London is preparing for the 24th edition of the London Design Festival. The 2026 festival will take place from 12 to 20 September across the city. The programme brings together exhibitions, installations, talks, craft projects and new design work. This year’s event will also explore the relationship between technology, materials, sound and traditional craft.
London Design Festival 2026 Dates
The London Design Festival will run for nine days from Saturday, 12 September, to Sunday, 20 September 2026. Events will take place across 11 design districts in London.
The districts include Bankside, Brompton, Chelsea, Mayfair, Shoreditch, Soho, Fleet Street Quarter and several other creative areas.
V&A to Host Major Festival Projects
The Victoria and Albert Museum will be one of the main locations during the festival. Several projects will be presented as part of the V&A and London Design Festival programme.
Projects include Time After Time by Andre Williams, which brings together clockmaking and soundsystem design. Other V&A projects include work by Eunjo Lee, Albert Yonathan Setyawan, Aziza Kadyri and Henry Svendsen.
Global Design Forum Returns
The Global Design Forum will return to the V&A South Kensington from 12 to 14 September.
The forum will bring designers and other creative voices together to discuss ideas shaping the future of design. The 2026 programme includes speakers and sessions covering areas such as technology, sound, culture and possible new approaches to design.
Sound and Light Take Centre Stage
Sound and light will feature strongly in this year’s festival.
The Art of Sound, featuring Max Cooper and Chris Watson, is part of the 2026 programme. Another major project, The Point of Unity and Soul, will bring contemporary light and media art to St Paul’s Cathedral.
These projects show how the festival is bringing different forms of creative work together. Visitors can experience design through sound, light, space and physical objects.
Craft Meets New Technology
Traditional craft will also have a place in the 2026 programme. The Craft x Tech Tokai Project will explore connections between traditional Japanese craft and contemporary technology.
Other projects will focus on materials, sustainability, architecture and new approaches to making. The programme includes Future Matter: Crafting Sustainable Futures and Enchanted Matter: On Resonant Objects and the Life of Materials.
A Citywide Design Event
London Design Festival 2026 will spread across museums, galleries, studios, public spaces and design districts. The official programme includes exhibitions, installations, talks, workshops, open studios and design trails.
For you as a visitor, the festival offers different ways to explore London’s design scene. You can focus on a particular district or move between locations to see a wider selection of projects.
The London Design Festival will run from 12 to 20 September 2026. The event will bring together designers, artists, makers and creative organisations from London and around the world for nine days of design and creative activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When is London Design Festival 2026?
London Design Festival 2026 will take place from Saturday, 12 September, to Sunday, 20 September 2026. The festival will run for nine days across London.
2. Where is London Design Festival 2026 being held?
London Design Festival 2026 will take place across London, using museums, galleries, studios, public spaces and 11 design districts. The official programme includes districts such as Bankside, Brompton, Chelsea, Mayfair, Shoreditch, Soho and Fleet Street Quarter.
3. What is London Design Festival 2026?
London Design Festival 2026 is the 24th edition of the London Design Festival. It brings together exhibitions, installations, talks, workshops, craft projects, design trails and other creative events across the capital from 12 to 20 September.
4. What is happening at the V&A during LD Festival 2026?
The V&A is one of the major locations for London Design Festival 2026. The programme includes projects such as Time After Time by Andre Williams, alongside work by Eunjo Lee, Albert Yonathan Setyawan, Aziza Kadyri and Henry Svendsen.
5. What is the Global Design Forum 2026?
The Global Design Forum is a major part of London Design Festival 2026, bringing designers and creative voices together to discuss ideas shaping the future of design. The 2026 programme includes sessions and keynotes covering areas including technology, culture, sound and design.
6. Does LD Festival 2026 include technology?
Yes. Technology is part of the wider 2026 programme, with projects and discussions connecting digital design, emerging technology, materials and traditional creative practices. The official programme also includes an event titled “Can AI Help Brands Become Immortal?”
7. Will LD Festival 2026 include craft?
Yes. Craft is an important part of the 2026 programme. The Craft x Tech Tokai Project explores connections between traditional Japanese craft and contemporary technology, while other projects examine materials and sustainable approaches to making.
8. What will visitors see at LD Festival 2026?
Visitors can explore exhibitions, installations, talks, workshops, open studios, design trails and other projects across London’s museums, galleries, studios, public spaces and design districts.
9. Will sound and light feature at LD Festival 2026?
Yes. Sound and light are prominent themes in the 2026 programme. Featured projects include The Art of Sound, featuring Max Cooper and Chris Watson, and The Point of Unity and Soul, which brings contemporary light and media art to St Paul’s Cathedral.
10. How many districts are involved in LD Festival 2026?
London Design Festival 2026 features 11 design districts across the capital. They provide different areas for visitors to explore exhibitions, installations, studios, talks and other design activity.
