Designblok 2026 Opens Prague's Reconstructed Industrial Palace with Light-Themed 28th Edition
From 6 to 11 October 2026, Prague will host the 28th edition of Designblok, themed Light, showcasing more than 300 designers, studios, and brands. This festival celebrates the public unveiling of the Central Hall of the Industrial Palace after its four-year renovation. The distinguished Dutch designer Marcel Wanders will be the guest of honour, receiving the Designblok Award on 8 October, accompanied by a discussion led by Max Fraser. The Designblok Talks, co-curated with Dezeen, will take place on 6–7 October, featuring over 45 speakers. New exhibitions include Retro Lamps at the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design for Václav Havel at Prague Castle. On 10 October, Diploma Selection will highlight 15 graduate projects, centered around director Jana Zielinski's theme of design enhancement.
Key facts
- Designblok 2026 runs from 6 to 11 October 2026 in Prague under the theme Light.
- The 28th edition brings together more than 300 designers, studios and brands from the Czech Republic and internationally.
- Designblok is the first major event to open the Central Hall of the Industrial Palace after a four-year reconstruction.
- Marcel Wanders is principal guest of honour and receives the Designblok Award for Outstanding Contribution to Global Design at a ceremony on 8 October.
- Designblok Talks, co-curated by Dezeen and moderated by Benedict Hobson and Max Fraser, ran 6–7 October with over 45 international speakers on Future of Design, Future of Architecture and Future of Living.
- New exhibition Retro Lamps: Forgotten Stories of Czechoslovak Design at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague covers mass-produced lamps from the 1950s to 1980s.
- Design for Václav Havel at Prague Castle's Riding Hall marks the 90th anniversary of the president's birth and shows his original office for the first time in 24 years.
- Diploma Selection returns for its 12th iteration with 15 graduate projects, shown in a fashion show on 10 October at the Industrial Palace.
Entities
Artists
- Marcel Wanders
- Lee Broom
- Claudio Silvestrin
- Sebastian Herkner
- Laurids Gallée
- Daniel Rybakken
- Christophe Delcourt
- Stanley Wong
- Alberto Perazza
- Pascale Mussard Siegrist
- Maxim Velčovský
- Eva Eisler
- Václav Havel
- Benedict Hobson
- Max Fraser
- Jana Zielinski
- Bodo Sperlein
Institutions
- Designblok
- Dezeen
- Magis Spa
- Fondation d'entreprise Hermès
- Flos
- Moooi
- Brokis
- Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague
- Industrial Palace
- Výstaviště Praha
- Prague Castle
- Rudolfinum
- Designblok Award
- High Craft
- Diploma Selection
Locations
- Prague
- Czech Republic
- Jan Palach Square
- Riding Hall
- Chapel of the Holy Cross
- Central Hall
Sources
- Dezeen —