LISBON by DESIGN 2026 Puts the Focus on Portuguese Collectable Design

Header: Fantasque carpet, courtesy of LISBON by DESIGN

LISBON by DESIGN is set to return in 2026 for another edition, from 26 to 31 May, reaffirming its position as one of Portugal’s leading platforms focused on collectable design and contemporary craft made in Portugal. For the first time, the event will take over the whole of Palacete Gomes Freire, the building where the fair began six years ago. The 2026 edition will extend across an additional floor, the large courtyard at the back of the property, and an annex. The visit will move through every room of the palace, with each space given its own immersive scenography.

A platform for emerging and established talents

Since its first edition, LISBON by DESIGN has supported both emerging talents and established designers. The fair presents unique, handmade and collectable pieces that bring together craftsmanship and a contemporary approach to design. Beyond the exhibition itself, the fair works as a meeting place for collectors, curators, professionals and people interested in design and craft. Visitors can speak with the participants, exchange ideas, acquire pieces and learn more about the artists and the works on display.

As in previous years, guided tours will take place throughout the week. These tours give visitors a closer look at the stories, techniques, materials and creative processes behind each piece.

“LISBON by DESIGN is unique because it presents the artists themselves. Behind every piece there is a hand, a story, a human presence, and here visitors can speak directly with those who create. I see myself as a talent scout: my role is to give these creators a stage and connect them to the world.”

Julie de Halleux, founder of Lisbon by Design

Emerging talents

The 2026 edition focuses on a new generation of designers. Among them is Belgian designer-artisan Igor Louis de Kerchove, now based in Lisbon, who will present pieces made from wood and sea salt, along with a large installation for the courtyard: a wooden “temple” inspired by the Kapla game, a simple construction game based on several small pine planks. Making its first appearance at the fair, Thilburg will present a capsule collection of collectable furniture produced in Portugal, combining Nordic aesthetics with Portuguese craft.

Joana Teixeira will show a large-scale installation featuring interventions by the artist Ahenea, alongside a new furniture collection developed with Collector Group and the artisan Paulo Pinto. Eduardo Orúe Barceló will present a series of pieces combining wood and marble. Founded in 2025 by Ricardo Costa, POÉMIA will present light sculptures made using a proprietary technique that pushes wood to high levels of tension. LOBO Atelier will also introduce a new lighting collection.

American artist Sam Einstein will present a collection of lamps made from recycled wood, examining the translucency and warmth of light. French ceramicist Camille Hug will show a collection shaped by Mediterranean landscapes. Photographer Filipe Condado will present a series of mirrors that combine photography with modular structures and precise cuts, and visual artist Olga Ermol will show hand-embroidered compositions informed by mid-century modernism. Bibelo, an emerging furniture brand focused on well-made design at an accessible price, will take over the large rear courtyard of the Gomes Freire Palace with an outdoor lounge area designed for gathering and conversation.

A tribute to Portuguese design

The 2026 edition also pays tribute to important figures in Portuguese design. A special focus will be placed on the historic brand Kukas, which will present a new collection created in homage to its recently deceased founder. For this edition, the brand revisits its legacy through large-scale decorative pieces, continuing the identity it has developed over the decades. At the same time, Atelier Daciano da Costa will present a new re-edition connected to the work of Daciano da Costa and his contribution to modern Portuguese design.

Large-scale installations and the return of prominent names

Among the established names featured in the 2026 edition, Toni Grilo presents a new collection of pieces designed for LUM, the brand where he is the artistic director. Alan Louis will take over one of the largest rooms in the palacete with the “Era” and “Narciso” collections, made up of monumental pieces that combine ceramics, mohair and velvet. The installation also includes a live piano performance with an original score by the Franco-Portuguese composer Audric de Oliveira, played on a bench designed especially for the occasion. Drawing on a trip to Iceland, Amande Haeghen presents a series of sculptural lighting pieces, while Oficina Marques returns with a large immersive installation.

Hamrei presents “Fun Guy”, an artisanal collection of sculptural bronze tables inspired by the organic forms of fungi. The pieces will be installed in the palacete’s outdoor areas, forming a forest of mushrooms. At the main entrance, the duo Macheia will create a large mural that reimagines traditional straw techniques, developed with the support of Sassy Women Society. EstadoBruto, meanwhile, will present new collectable pieces, including marble lamps made by artisans.

Collective exhibitions

A new part of the 2026 edition is the collective exhibition, which brings together more than ten designers. Each participant will present between one and three collectable pieces, selected to give a clear view of their work. The format creates more room for emerging talents and young creators within the fair, and as some designers will present a signature piece, others will show the first pieces from collections that are still being developed. The exhibition gives collectors and visitors the chance to see different approaches at an early or defining stage in each designer’s practice.

The collective exhibition will be installed in a 50-square-metre outhouse in the garden of the palacete. The scenography will be minimal, allowing the pieces to have the spotlight and giving space for networking between designers, collectors and visitors.

Collaborations: The DNA of Lisbon by Design

Collaborations are a central part of LISBON by DESIGN and continue to bring together different materials, techniques and ways of working. Among them is the partnership between Fuschini and Ferreira de Sá, in which Rosana Sousa puts her touch on furniture and tapestry pieces. Another collaboration brings together Henriette Arcelin, Fantasque and Mathilde Gallien, resulting in hybrid objects that combine ceramics, textiles and woodworking. Baptiste da Silva and OHXOJA also present a joint project with a particular focus on cork. Martinho Pita, GRAUº Cerâmica and João Guimarães come together for a scenographic installation, while Kylie Marie and Acru explore the relationship between sculptural furniture and textiles.

This myriad of collaborations extends to encounters between Diogo Amaro, Clotilde de Kersauson and Margaux Carel, who explore wood and ceramics, and between Caio Superchi and Mariana Ralo, who present a selection of pieces combining lighting, upcycled furniture and contemporary tapestry.

“I wanted people to see the pieces in a private palace, do something nobody had done before. I wanted to bring together the best artisans I admired most in Portugal and show them in a unique, unprecedented setting, but always with a simple and elegant approach… something that would take the artisans to another level in a context of unrivalled quality.”

Julie de Halleux