Six Days of Free Installations, Talks and Workshops at Dubai Design District.
Dubai: Dubai Design Week is set to return to Dubai Design District (d3) next week for its 12th edition, bringing six days of exhibitions, large-scale outdoor installations, creative discussions, interactive workshops and a weekend market.
Taking place from Tuesday, November 3, to Sunday, November 8, the annual festival will be held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture.
This year’s programme will explore how design can bring communities closer together, highlighting its role in shaping shared spaces, encouraging interaction and connecting people through different forms of expression.
“Design influences how we live, how our cities function and how we respond to change,” said Natasha Carella, Director of Dubai Design Week.
Here is a guide to what visitors can look forward to during the six-day event.
Dubai Design Week 2026: Dates, location and entry fees
- Dates: November 3–8, 2026
- Venue: Dubai Design District (d3), Dubai
- Entry: Free, according to the official Dubai Design Week visitor information page
- Downtown Design: Separate tickets required, with prices starting from Dh80 on Platinumlist
Downtown Design: International brands and regional talent
One of the festival’s main attractions, Downtown Design, will take place from November 4 to 8, bringing together leading international design brands, established creative studios and emerging regional talent.
The contemporary design fair will feature collections and installations from renowned names, including German luxury kitchen appliance manufacturer Gaggenau, Italian glassmaking brand Venini, outdoor furniture specialist Ethimo and Kohler.
Kohler will also showcase a collaboration with Dubai-based architect and designer Agata Kurzela.
Regional creativity will feature prominently, with Tashkeel’s Tanween Design Programme and Abu Dhabi’s Athath Fellowship presenting projects by up-and-coming designers.
Iwan Maktabi will unveil new creations by UAE-based designers Nadine Kanso and Omar Al Gurg, incorporating influences from Arabic calligraphy, Emirati cultural symbols and memories associated with the traditional majlis.
Visitors can also discover work from newer studios, including ceramics brand Slō and Contemporary Spaces, a furniture design studio established by siblings Alya, Maitha and Obaid Al Suwaidi.
Beyond furniture and home accessories, Downtown Design will feature several special showcases.
These include an exhibition dedicated to Memphis Milano, celebrating the influential Memphis design movement, and a Buccellati pop-up created in collaboration with British designer Luke Edward Hall.
Another highlight will be the Veuve Clicquot Lounge, designed by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori, bringing his distinctive creative approach to the fair.
Together, the showcases will offer visitors a mix of international design perspectives, regional craftsmanship and contemporary creative ideas.
Downtown Design’s talks programme, The Forum, will also bring together leading voices from the international design industry, with acclaimed interior architect and designer Tristan Auer scheduled to deliver the keynote address.
A garden designed to bring people together
One of this year’s standout attractions is Three Gardens and a Room, the winning project of Dubai Design Week’s Urban Commissions programme.
Created by Dubai-based NAO Architects, founded by architect Reem Nassour, the installation explores the theme Atmospheres through a series of interconnected garden spaces.
The design features three gardens surrounding a central gathering area, with plants, shaded spaces, colours and filtered natural light creating different sensory experiences.
The open space between the gardens forms a room-like setting where visitors can meet, relax and take in their surroundings.
The installation highlights how thoughtful design can transform outdoor spaces into welcoming places for social interaction and reflection.
Abwab introduces a new group exhibition
Dubai Design Week’s established commissioning programme, Abwab, is taking a different approach this year.
Moving away from its traditional format of individual pavilions, the programme will present a collective exhibition titled In Other Words.
The showcase will examine how people communicate and interpret language beyond spoken and written words.
Through signage, visual symbols, digital interfaces, gestures and oral histories, the exhibition will explore the many ways language shapes human interaction and cultural understanding.
Outdoor installations transform Dubai Design District
Visitors walking through d3 will encounter a series of large-scale installations spread across the district’s public spaces.
Among the highlights is CHATAI 2.0, a collaborative project by Japan’s Nikken Sekkei and SOBOKUYA.
The expanded timber installation combines traditional Japanese craftsmanship with spaces designed to encourage communal creativity and hands-on participation.
Indian design practice ALTER will present Playing Field, an interactive installation inspired by the popular board game Ludo, transforming a familiar game into a shared physical experience.
Meanwhile, Palestinian-Turkish practice aestudio will explore sustainable construction by transforming reclaimed concrete rubble into new architectural forms.
Emirati architect Rasha Saffarini’s Taqleem draws inspiration from the traditional practice of trimming palm trees, connecting regional heritage with contemporary architectural ideas.
From Bahrain, Palm and Palazzo will examine the relationship between privacy, hospitality and social connection within the traditional Bahraini home.
Other participating studios include Arquitectonica, Nordic Office Architects and Duette Studio, adding further variety to the district-wide programme.
Exhibitions and creative pop-ups
Beyond the outdoor installations, Dubai Design Week will host exhibitions and pop-up experiences celebrating craftsmanship, cultural heritage and contemporary creativity.
The UAE Designer Exhibition returns under the theme Inherited Futures, with architect and designer AlZaina Lootah shaping this year’s presentation.
The exhibition will feature UAE-based designers exploring new interpretations of traditional materials, cultural practices and inherited techniques.
L’École, School of Jewelry Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, will present research examining lost goldsmithing techniques dating back to the Second Iron Age.
International architecture firm Woods Bagot will mark 25 years of its presence in the region with a dedicated exhibition.
The Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children will showcase ceramic works created by young practitioners, highlighting emerging creative talent.
Pinterest will make its Dubai Design Week debut through collaborations with designers, while Ethr will present Desert Dweller, a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional Bedouin tent.
Creative workshops and design talks
Visitors interested in exploring their own creativity can participate in practical workshops hosted at the festival’s dedicated Maker Space.
The sessions are designed for people of different ages and experience levels, making them accessible to beginners as well as those with an established interest in design.
Workshops will be led by educators from the University of the Arts London and SAE University College, alongside representatives from HKS Architects and Leica Camera.
The programme will give participants opportunities to learn creative techniques, experiment with materials and engage directly with design professionals.
Weekend Marketplace: Shopping, food and family activities
The festival’s outdoor Marketplace will take place on Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8.
The two-day event will bring together independent makers, local entrepreneurs and creative businesses from across the UAE and the wider region.
Visitors can browse a selection of home accessories, jewellery, fashion and sustainably produced goods.
Alongside shopping, the Marketplace will feature food options, activities for children and live entertainment, making it a family-friendly addition to the festival.
How to get to Dubai Design Week 2026
Dubai Design Week will take place across Dubai Design District (d3), with public transport and parking options available for visitors.
By Metro and bus: The nearest Metro station is Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. From there, visitors can take RTA bus route D03 to the Dubai Design District 1 stop.
Shuttle buses will operate between the district and the Downtown Design fair.
By car: Drivers can use parking facilities at d3, with the first two hours available free of charge.
After the complimentary period, parking costs Dh20 per hour.
Valet parking services will also be available at selected locations throughout Dubai Design District.
With free public programming, interactive installations, exhibitions, workshops and a weekend market, Dubai Design Week offers visitors six days of opportunities to explore creativity and design from November 3 to 8.
Visitors can explore the complete schedule of events and activities on the official Dubai Design Week website.
