Perth Design Week 2026

Perth Design Week (PDW) 2026 introduces a focused edition titled “PDW / 10”, comprising ten major curated events held in collaboration with festival partners. This new iteration marks a strategic shift for the annual festival, consolidating its programme while maintaining engagement with critical issues relevant to Western Australia’s design sector and broader community. PDW’s remit encompasses architecture, interior design, sustainability, furniture, fashion, young designers, and innovation across disciplines such as landscape, graphic and digital design, planning, engineering, and product and service design.

The festival’s audience includes design professionals, students, and members of the public interested in creative dialogue and the impact of design on community and the environment. PDW continues to host exhibitions, talks, panel discussions, and networking gatherings, creating opportunities for knowledge sharing and professional development within Perth’s growing design ecosystem.

PDW is led by founders architect Sandy Anghie and designer David Smith, whose vision prioritises a collaborative approach encapsulated by the concept of a “coalition of the willing”. This model brings together contributing organisations and individuals from across the design spectrum in Western Australia and beyond. The festival seeks to foreground the role of design in shaping economic, social, and cultural outcomes, positioning creativity as integral not only to aesthetic practice but also to broader community wellbeing and innovation.

The 2026 programme diverges from the rapid expansion of the previous year, which included approximately 90 events, more than 180 speakers, and involvement from over 90 organisations. Instead, PDW/10 reflects a deliberate moment of consolidation, aiming for a high-impact, sustainable event sequence as PDW looks toward future growth. While the 2026 event highlights fewer large-scale, collaboratively curated experiences, it remains committed to inclusivity, creative leadership, and the ongoing evolution of Perth’s design identity.

PDW / 10 in 2026 serves as a strategic pivot for Perth Design Week, highlighting the value of focus and reflection in festival programming and ensuring continued relevance and resilience. This approach is intended to maintain momentum and steward the event’s expansion in subsequent years while reinforcing the foundational role of design in shaping Perth’s future.