As the Interior Design Show Toronto 2026 prepares to open its doors from January 22 to 25 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the event has unveiled a robust lineup of new keynotes, installations, and programming that further position IDS as Canada’s leading design platform. From global design leadership and conversations around AI to immersive environments and independent maker showcases, IDS 2026 promises a multifaceted snapshot of where design is headed next.
Global Voices and Timely Conversations
Among the newly announced keynote speakers is Yves Béhar, Founder and CEO of San Francisco–based design and innovation studio fuseproject. With more than 100 early-stage ventures launched and collaborations spanning brands such as Moooi, Samsung, Herman Miller, and L’Oréal, Béhar brings a perspective rooted in the belief that design accelerates the adoption of new ideas and shapes the way we live.
Another headline session, Rethinking AI’s Impact on the Business of Design, brings together Andrew Lane (digby), Brad Burns (Gensler), and Harvey Schaefer (MillerKnoll) for a candid discussion on how artificial intelligence is reshaping design practice. Moving beyond efficiency, the conversation explores how emerging technologies are influencing workflows, team culture, client relationships, and long-term strategy.
Workplace design also takes centre stage with Destinations, Not Desks: Reimagining Workplaces for a Generation That Needs a Reason to Return. Featuring Alison McNeil (Dialog), Nicola Casciato and Supreet Barhay (WZMH), and moderated by Peter Sobchak of Canadian Interiors, the panel examines how offices are evolving from functional spaces into purposeful destinations shaped by experience, flexibility, and culture.
A more local lens is offered through Toronto Interiors, a keynote inspired by Toronto Interiors: Modern Residential Design by Catherine MacIntosh. Moderated by Alison Garwood-Jones, the session brings together MacIntosh alongside Arancha González Bernardo, Michael Fohring (Odami), and Lisa Rapoport (PLANT Architect Inc) to explore the materials, styles, and shifting identity of residential design in Canada’s largest city.
Central Bar: Field of Interaction
At the heart of the IDS show floor, Central Bar: Field of Interaction debuts as a large-scale immersive installation by designer and artist Yury Goncharov and artist-designer Alina Tacmelova, with fabrication by Custom Engineered Arts. The sculptural environment is conceived as a living landscape where thin vertical threads rise into airy, petal-like forms, symbolising fragile yet essential human connections.
Anchoring the installation is a rock-like central bar — described as a “social rock” — whose irregular geometry becomes a gathering point for conversation and interaction. The installation invites visitors to move through, linger, and connect, reinforcing IDS’s emphasis on design as a shared, human experience.
The IDS Party and Toronto Design Week
Kicking off Toronto Design Week, The IDS Party takes place on Thursday, January 22, transforming the show floor into one of the city’s most anticipated design celebrations. Presented by Anatolia, the evening features DJ sets curated by Rollout Sound, drinks, and after-hours access to the exhibition floor, setting the tone for the design year ahead.
Independent Design in Focus: Studio North and Prototype
IDS 2026 continues its commitment to emerging and independent talent through Studio North, presented by Yorkville University. Designed as a gallery-like platform, Studio North highlights custom work, experimental approaches, and independent studios, including names such as AND Ceramics Studio, Carbon & Iron, Good Friend Furniture, JETA Studio, Krisette & Co., Laboratoire Textile, and Le Tenon & la Mortaise, among others.
Alongside it, Prototype showcases conceptual works and in-development products that push the boundaries of contemporary design practice. Exhibitors range from After 5 Furnished and atelier b to emerging designers such as Hannah Huang, Isaac Hsung, Shu Wang, William Ukoh, and ZAP Studio. Together, these platforms underline IDS’s role in championing experimentation, craftsmanship, and the next generation of design voices.
Practical Information
Interior Design Show Toronto 2026
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building
– IDS Party (Presented by Anatolia): Thursday, January 22, 7:00–11:00 PM
– Professional Trade Days:
• Thursday, January 22, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
• Friday, January 23, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
• Saturday, January 24, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
– General Admission:
• Saturday, January 24, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
• Sunday, January 25, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
With its mix of global perspectives, local insight, immersive environments, and independent design platforms, IDS Toronto 2026 positions itself not just as a trade fair, but as a cultural moment — one that reflects how design continues to shape cities, industries, and everyday life.
