Milan Design Week 2026

Each April, Milan transforms from Italy’s industrial heart into the world’s most expansive open-air gallery. However, with the 2026 edition of the Fuorisalone sprawling across more districts than ever before, the challenge for the art-minded visitor is no longer finding something to see, it is finding what truly matters.

This year, the narrative has shifted. We are seeing a profound move toward "emotional materiality" -installations that prioritize sensory experience and heritage over mere aesthetic. Whether it is the reclamation of industrial waste at Issey Miyake, the political weight of textile at Rubelli, or the architectural "shelters" found in the city’s Baroque courtyards, the standout works of MDW26 demand more than a glance; they demand a conversation.

We have traversed the city to curate a definitive selection for our community. From immersive light experiments to whimsical public interventions, here is our guide to the 10 essential highlights defining the spirit of Milan this year.

The Paper Log: Shell & Core

Artist: Miyake Design Studio

Location: Issey Miyake, Via Bagutta 12

This collaborative exhibition explores the creative reappropriation of "paper logs", the compressed rolls of paper used as byproducts in the creation of Issey Miyake’s signature pleated garments. The project is divided into two parts: "Shell," featuring sculptural objects by Ensamble Studio, and "Core," which presents innovative furniture prototypes developed by Miyake's in-house team. Together, they transform industrial waste into a sophisticated study of form and structure, bridging the gap between high fashion and architectural design.

The Fruit & Veg Carousel

Artist: Laila Gohar for Arket

Location: Giardino delle Arti, Via Palestro 8

Chef and artist Laila Gohar brings her signature whimsy to the public with a fully functional fairground carousel featuring giant, sculptural fruits and vegetables. Adapted from an 18th-century antique model, the installation celebrates the launch of her first ready-to-wear collaboration with Arket. It transforms the "everyday" nature of produce into a joyful, nostalgic spectacle that invites adult play within a historic garden setting.

DEORON MDW 2026

Curator: DEORON (featuring 50+ international designers)

Location: Via Padova 11, Porta Venezia Design District

Housed in a former ball-bearing factory that has never before been open to the public, this 800-square-meter exhibition rejects the traditional "museum" format in favor of a "lived" experience. Over 50 designers and brands present furniture, lighting, and technology not as static objects, but as a sequence of inhabited moments where visitors are encouraged to sit, touch, and linger. The space is anchored by a sculptural high-fidelity audio system, making sound a structural element that transforms the industrial venue into a multisensory cathedral of contemporary design.

Ai Weiwei: About Silk

Artist: Ai Weiwei

Location: Rubelli Showroom, Via Fatebenefratelli 9

Marking the first time he has worked with silk, Ai Weiwei has transformed Rubelli’s flagship store into an immersive political statement. The space is wrapped in elaborate silk lampas, woven with gold thread and symbol-laden motifs that translate his visual language into luxury textile. This project dissolves the boundary between decorative craft and conceptual art, using the shimmer of the fabric to explore themes of cultural heritage and resistance.

Ooooh, that's EpiQ!

Artist: Ricardo Orts (Ulises Studio) for Škoda Auto

Location: Palazzo del Senato, Via Senato 10

Spanish architect and digital artist Ricardo Orts transforms the Baroque courtyard of Palazzo del Senato into a soft, surrealist playground inspired by the malleability of modeling clay. The installation features oversized, fluid sculptures and interactive zones that invite visitors to engage with design through touch and play rather than passive observation. By blending physical forms with a digital interactive dome, the work celebrates the launch of the electric Škoda Epiq while creating a joyful, sensory retreat in the heart of Milan.

When Apricots Blossom

Artist/Studio: Curated by Kulapat Yantrasast (commissioned by ACDF)

Location: Palazzo Citterio, Via Brera 12

Presented by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, this immersive exhibition explores themes of renewal and resilience centered on the Aral Sea region and Karakalpakstan. The showcase features new works from twelve international designers, including Bethan Laura Wood and Raw-Edges, who collaborated with Uzbek artisans to reinterpret traditional materials like silk, felt, and reed. By focusing on the essential elements of textiles, food, and shelter, the installation highlights how ancient craft traditions can inspire modern solutions for sustainability and community memory.

Moooi: A Silver Celebration

Creative Director: Marcel Wanders

Location: Superstudio Più, Via Tortona 27

To mark twenty-five years of boundary-pushing design, Moooi has created a shimmering, monochromatic landscape that reflects the brand’s "extraordinary" evolution. The exhibition space is entirely swathed in silver, providing a futuristic backdrop for new furniture launches and iconic archival pieces. This high-concept environment explores themes of reflection and legacy, proving that Moooi remains at the vanguard of the international design scene.

Metamorphosis in Motion

Artist: Lina Ghotmeh

Location: Palazzo Litta, Corso Magenta 24

Within the historic courtyard of Palazzo Litta, Lina Ghotmeh has erected a monumental structure composed of undulating pink planes. This architectural intervention uses repetitive, curved geometries to create a "shelter" that invites visitors to pause and contemplate the surrounding Baroque grandeur. The contrast between the soft, rose-tinted modern forms and the weathered stone of the palace creates a powerful dialogue between past and present.

The Romance of Fragility

Curator: Valentina Ciuffi (Studio Vedèt) for Delvis (Un)Limited Location: Via Dell'Annunciata 23/4

This exhibition reframes "fragility" as a strength, showcasing collectible glass works that demand a heightened level of care and presence. Featuring six international designers, the show highlights how material vulnerability can lead to more intentional human interaction with objects. Each piece serves as a meditation on the limits of industrial manufacturing versus the organic, unpredictable nature of hand-blown glass.

Preciosa Lighting: Drifting Lights

Artist/Studio: Michael Vasku & Andreas Klug

Location: Tempesta Gallery, Foro Buonaparte 68 (Brera)

Czech glass masters Preciosa present an installation using 60 bubbled glass panels to explore how light interacts with varied textures and colors. The palette moves through shades of red, pink, and green, aiming to evoke specific emotional states like passion and peace. It’s a 30-square-meter sensory environment that demonstrates the delicate balance between ancient Bohemian craftsmanship and modern optical science.

Artist: Omer Arbel (Bocci), curated by David Alhadeff (The Future Perfect)

Location: Bocci Milan, Via Giuseppe Rovani 20

For Milan Design Week 2026, the Vancouver-based lighting brand Bocci has transformed its private apartment-showroom into a "spatial laboratory" that treats light as a physical volume. Curated by David Alhadeff, the exhibition moves away from traditional furniture displays to focus on immersive, architectural encounters, such as the "147 Wave", a luminous passage made of 200 folded glass sheets. By exploring the liquid-like quality of light through experimental glass-blowing techniques, Arbel and Alhadeff challenge visitors to experience illumination not just as a utility, but as a medium that actively reshapes perception and emotion.