Dezeen Events Guide Highlights Five July Architecture and Design Events

Key facts

• Ai Weiwei's 'Button Up!' runs 2 July to 4 September 2026 at Aviva Studios, Manchester.
• The exhibition explores 200 years of history, Manchester's industrial revolution, British imperialism, and globalization.
• A 24-hour live performance by Ai Weiwei is part of the exhibition.
• MoMA's 'Architects of Liberation' runs 5 July 2026 to 2 January 2027 in New York City.
• The exhibition features over 450 objects highlighting West African architecture from the 1950s–1980s.
• Countries covered include Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo.
• New Designers 2026 takes place 1–4 July at London's Business Design Centre, its 41st edition.
• Over 200 universities participate, covering fashion, furniture, product, interior, textile, graphic, jewellery, ceramics, and gaming design.
• Isan Creative Festival (sixth edition) runs 11–19 July 2026 in Thailand's Isan region.
• The festival includes over 200 events across four venues, focusing on art, music, and cuisine.
• Themes are Abundance, Adaptation, and Connection.
• Summer Assembly: Earth Station is a five-day summer school from 12–17 July 2026 at Hospitalfield, Arbroath, Scotland.
• Organized by Architecture Fringe, it hosts 40 participants with workshops and discussions.
• Leaders include Marf Summers, Becky Little, Soph Dyer, Alison Scott, Akiko Kobayashi, and Ben Williams.