Light, Václav Havel, Marcel Wanders and the Return to the Industrial Palace. DesignBlok 2026 Will Bring Together More Than 300 Designers, Brands, Studios and Guests
The 28th edition of DesignBlok, the international festival of design and fashion, will take place from 7 to 11 October 2026 across several exceptional venues in Prague. This year’s theme is LIGHT, explored as a symbol of knowledge, truth, hope and life. The festival will bring together more than 300 carefully selected designers, studios, brands and guests from the Czech Republic and abroad. Major exhibitions will take place at the National Gallery Prague’s Trade Fair Palace, the Riding Hall and Chapel of the Holy Cross at Prague Castle, and the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague. Following an extensive reconstruction, the Industrial Palace will reopen as part of DesignBlok. Dutch design star Marcel Wanders will receive the DesignBlok Award for Outstanding Contribution to Global Design.
Light will permeate this year’s DesignBlok in many forms: as a practical tool, a technological phenomenon, a defining element of architecture and design, and a conceptual symbol. Through exhibitions, installations, lectures, discussions and presentations, the festival will explore how light affects our perception, emotions and everyday lives, as well as the ways in which design can contribute to the development of society.
“This year, we are working with light as a symbol of knowledge, truth, hope and life – the opposite of darkness. Jan Amos Comenius attributed to light the power to free us from confusion and lead us towards truth. He saw the highest goal as bringing knowledge and enlightenment to humankind. Within this broader context, we will examine the influence and role of design in today’s world. Does design have the power to improve the state of the world? How does it contribute to development and quality of life? What movement and order can it bring to the way we address our problems? These are the questions we will explore through exhibitions, discussions and lectures, including the DesignBlok Talks conference programme,” explains Jana Zielinski, Director of DesignBlok.
Marcel Wanders to Receive the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Global Design
Dutch designer Marcel Wanders will be the principal guest of honour at this year’s DesignBlok. On Thursday, 8 October 2026, he will personally receive the DesignBlok Award for Outstanding Contribution to Global Design. The ceremony will take place in the historic Central Hall of the Industrial Palace at Výstaviště Praha, where DesignBlok will become the first major event to be held following the extensive reconstruction of the building.
Marcel Wanders is one of the most distinctive figures in contemporary global design. Since the 1990s, his work has challenged the boundaries between craft and industrial production, decoration and construction, tradition and technological innovation, while bringing emotion, imagination and human experience back to the centre of design. His iconic Knotted Chair from 1996 became a symbol of this approach, while projects such as the Skygarden light for Flos, his work for Moooi, which he co-founded 25 years ago, and the richly layered interiors of the Mondrian Doha hotel demonstrate the breadth of his practice across product design, lighting and interior design.
“I have always believed that design is not about creating things, but about creating meaning. Objects can make our lives easier, but their true purpose is to inspire us, comfort us, connect us and remind us of our humanity. To receive this award is a great honour, not only for the work I have done, but for the belief that imagination, beauty and emotion still have an important place in the world we are building together,” says Marcel Wanders.
Lee Broom Brings Together Light and Music
Another prominent international guest will be British designer Lee Broom, who will bring his monumental light installation BEACON, created in collaboration with Czech lighting brand Brokis, to Prague. Following its premiere in London and presentation during Milan Design Week, the installation will be shown to Czech audiences for the first time, illuminating Jan Palach Square in front of the Rudolfinum.
DesignBlok Talks: Two Days Exploring the Future of Design, Architecture and Living
The second edition of DesignBlok Talks will expand to two days for the first time this year, taking place on 6 and 7 October. More than 40 Czech and international architects, designers and other experts will speak at the conference in the Industrial Palace.
International speakers will include Claudio Silvestrin, Sebastian Herkner, Laurids Gallée, Daniel Rybakken, Christophe Delcourt, Alberto Perazza, Stanley Wong and Pascale Mussard Siegrist, while the Czech scene will be represented by names including studio Dechem, Jakub Berdych Karpelis, Maxim Velčovský, Kateřina Handlová, Jan Plecháč, Lucie Koldová, Václav Mlynář and Eva Eisler.
The programme will be divided into three thematic sections – Future of Design, Future of Architecture and Future of Living – and is being developed in collaboration with British design platform Dezeen.
The Heart of the Festival at the Trade Fair Palace
After three years, DesignBlok returns to the Trade Fair Palace of the National Gallery Prague, which will once again become the heart of the festival. Visitors will discover more than 250 exhibitions by designers, brands, schools and emerging talents, alongside cafés, relaxation zones and major curated projects.
With the support of KKCG Real Estate Group, the Small Hall will host Veranda, an interactive installation by Maxim Velčovský dedicated to light, movement and coming together. On the fifth floor, DesignBlok Selects will present a curated selection of 28 objects and new releases from Czech and international design, including a limited-edition gold Panton Chair by Vitra and the Axis collection by Laurids Gallée for Moser.
This year’s theme of light will also be strongly reflected in the mix of exhibitors. Leading Czech glass and lighting companies will meet international lighting manufacturers and furniture and interior design brands at the Trade Fair Palace. Česká spořitelna and Visa, together with designer Daniel Pošta, will create an interactive light installation. Škoda Auto will present two fully electric models – the playful Epiq and the striking Peaq. Through virtual reality, ČEZ will allow visitors to look inside Czech power plants. The Karel Komárek Family Foundation will present an installation designed by students of Tomas Bata University in Zlín that encourages active and open-ended play, social interaction and creativity among preschool children.
The Industrial Palace Reopens with DesignBlok Following Its Reconstruction
DesignBlok will be the first major event to open the historic Central Hall of the Industrial Palace to the public following its four-year reconstruction. The restored hall will provide a generous setting for gatherings, talks and ceremonial events. It will host DesignBlok Talks, a live design edition of the popular Czech quiz show AZ-kvíz, the ceremonial reopening of the palace together with the presentation of the DesignBlok Awards 2026, and Saturday’s fashion shows featuring the finalists of Diploma Selection. In cooperation with Výstaviště Praha, DesignBlok will also organise guided tours of the palace. As part of DesignBlok for Kids, a Škoda Auto children’s zone and interactive installations will be located in front of the Industrial Palace.
Design for Václav Havel and Eva Eisler’s Circle of Silence at Prague Castle
For the fourth time, Prague Castle will be one of the main venues of DesignBlok. The Riding Hall will host the exhibition Design for Václav Havel, created to mark the 90th anniversary of the birth of the first Czech president after the Velvet Revolution.
One of its central highlights will be Václav Havel’s original presidential office, which will return to Prague Castle after 24 years thanks to a loan from Mr and Mrs Kolek. The exhibition is organised by DesignBlok and Prague Castle and curated by Andrea Běhounková and Jana Zielinski.
The Riding Hall will also host the fourth edition of the curated exhibition High Craft, presented under the auspices of Vogue CS. More than twenty Czech designers and brands will showcase contemporary interpretations of traditional crafts, developing them for the future through innovative technologies and environmentally conscious approaches. Exhibitors will include ARTGLASS, newly under the artistic direction of Jakub Berdych Karpelis; Christmas ornaments by Rautis; glass objects by DECHEM and Hana Hillerová; and sculptures in glass, bronze and ceramics by Janja Prokić.
For the first time during DesignBlok, the deconsecrated Chapel of the Holy Cross in Prague Castle’s Second Courtyard will also open to the public. Here, designer and artist Eva Eisler will present the installation Circle of Silence / Kruh ticha.
The installation asks what it means to create in an age of almost unlimited possibilities, deliberately redirecting attention away from human creation towards nature, time and presence. Light is not the theme itself, but a medium that allows visitors to perceive the space, its silence and what takes place within it. Circle of Silence offers an opportunity to slow down, focus and turn one’s attention from the outside world towards the inner self.
Retro Lamps Exhibition Revisits Forgotten Figures of Czechoslovak Design
The Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague remains another major festival destination. Alongside part of the Openstudio presentations, it will host the exhibition Retro Lamps: Forgotten Stories of Czechoslovak Design. The exhibition will focus on mass-produced table, floor and pendant lamps created in Czechoslovakia between the 1950s and 1980s, bringing renewed attention to designers whose names were often overshadowed by the manufacturing companies behind their work. The exhibition is being developed in collaboration with the Paris-based Initio Arts & Design gallery and the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague and is curated by Eva Slunečková.
Openstudio and Superstudio Showcase Outstanding Czech and International Design
Openstudio, located at the Trade Fair Palace and the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, will focus on contemporary independent projects and smaller brands. Highlights will include presentations by PÁR and Blueberries, a joint collection by Kahotski Eyewear and Petra Ptáčková, jewellery project Love is Bling, embroidery by BRO., SKOBA in collaboration with Jiří Krejčiřík, and Tititi, which will also celebrate the 100th birthday of the forever-young Czech puppet character Hurvínek.
At the Museum of Decorative Arts, visitors will also encounter the French Initio Gallery, while the museum garden will feature an intervention by designer Bodo Sperlein. Several Czech and international names will participate in DesignBlok for the first time, including FLÖTTOTO, Kultivar and the City of Znojmo.
Superstudio at the Trade Fair Palace will present major installations by manufacturers and brands. Highlights include a presentation by Lasvit in collaboration with Rizzoli New York; the newly invigorated glassworks Jílek 1905; a fully functioning What a Hut sauna in front of the Trade Fair Palace; a new collection of door handles and hooks by Jiří Pelcl for family manufacturer M&T; furniture by Master & Master, accompanied by the company’s first original light – a table lamp by Tomáš Král; a new armchair by Lucie Koldová for LD Seating; handwoven Slovak rugs by Felmera; and a presentation by STOPKA featuring products from traditional Italian brand Gallotti&Radice.
DesignBlok Across Prague
The festival will also extend into independent venues, shops and showrooms, pop-up stores, galleries, museums, art schools and other distinctive spaces across Prague. More than 50 locations will appear on the festival map, including STOPKA, DEDON Praha, Minotti Praha and the newly opened Rückl Flagship Store in central Prague. The Konsepti showroom in Holešovice will present new designs by Christophe Delcourt for Molteni&C, as well as pieces by Magis and other brands. Nearby, the Bulb showroom will feature icons by this year’s principal guest Marcel Wanders and Dutch brand Moooi. The Křehký Collectibles collection by Křehký will be presented at Almanac X Alcron Prague.
DesignBlok Awards Celebrate the Best in Contemporary Design
The DesignBlok Awards 2026 will be presented during the ceremonial DesignBlok Gala on 8 October.
An international jury chaired by Max Fraser, Editor-in-Chief of Dezeen, will recognise outstanding concepts, innovations, new releases and presentations. The awards also include the Impact Award, which celebrates a project with a significant environmental or social contribution. Its recipient will receive CZK 100,000 from Allwyn.
The Next Generation: Diploma Selection, School Today and Talent Cards
Diploma Selection, DesignBlok’s principal talent programme organised in cooperation with EUNIC Cluster Prague, enters its 12th edition this year, presenting the strongest graduation projects by product and fashion design graduates from European universities. The product design section at the Trade Fair Palace will showcase the work of 15 finalists, while the fashion finalists will present their projects in runway shows at the Industrial Palace on Saturday, 10 October. An international expert jury will select the winners and present the Diploma Selection Awards on Saturday.
The next generation will also take centre stage in School Today, a showcase of Central European schools and universities. This year, 19 studios and schools from across the region will come together at the Trade Fair Palace. For the first time, Budapest’s Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design will participate, while Tomas Bata University in Zlín will bring an interactive interpretation of a school canteen into the festival space. School Today will also expand to the UMPRUM Technology Centre in Mikulandská, bringing together schools and students from UMPRUM, the Secondary School of Art and Design Brno, the Faculty of Fine Arts at Brno University of Technology, TU Ostrava and UTB Zlín.
Emerging designers will also be supported through DesignBlok Talent Cards supported by Česká spořitelna & Visa, a programme designed to help them take their first professional steps and increase the visibility of their work.
Charitable Projects at This Year’s Festival
This year, DesignBlok will support several projects with a broader social impact. The festival’s principal non-profit partner is the AutTalk Foundation, which supports families caring for children on the autism spectrum. At the Trade Fair Palace, MONUMENT Office will create an installation for AutTalk, while DesignBlok will donate CZK 100,000 from ticket proceeds to the foundation. The charity programme will also involve Porigami, with a special edition created for the occasion, and the non-profit organisation Sue Ryder.
An Accompanying Programme for the Whole Family
Alongside exhibitions and installations, DesignBlok will offer an extensive programme for visitors of all ages. Throughout the festival, the Grand Hall of the Trade Fair Palace will host the DesignBlok Stage, featuring talks, discussions and other encounters with designers. The ATLAS space will offer workshops and a film programme for design enthusiasts. In front of the Industrial Palace, DesignBlok and Výstaviště Praha will create a Škoda Auto children’s zone and interactive installations, while additional children’s activities will be provided by Designéři dětem and publishing house Meander, among others. Children can also take part in the festival decathlon, a quiz for younger and older participants alike, with books provided as prizes by Euromedia publishing house.
The festival programme will also include a run organised with the Design(Blok) Lovers community platform, finishing at the What a Hut sauna in front of the Trade Fair Palace, as well as evening afterparties at Kolektor café, curated by Cirque.Menu.
A New Look for DesignBlok
The 28th edition will be the first DesignBlok presented in the festival’s new visual identity, created by Permanent Office. The new system connects the festival’s physical and digital presence as well as its individual exhibition concepts and sub-brands.
A new visual campaign has been created by photographer Viktorie Macánová. The festival is also launching a new website, developed in collaboration with Trau and Offforms, designed to make it easier for visitors to navigate the extensive programme and individual festival venues.
DesignBlok 2026 will open to the public from 7 to 11 October 2026 at the Trade Fair Palace of the National Gallery Prague, the Riding Hall and Chapel of the Holy Cross at Prague Castle, the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, the UMPRUM Technology Centre in Mikulandská, and the historic Central Hall of the Industrial Palace at Výstaviště Praha. Professionals’ Day will take place on 6 October, together with the first day of the DesignBlok Talks conference, which will continue on Wednesday, 7 October. Dozens of showrooms, galleries, shops and other venues across Prague will complement the main festival locations. Tickets are available in advance at designblok.cz.
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