Isola Design Festival Celebrates Tenth Anniversary with Return to Milan Neighborhood
The Isola Design Festival marks its tenth edition in 2026, organized by Isola Design Group in Milan's Isola district. This anniversary represents both a celebration and reflection on the event's evolution from a local initiative to an international platform connecting emerging designers, established studios, and manufacturing companies. The festival returns to its neighborhood roots with Fabbrica Sassetti, a 1930s industrial building, serving as the central venue alongside other district locations including Fondazione Catella, Stecca3, Copernico Isola, Atelier Kondakji, and ZonaK. The theme 'TEN: The Evolving Now' revisits significant past formats while introducing new collaborations. Exhibitions focus on craftsmanship, sustainability, and research, featuring international designers and projects exploring reuse, upcycling, and sustainable production. Notable installations include 'No Space for Waste,' 'Rasa – The Indian Collective' curated by Nidhi Chandak and Varun E S, 'The Dutch Atelier' showcasing Netherlands designers, and 'LE LABO 1.0' by Baguette Studio. The program expands with future-oriented projects at various venues: 'Archivi Futuri' at ZonaK imagines preservation systems beyond 2050; 'Shape of Belonging' at Atelier Kondakji examines identity and craftsmanship; 'Default Is Not Universal' at Fondazione Catella explores cultural perceptions of design; and 'The New State of Materials' at Stecca3 presents circular, decarbonized materials. Urban installations activate public spaces through the Urban Collective Project, including 'Oasi in città' at Bosco Verticale, 'Corpo' using recyclable composites, and 'Maddie is in the air' exploring additive manufacturing. Throughout the district, numerous studios, showrooms, and independent spaces participate, such as AlgrantiLAB, ErnestoShop, and Garbelotto Studio Milano, alongside educational programs like Bravery Bar involving 21 schools. The festival maintains its core mission of providing visibility to emerging designers while strengthening its role as an international platform with strong local identity.
Key facts
- Isola Design Festival celebrates its tenth edition in 2026
- Organized by Isola Design Group in Milan's Isola district
- Central venue is Fabbrica Sassetti, a 1930s industrial building
- Theme is 'TEN: The Evolving Now'
- Focuses on craftsmanship, sustainability, and research
- Includes urban installations through Urban Collective Project
- Features international designers and collaborative projects
- Maintains mission to support emerging designers
Entities
Artists
- Nidhi Chandak
- Varun E S
- David Heldt
- Sanne Kaal
- Myriam Kuehne Rauner
- Anna Orlenok
- Pietro Petrillo
- Teo Sandigliano
- Amy Tidmarsh
- Gabriele Cavallaro
- Elif Resitoglu
- Cezar Moldovan
- Abdulla Buhijji
- Chris Zhou
- Delfino Sisto Legnani
- Nicolò Ornaghi
- Francesco Zorzi
- Mies van der Rohe
- Lilly Reich
- Claudia Zanfi
- Pietro Algranti
- Donatella Germani
- Cecilia Moltani
- Giulia Marani
- Bo Ah Kim
- STRATA
- Roseline Jabbour
- Studio Yaara Nusboim
- Abdalla
- Byoung-hoon Woo
- Elysanne and Eline
- Famm
- Jooyei E
- Juri Nievergelt
- Mano Design Studio
- Maria Kostrzak Makos
- Plazuli
- Roseline El Jabbour
- Sestra
- Spinzi
- Stanisław Stupkiewicz
- Szymon Keller
- Valeriy Osmakov
- Verce
- Wm Metal Design
- Yont
- Re-Edit
- Yubero Torno
- Ananya Vijayendra
- Arredatore
- Artisanal Abode
- Ashni
- Eline Groeneweg Bhatt
- Nikita Bansal
- Padaipu
- Spero Furniture
- Atelier Oscar Greve
- Dot Objects
- Lidi Bus
- Plura Studio
- Studio Francesca Mueller
- Aaron Scott
- AB+AC
- Aleksandra Zawistowska
- Aneta Kocia
- Camille Tan
- Cedric Ceulemans
- Clara Molina
- Fenna Kosfeld
- Formsophy Studio
- Sarah Haukka
- Vincent Laine
- Chafic Mekawi
- Davina Atallah
- Fajr Basri
- Nermin Habib
- Obliq
- Alessandro Pagura
- Amit Hadar
- Be(forma)
- Dong Zhang
- Grace Qi & Lily Chen
- Ilaria Critelli
- Jiumo Wang
- Malak Elzeftawy & Rana Ayman
- Roya Abboud
- Shiri Langer
- William Mitchel
- Yijia Zhong
- Anna Jaworek
- Belinay Toglukdemir
- Gagan Randhawa
- Hagar Guri
- Mr Johns Goods
- Valerie Chua
- Anton Kuzmin
- Coima
- Design Matter
- Keren Sasson
- Lorig
- MOOQUE
- Punxh Peerasin
- Snorm
- Sungjun
- Yu Xinnan
- Tim Brennan
- Marc Sadler
- Maison COMAWA
- d'Alesio & Santoro
- Aura
- Northernlightcomposites
- Scandurra Studio
- MadeInAdd
- Punch Peerasin
- Felipe Escudero
- Román de Lorenzo
Institutions
- Isola Design Group
- Fondazione Catella
- Stecca3
- Copernico Isola
- Atelier Kondakji
- ZonaK
- IAAD
- Accademia Italiana
- SAE Institute
- VIAFARINI
- WHO Design Studio
- AlgrantiLAB
- ErnestoShop
- Garbelotto Studio Milano
- Isola Design Festival
- Isola Design Gallery
- Arbore
- Re-Edit
- Post Industrial Crafts
- Rasa – the Indian Collective
- The Dutch Atelier
- Ithra – King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture
- Zona K
- WHO design Studio
- From Outer Space
- Green Island
- Flying Tiger Copenhagen
- Artribune
- STIR
- Materially
- Frem Milano
- Parastruct
- ADA Stecca
- Designtech
- Northernlightcomposites
- Scandurra Studio
- Aura
- MadeInAdd
- Fondazione Riccardo Catella
- ORA Home
- IAMMI
- Brussels House
- CASA NM3
- casa OZ
- CIAM
- rararà studio
- RivaViva
- Baguette Studio
- DESIGN KOSOVA
- The Industrial Design Association
- University of Montenegro
- Ithra – King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture
- Oliwia Maria Studio
- Kwiaty & Miut
- Salone del Mobile.Milano
- Fuorisalone
- Brera
- 5vie
- Fiera Milano Rho
- Fabbrica Sassetti
- Copernico Isola for S32
- Zonak
- Isola Design District
- ZONAK
- COPERNICO ISOLA FOR S32
- FABBRICA SASSETTI
- Collater.al
- Snorm
- Strata
- ATELIER KONDALJI
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- India
- Milano
- Isola
- Dubai
- United Arab Emirates
- Eindhoven
- Amburgo
- Germany
- Fabbrica Sassetti
- Via Filippo Sassetti 31
- Fondazione Riccardo Catella
- Via Gaetano De Castillia 28
- Via Spalato 11
- Via Pastrengo 23
- Via Confalonieri 11
- Via Farini 39
- Stazione Garibaldi
- Berlin
- Romania
- MENA region
- Poland
- Lisbon
- Brussels
- Belgium
- Japan
- Kosovo
- Montenegro
- South Korea
- Denmark
- Via Filippo Sassetti 32
- via Vincenzo Civerchio 2