DDW (Dutch Design Week)-2026 is R.A.W (Rebel, Authentic and Worth)! That’s the motto of this year, which speaks for itself! It is the annual celebration of creativity, mind-blowing ideas and inspirations! It cannot be otherwise in the Dutch Design Capital, where designers return to the essence of this particular design!
DDW has been constantly challenged by the unpolished exploration and experiments, where existing ideas have been challenged, where new possibilities are revealed, where changes take place! It is a platform for a full breath of design! It happens from the 17th until the 25th of October 2026 in Eindhoven! The program includes exhibitions, talks, debates, shows networking events and presentations.
© photo Yelena van Kharitonova
Not only Dutch designers are showcasing their ideas, project and products! The whole world is doing so! From Lapland to Spain, from Taiwan to the rest! And the rest gives back! This one of the most international design weeks, I am shouting out about for years! Because it visualizes designed future together! This year we celebrate 25 years of Industrial Design department of TU Eindhoven and how!
Along with Eindhoven Design Academy this faculty produces the renowned design (ers)!
Topics such as education for the future, designing health and well-being for yourself, future government, designing society etc. Nobody is shy here to experiment and try out! Everybody is welcome to try, to start, to brainstorm and to not afraid making mistakes!
© photo Yelena van Kharitonova
The official Grand Opening was held at Radio Royal, in the former and reconstructed industrial building in the middle of Strijp-S! Both Dutch Design Week’s and Dutch Design Foundation’s (which is behind it) directors made breathtaking speeches about the state of affairs of Dutch Design Week-2026 and beyond! Some designers were chosen to make presentations in the front of the design public!
Locations such as Klockgebouw, Microlad, Sectie-C. Strijp-S, Strijp-T, Hallenweg, Canal and cultural organizations such as KAZERNE, MU, Van Abbe Museum, MU, Foundation We Are, NRE, Manifestations, Piet Hein Eek and more are totally ready to show the best and the most available! Many designers are gathered in groups and collectives, underlining the way of working together: if helps and enriches all! We can witness many individual designers, who are hosted in their spaces by local designers! Such as Piet Hein Eek, who opened the doors for many other known and brand new names!
© photo Yelena van Kharitonova
More artistic performances have been added to the program of this year! MU Gallery has been collaborating with Maison The Feux, which created costumes with dance and opera performance on the topic of water’s value! MU got this year also Cultuur Eindhoven’s prize for one of the best creative spots in the city! Also musical performances are taking part in the middle of Ketelhuisplein with special acoustics!
Atelier Van Lieshout and its founder Joel Van Lieshout presented a futuristic future re-hub in a form of one of your organ’s submarine in blue color! The idea is that in the future we should be able to scan and diagnose ourself in a very pleasant and friendly environment of our own cocoons, without spending time in hospitals!
© photo Yelena van Kharitonova
Many government organizations showcase flabbergasting projects about the future of living and governing together! Many projects are dedicated to the water and all aspects of using, cherishing, enjoying and appreciating it!
Lidewij Edelkoort, the founding mother of Dutch Design Week is present as well and present her new book at KAZERNE! One of the co-founders of it, a former student of Li Edelkoort mentioned during the opening of DDW’s exhibition that awareness raising is not enough for nowadays world challenges, we must be shakers and finally change-makers!
And this is so much in the spirit of DDW-2026!
© photo Yelena van Kharitonova
Dutch Design Week is also about partying! The final party of which will be held on the 24th of October at the basement of Area-51, which is one of the biggest skate parks in Europe! But for now the next week will be full of events, discovering, assumptions challenging and making mistakes! Which is allowed at DDW! Because DDW is optimistic about the future of design and the design of our future! The show must go on and it is! Come experience it now!
All informations about the Dutch Design Week here
