Header: Courtesy of NYCxDESIGN
New York City is preparing to host over 163,000 visitors as the NYCxDESIGN Festival returns from 14-20 May 2026. This citywide takeover highlights the massive creative community living and working in the five boroughs. With hundreds of events on the calendar, the week brings together international brands, local makers, and students to show how design influences every part of city life.
The Main Event: Design Connects Us
The theme for 2026, Design Connects Us, looks at how different industries and neighbourhoods can work together to solve problems and share ideas. From Times Square to the tip of Brooklyn, the festival uses the whole city as a backdrop. Whether you are interested in furniture, lighting, or the future of technology, there is a space carved out for every interest.
Big names and new spaces
The week kicks off on 14 May with an opening party at Halo Twenty Eight, a new venue that sets the stage for a busy week. In Times Square, Lexus returns with the Design Pavilion, an interactive spot where people can meet industrial designers and artists. Over at The Seaport, the SHINE exhibition will display 70 original light objects curated by Harry Allen, focusing on how we use light in our homes and public spaces.
International styles are also front and centre. Oui Design! by Villa Albertine will highlight French craft across the city, while the Italian Trade Agency is hosting tours of showrooms in SoHo and NoMad, bringing a bit of Milan to Manhattan.
Talks, tours, and open studios
For those who want to hear from the experts, the Keynote Program features world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, who will give a tour of the Oculus and talk at the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. David Rockwell will also speak about his work on the new W New York – Union Square.
If you prefer a peek behind the curtain, the Salon Series offers a chance to step inside private studios. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is opening its Meatpacking District atelier, and several other architecture firms, like TenBerke and Ringo Studio, are inviting the public in to see how they work.
Trade fairs and future tech
From 17-19 May, the Javits Center hosts ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) and WANTED. These are the go-to spots for seeing the newest furniture and meeting emerging designers. For a more curated shopping experience, the Afternoon Light Design Fair at WSA will feature over 80 exhibitors, including brands like Anglepoise and Carl Hansen & Søn.
The festival is also looking ahead at the Future Now AI Summit on 19 May. Hosted at Cornell Tech, this full-day event explores how artificial intelligence is changing the way designers think and create, with speakers from Google DeepMind, Adobe, and IBM.
Walking the city
The festival also gets people moving with various walking tours. You can explore the Harlem Sculpture Gardens, learn about flood-resilient landscapes at Wagner Park, or see how community-led design is changing Brownsville in Brooklyn. The week wraps up on 20 May with a big party in DUMBO, celebrating the local studios like Snøhetta and BIG that call the neighbourhood home.
The 2026 NYCxDESIGN Festival shows that New York remains a top destination for anyone interested in the objects we use and the spaces we inhabit. It’s the perfect week to see the city through a different lens and discover the ideas that will shape our world next.
Festival details
Dates: 14 May – 20 May 2026
Locations: Various venues across all five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island).
Key Times & Schedule Highlights:
- 14 May (6:00 pm): Opening Night Party at Halo Twenty Eight.
- 14–20 May: Design Pavilion by Lexus (Times Square) and SHINE Exhibition (The Seaport).
- 15 May (Morning): FRATO Opening Breakfast (Midtown) and Fisher & Paykel Panel.
- 15 May (4:00 pm – 10:00 pm): Friday Night on the Town (Showroom crawls in TriBeCa, SoHo, and NoMad).
- 16–19 May: Afternoon Light Design Fair at WSA.
- 17–19 May: ICFF and WANTED at the Javits Center.
- 18 May: NYCxDESIGN Awards by Interior Design.
- 19 May (Full Day): Future Now AI Summit at Cornell Tech (Roosevelt Island).
- 20 May: DUMBO x Design Day and Festival Closing Party.
How to Attend: Full schedules and tickets are available at nycxdesign.org or via the NYCxDESIGN and Bloomberg Connects mobile apps.
