Helsinki Design Week 2026

Helsinki Design Week centres on “The Oncoming Other”, examining encounters between people, ideas, places and creative practices. The programme addresses design and architecture across fields including urban planning, digital design, fashion and textile design, graphic design, industrial and product design, interiors, new materials, design education and design thinking. Its focus extends to designers, architects, artists, creative professionals, families and wider public audiences.

Key programme elements include Design Diplomacy, which brings together designers from different countries for informal, card-led conversations in ambassadors’ residences; Open Studios, which offers insight into designers’ and creative professionals’ work environments; and HDW Children’s Design Week, which introduces children and families to creative fields through participatory workshops. Kari Korkman, founder of Helsinki Design Week, frames the theme around openness, trust, interaction and the role of networks in strengthening the creative sector. The event positions design as a platform for dialogue across disciplines, communities and urban life.