Header: HIX Europe
Europe’s dedicated hotel interior design event is moving to a new, larger home. HIX Europe 2026 takes place on 25–26 November at Excel London, creating a connected, curated campus for the hospitality interior community. Positioning the venue as a blank canvas for an immersive experience, the gathering brings together over 5,000 design professionals, including architects, interior designers, hoteliers, developers, investors, and procurement teams.
The move marks a fresh chapter for HIX, placing installations, activations, and key discussions directly across the main floor. With direct connections via the Elizabeth Line, the venue offers quick access from central London and the capital’s airports.
The event will run alongside AHEAD Europe, the hospitality industry awards scheme moving to Magazine London for its 2026 edition. Operating together, the two venues form a wider European hospitality design hub, linking designers, operators, and developers across both sites.
Exploring ‘Changes’ across hospitality interiors
The theme for 2026 is ‘Changes’. Hospitality design continuously moves forward as brands evolve, spaces change, technology updates operations, and guest expectations shift. The theme explores how the industry adapts to and drives transformation, including refurbishments, updated layouts, new digital tools, and new interior concepts.
This creative approach runs through every aspect of the event, from custom installations and panel discussions to the materials and product lines presented by exhibitors.
Expanding the hotel interiors ecosystem
HIX Europe covers every area of hotel interiors, bringing together products spanning furniture, textiles, lighting, bathroom fixtures, surfaces, technology, objects, and wellness. The 2026 exhibition line-up mixes established suppliers, returning favourites, and first-time exhibitors.
Returning brands include Laufen, Hypnos Contract Beds, Panaz, Hansgrohe Group, Julian Chichester, and Porta Romana. New additions joining the floor include Libra Interiors, Nalesso, Contract Chair Company, and Porter Bathroom.
The wider supplier list features prominent names including BAULMANN, Brintons Carpets, Chelsom, Elstead Lighting, Franklite, Heathfield & Co, LedsC4, Marset, Omio Atelier & Design, Pooky Lighting, Secto Design, Sensio Lighting, and Zonca Lighting. The curated showcase gives attendees an up-close look at practical items for guestrooms alongside broad ideas for social spaces, bars, and public areas.
For interior designers and architects, HIX Europe offers a practical chance to review new collections, speak directly with manufacturers, examine raw materials, and source items for active projects. For hotel operators and investors, the event highlights shifting industry habits, showing how physical items and fresh partnerships can influence the guest experience.
Past event attendees feature global hotel groups and leading design studios, including Accor, Four Seasons, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott, Minor Hotels, Six Senses, Rocco Forte Hotels, WATG, HBA, David Collins Studio, Conran and Partners, G.A Group, Goddard Littlefair, and Studio Mica.
Key conversations at HIX Talks
Curated by Sleeper Magazine and hosted by industry strategists Philippa Wagner of PeoplePlacesSpaces and Heleri Rande of THINK Hospitality, the two-day HIX Talks schedule highlights the creative minds behind global hotel projects.
Day One: Iconic landmarks, dispersed resorts, and local identity
The schedule opens on 25 November with Icons Reinvented, focusing on updating famous hotels without losing their original character. Looking at recent relaunches such as Park Hyatt Tokyo, Conrad Athens, and Delano Miami, speakers address the balance between attracting new guests and keeping loyal clients, alongside the practical costs of updating heritage structures. Presenters include Sanjit Manku (Co-Founder, Jouin Manku), Alex Reed (Design Director EMEA, Hilton), and Ria Vogiatzi (Founder and CEO, Elastic Architects). The following panel features Mark Eacott (Global EVP of Design & Branded Residences, Ennismore), Alex Reed, and Aurelie Schwend (Director of Interior Design, Luxury Global Design EMEA, Marriott International), moderated by Catherine Martin of Sleeper Magazine.
Next, Distributed & Deconstructed examines properties spread across separate cabins, lodges, and pavilions where nature forms part of the architecture. Discussions cover balancing guest privacy with social spaces and managing operational needs across spread-out sites. Projects featured include One&Only Moonlight Basin by Jamie Slagel (Principal & Owner, Olson Kundig), Here. Maldives by Inge Moore (Co-Founder, Muza Lab), Envi Paje by Noelle Homsy (Co-Founder, Envi Lodges), and Crafted at Powdermills by Dre Christodoulou (Founder, House of Dre). The panel includes Hakan Ozkasikci (Founder and CEO, 3 Square Metres), Chris Nader (Co-Founder and CEO, Envi Lodges), and Chris King (Founder, Stay Crafted), moderated by Philippa Wagner.
The afternoon session, A Sense of Place, looks at creating hotel spaces rooted in local neighbourhoods without relying on superficial trends. Case studies explore The Newman London presented by Pernille Lind and Richy Almond (Lind + Almond), The Companion Vienna presented by Piotr Wisniewski (Co-Founder, Westudio), and The Dean Munich presented by founder Tatjana von Stein. The panel brings together Paul Brackley (Founder and CEO, Kinsfolk), Keith Evans (Founder and CEO, Lifestyle Hospitality Capital Group), and Florian Kollenz (Co-Founder, Companion Hospitality Group).
Day One ends with HIX Deconstructed: Changes, a collaborative look at the cultural forces driving industry shifts. Featured speakers include Rob Wood (Founder, Music Concierge), Ariel Harroush (CEO, Outform), artist Peter Judson, and Melita Stagnaki (Co-Founder, DoubleDecker).
Day Two: Destination megaprojects, concrete icons, and grand heritage
Day Two opens on 26 November with The Red Sea, analysing large-scale destination planning and long-term coastal development. Speakers include Daniele Sbaraglia (Senior Partner, Foster + Partners) and Simon Thompson (Executive Director of Interior Architecture, Red Sea Global).
The following session, Mid-Century Modernised, Concrete Converted, looks at adapting modernist and concrete structures for present-day hospitality. Using projects like The Chancery Rosewood London, Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus, Sheraton Stockholm, and The Standard Brussels, speakers compare exact restoration against new modern designs inspired by the period. Presenters include Aaron Anders (Co-Founder, ADC & Tuneu), Seyhan Özdemir Sarpers (Co-Founder, Autoban), and Irek Pasek (Project Architect, Reardon Smith Architects). Panellists Justin Meath Baker (Director of Interior Design EMEA, Hyatt) and Tom Hupe (Senior Director of Design & Architecture, Hilton) are moderated by Eleanor Howard of Sleeper.
The main talk programme closes with Grandes Dames & Grand Designs, detailing two paths to heritage design: restoring Europe’s famous luxury hotels and converting historic palaces into hotels for the first time. Panellists address planning approvals, specialist craft costs, and commercial needs while examining Corinthia Rome with Simon Abela (Associate, GA Design), Mandarin Oriental Vienna with Martin Goddard (Co-Founder, Goddard Littlefair), Hotel Danieli Venice with Claire Mabon (Senior Design Director, Pierre-Yves Rochon), and Hotel Palais de la Méditerranée Nice with Linda Boronkay (Founder, Studio Boronkay). Heleri Rande moderates the closing brand panel.
An immersive gathering for hospitality design
HIX Europe offers a complete look at the current state of hotel design. By combining product discoveries across the exhibition floor with actual project case studies, the two-day gathering gives trade visitors practical ideas and direct contacts for upcoming projects. The move to Excel London provides the space needed for this growing interior design hub while maintaining the community focus and sense of discovery that have defined the event since its launch.
Key event details
- Event Dates: 25–26 November 2026
- Main Venue: Excel London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL, United Kingdom
- Co-located Event Venue (AHEAD Europe): Magazine London, 11 Ordnance Crescent, London SE10 0JH, United Kingdom
- Registration is free for visitors: Register for your pass to HIX Europe 2026.
