The NYCxDESIGN Festival returns May 14-20, 2026, bringing together more than 163,000 designers, innovators, industry leaders, and enthusiasts for a week-long celebration of creativity, collaboration, and cultural exchange. Established in 2012 as New York City’s official design week, the festival has grown into one of the world’s leading design gatherings, activating all five boroughs of the city with dynamic programming.
Throughout the week, participants from across the city, including global brands, schools and universities, cultural institutions, emerging studios, and independent makers, come together through exhibitions, installations, talks, tours, parties, and cultural programs that highlight New York’s expansive design ecosystem. The celebration amplifies the importance of the city’s creative energy, drawing a mix of local, domestic, and international attendees, with one-third of festival-goers traveling from outside New York City to participate.
