Header: Design Shanghai
Design Shanghai 2026 will be the fair’s biggest edition yet. Running from March 19 to March 22, 2026, the fair will make a return to its original venue – the historic Shanghai Exhibition Centre, after being held at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Centre for the previous six years. For its thirteenth edition, the organisers promise a larger event, announcing over 500 global brands from more than 20 countries and regions.
Design Shanghai 2026 Exhibition Highlights
The show will be divided into four sectors: Living & Lifestyle, Furniture & Lighting, Kitchen, Bathroom & Systems Design, and New Materials & Applications. Two major industry forums CMF Conference and the KOHLER Design Shanghai Global Design Conference, will offer a multi-layered programme accompanied by curated features such as Materials First, Beyond Craft, Made in JDZ, and TALENTS.
Expanded roster of Chinese exhibitors includes SHANG XIA (known for its maisonette-style luxury), LEEDARSON (smart technology and lighting mixing), and material-driven contemporary designers such as PUSU and FNJI. International exhibitors include heritage brands Liebherr and Villeroy & Boch, sculptural Baobab Collection from Belgium, Roche Bobois (French contemporary classics), VIPP (Scandinavian minimalism) and Reflections Copenhagen’s exceptional glasswork.
Photo Credit: Design ShanghaiExhibitions and awards
Curated by prominent Chinese designer Frank Chou, the TALENTS exhibition is dedicated to selected works from designers under the age of 35. The exhibit will centre around the theme About Time, featuring works by ten emerging designers working with the mentors from a global industry veteran to explore the multifaceted meaning of time. The 4th TALENTS AWARD will be awarded to new designers in art, business, and conceptual categories. Made in JDZ, a programme curated by designer Ryan Ran, gathers artisans in ceramics, metalwork, and lacquer art. Inspired by Jingdezhen, the porcelain capital of China, the segment explores cross-disciplinary and traditional crafts through contemporary lenses, under the theme Craft on the Stage.
Limited edition artworks and designs will be on view at the Collectable Design & Art feature, organised in collaboration with Hugo Design (UK), EsArt Society, and BRIGS. Spanning a multitude of genres such as painting, photography, sculpture, and installation art, the segment is dedicated to cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration. Beyond Craft showcases materials and craft. Over 10 brands will present jewellery, furniture, precision components, optical devices, and other objects made with traditional techniques like lacquer art, gold leaf application, washi paper, metal inlay, and Nishijin-ori weaving, among others.
Conferences and city programme
Reframed around the theme Beyond Sustainability: Designing with Nature, the upcoming edition of the KOHLER · Design Shanghai Global Design Conference invites global leaders and pioneers to reflect on the future of design. The event will honour China’s emerging architecture and the way it pays tribute and coexists with nature. CMF Conference will focus on VITALITY, aiming to turn design into the foundation of confidence in life. Finally, between March 5 and March 22, the fair will run the Design in the City programme, expanding into 100 locations across Shanghai. Over 20 interactive projects and satellite exhibitions will turn the entire city into a dynamic, open-air design hub and exhibition space.
Design Shanghai history
Design Shanghai has welcomed leading global brands and industry professionals in the areas of design for 12 years straight. Since its debut in 2014, the fair has established a dialogue between the national and international design communities. Shanghai Exhibition Centre had the honour of welcoming the first fair, enhancing the event with its central location and architectural beauty. In 2025, the fair welcomed over 76,000 visitors, establishing itself as an important destination for industry exchange.
