From October 9 to 18, 2026, Venice is hosting the fourth edition of Venice Design Week, the event that transforms the city into a citywide creative lab dedicated to contemporary design. It is a unique opportunity to experience Venice through exhibitions, installations, talks, and workshops, exploring the most innovative frontiers of contemporary design.

Venice Design Week 2026: The Fall Edition Program

The 2026 edition of Venice Design Week is part of Venice’s rich fall calendar, alongside events such as the Art Biennale (open until November 22) and Venice Fashion Week (October 19-24).

This year’s theme revolves around the relationship between light, materials, and the creative process, with particular attention to sustainability and the rediscovery of traditional craft techniques with a contemporary twist.

The Main Venues

Venice Design Week 2026 events are distributed across evocative locations throughout the city: historic buildings, museums, galleries, studios, and cultural spaces in the Castello, San Marco, and Dorsoduro districts. Among the main venues are:

• Fondazione Querini Stampalia: the building hosts exhibitions dedicated to contemporary glass jewelry and site-specific projects. These events will take place in the Wonder Q Room at Libreria Giovanni, located inside the building. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia is one of the week’s main hubs, with exhibitions that engage in a dialogue with the building’s historic architecture.
• Arsenale di Venezia: this space is dedicated to large-scale installations and projects exploring the relationship between design, industrial space, and Venice’s maritime heritage.
• Locations scattered throughout the historic center: private galleries, showrooms, and artisan workshops open their doors to host temporary exhibitions, product displays, and meetings with international designers and creators.

2026 Highlights: Exhibitions and Events

The 2026 program includes collective and solo exhibitions ranging from product design to contemporary jewelry, from interior design to material experimentation. Among the featured events are:

• The Transparent Breath 2026: an international exhibition dedicated to contemporary glass jewelry, featuring works selected by galleries and curators from around the world. The exhibition takes place at the Wonder Q Room of the Fondazione Querini Stampalia and involves emerging and established creators.
• Site-specific installations: international designers are invited to create works designed to engage with Venice’s historic spaces, fostering a fruitful contrast between contemporary art and architectural heritage.
• Talks and workshops: the program also includes thematic sessions on sustainability, material innovation, regenerative design, and the future of craftsmanship. The sessions are open to participants, students, and industry professionals, offering opportunities to network and exchange expertise.
• Guided tours: organized visits will take you through the venues of Venice Design Week, offering in-depth insights into the projects on display and opportunities to meet with the curators and creators involved.

Why Visit Venice Design Week 2026

The fall edition of Venice Design Week offers a unique perspective on contemporary design, set against the evocative backdrop of a city that is itself a workshop of beauty and innovation. For enthusiasts of design, craftsmanship, and visual culture, this week presents an opportunity to:

• Discover emerging trends in international design
• Explore the dialogue between Venetian artisanal tradition and contemporary experimentation
• Participate in conferences and workshops with designers, creators, and curators
• Experience Venice during a less crowded time of the year, with a rich and varied cultural calendar

Venice Fashion Week and Radar Venezia: Fashion Wraps Up the Month

Right after Venice Design Week, the city turns the spotlight on fashion with Radar Venezia (October 19-24, 2026), the new event born out of Venice Fashion Week. Ateliers open to the public, fashion shows, meetings with designers, and exhibitions dedicated to contemporary craftsmanship round out the fall calendar, making October the ideal month to visit the city.

For guests at Hotel Indigo this is a great opportunity to combine design, art, and fashion in a single stay, visiting Venice during one of the best times of the year.