobileofficial
7th – 11th October: Grand Design Live – Birmingham, UK | The second fair this year dedicated to design in all its forms.
Website https://www.granddesignslive.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/granddesignstv/
Twitter https://twitter.com/granddesigns
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GrandDesigns/?ref=bookmarks
11th – 14th October: Decorex International – London, UK | An event dedicated to luxury interior design.
Website https://www.decorex.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/decorex_international/
Twitter https://twitter.com/decorex_intl
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/decorex
14th – 16th October: Sia Hospitality Design – Rimini, Italy | A fair dedicated to hospitality.
Website https://en.siaexpo.it
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sia_hospitalitydesign/?igshid=1kmrghw2af3ku
Twitter https://twitter.com/SIA_Expo
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SIAhospitalitydesign/
14th – 16th October: SUN Beach & Outdoor Style – Rimini, Italy | A reference point for the world of outdoor bathing and camping.
Website https://www.sunexpo.it
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sun_beachoutdoor/?igshid=rq5b0c5v3bsr
Twitter https://twitter.com/expo_sun
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SUNBeachOutdoorStyle/
21st – 24th October: SAIE Building and Construction – Bologna, Italy | Technology and building.
Website https://www.saiebologna.it/en/
Twitter https://twitter.com/SAIEfiera
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SAIEfiera/
27th – 31st October: Orgatec – Cologne, Germany | A fair dedicated to the office sector – every 2 years.
Website https://www.orgatec.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/orgatec/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/orgateccologne
19th – 27th October: Dutch design week – Eindhoven, The Netherlands | One of the biggest design events in northern Europe.
Website https://www.ddw.nl/en/home
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dutchdesignweek/?hl=en
Twitter https://twitter.com/dutchdesignweek?lang=en
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DutchDesignWeek/
November 2020
6th – 8th November: Artissima – Turin, Italy | Contemporary art fair, leading event and forerunner of the contemporary art week in Turin.
Website: https://www.artissima.art/en/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ArtissimaFair/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArtissimaFair
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtissimaFair
17th – 18th november : Sleep & eat – London, UK | Design and innovation event for the hospitality sector.
Website: https://www.sleepandeatevent.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SleepEatEvent/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SleepEatEvent
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SleepEatEvent
25th – 29th November: Heim+Handwerk – Monaco, Germany | A fair dedicated to furniture and design.
Website https://www.heim-handwerk.de/en/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/heimundhandwerk/?hl=de
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HeimHandwerk/
To make everything easier, I decided to create and share with you the Google Calendar with the design events you’ve just seen. You can download it HERE.
Let me remind you that this calendar is constantly updated and your calendar will also be automatically updated.
Soon I will also add all the events of the latest part of 2020.
This article will always be updated so you can read any event or fair in Italy and around the world.
Did you appreciate this list of the main events in Italy and around the world?
If you have any suggestions for an event concerning design, art, technology, innovation or fashion that you did not find in this list, write it in the comments below or send an email to [email protected]. You contribution to my list will be most welcome. Thanks!
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