Budapest Design Week has been the most significant event in the Hungarian creative industry for 22 years, where each autumn, the values, novelties, and creators of design are brought to the spotlight. The 2025 programme series reflects the blurring of lines in the design industry, with its motto “Fluid Boundaries”, awaiting visitors with over 175 diverse events in 10 cities from 8 to 19 October. The aim of the event series is for everyone, regardless of age or gender, to discover programmes of interest – even at a professional level – across the country, offering insight into the world of design as well as fine and applied arts. Thus, the public can discover how the objects, interiors, and spaces shaping our everyday life are created through exciting experiences and mostly free community events.
In the Hungarian capital, nearly 130, and in the countryside, 50 programmes will take place during Budapest Design Week. During the event, exhibitions, guided tours, design walks, open studios, workshops, roundtable discussions, professional lectures, and community events run back-to-back, while showrooms and galleries offer discounted shopping opportunities. The programme is extremely diverse, featuring open studios, professional lectures, community design walks, family craft activities, designer meetings, design installations, gastronomy programmes, book launches, and interactive experiences. Each age group, regardless of their professional background, can find an interesting experience or an exciting program throughout the event.
One of the greatest strengths of the event is that it goes beyond the capital and offers opportunities for exploring design all across the country. The national programme offer includes programme series with a long history, such as DesignPécs, held for the 11th time, and Sopron Design Week, celebrating its 10th edition. For the first time, Debrecen joined this year with colourful events presenting the creative industry. In addition, six more big cities, Győr, Kecskemét, Szentendre, Balatonfüred, Tata, and Veszprém, enrich the range of programmes with their own events, all contributing to making the values of Hungarian design visible throughout the country.
The motto of this year’s programme series, “Fluid Boundaries”, draws attention to the blurring of design industry borders and the permeability between materials, technologies, areas of expertise, and designer and manufacturer roles. Today, design is more than mere object-making. It is a complex way of thinking that creates new correlations between materials, technologies, and cultures. Besides, it focuses on problem-solving, innovation, and experience creation at the same time. Budapest Design Week programmes offer experiences where different areas of art and design connect freely: hybrid installations, interactive presentations, and inspiring meetings await visitors while the designers are not only present as exhibitors but also as active participants.
“The most important mission of Budapest Design Week is to make outstanding Hungarian designers, brands, and creations more visible and provide them with due professional recognition nationwide. These 12 days are about collaborative thinking, professional dialogue, and how closely design is connected to our everyday lives. I hope that the programmes bring the values of design closer to the broad audience and contribute to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the field. BDW has become a platform where industry players can showcase their innovations, exchange experiences, and create new collaborations. For those interested, there are even opportunities for discounted shopping,” said Zsófia Jakab, CEO of the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency and Ministerial Commissioner for Creative Industry Development and Sectoral Coordination. She further added: “I am convinced that, if young people can discover the diversity and values of design directions and fine and applied arts, a national knowledge base can be created which not only fosters talent but also supports the future’s economy. Today in Hungary, the creative industries not only generate aesthetic value but also represent economic and social strength.”
During Budapest Design Week, the flagship events include the design week’s main exhibition, 360 Design Budapest, realised for the 6th time now, showcasing nearly 400 contemporary creations dreamed up by domestic and regional designers. At the same time, Art Market Budapest opens its doors for the 15th time to host the largest international contemporary fine arts fair in Central and Eastern Europe. The Design Without Borders exhibition, with its 21 years of history, offers an international outlook on the remarkable pieces of 15 countries’ product design. The EDIDA awards ceremony highlights the best domestic creations for the fourth time, and MaxCity joins with its long-standing partner events. The diverse programme places particular emphasis on graduation exhibitions from educational institutions: the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, the Metropolitan University Budapest, the University of Sopron, and the Budapest Complex Vocational Training Centre all showcase the work of their graduating students.
This year, a special printed publication will help the audience find their way around, summarising not only the entire programme but also offering a creative experience in itself. Detailed descriptions and interactive maps on the official website help visitors easily compile their programme plan. It will also be easy to spot Budapest Design Week events while walking around the city: BDW flags on the façades of venues will draw attention to the programmes. Most of the events are free of charge, but some events require prior registration or an entrance fee. The newly created Local+ section makes it easy to identify regional venues, collecting and promoting local initiatives.
The long-term goal of Budapest Design Week, organised by the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency, is to become a regionally significant, experience-based platform that strengthens the domestic ecosystem and helps increase the visibility of the Hungarian creative industry internationally and promote its actors.
The detailed programme and registration information are available at budapestdesignweek.hu.
Photos Courtesy of Budapest Design Week
