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KBB industry sets sights on KBB Birmingham 2026

Counting-down-to-KBB-Birmingham-2026

The countdown is on for kbb Birmingham 2026, set to mark 40 years for one of the UK’s leading KBB trade events. Taking place from 1–4 March 2026 at the NEC, the show will bring together more than 320 exhibitors and an audience of over 17,000 industry professionals.

Positioned as the largest edition to date, the event will showcase the latest in kitchen, bedroom and bathroom design, with a strong focus on sustainability, smart technology and personalisation.

Leading brands and new exhibitors

The 2026 show will see the return of established brands including Acquabella, House of Rohl, Aqualisa, Kesseböhmer, Hettich UK, BLANCO, Elica, Sensio Lighting, Finsa, Faber, Schüller, next125, Trade Mouldings, Crofts & Assinder, GTV Poland, SAMSUNG, Verona Group and Whitebirk Sink Company.

More than 40 new exhibitors will also debut, including AVINTAGE, Birch and Oak, Bidbury & Co, Disbain, FRASCIO Holdings Ltd, Laminam, Hampton Kitchens, QETTLE, Hacker, EVABOX, Cata Appliances, Rubio Monocoat UK, Nobu Concept, Triofloor and Woodio.

Show highlights and features

Visitors can expect a packed programme of features designed to drive engagement across the KBB sector:

  • Innovation Awards – Sponsored by Blum, the awards return for their 11th year, with shortlisted products on display, celebrating cutting-edge advancements across the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom sector.
  • Spanish Design Pavilion – A new feature delivered in partnership with ASEBAN and IVACE International, showcasing ten leading Spanish suppliers, including brands new to the show.
  • Sustainability initiative – kbb Birmingham continues its partnership with The Used Kitchen Company for a sixth year, encouraging the resale and reuse of displays to support a circular economy.
  • Event app – Sponsored by SMEG, the app offers personalised agendas, real-time schedules and navigation tools for visitors, alongside enhanced digital profiling and data insights for exhibitors.
  • Awards and recognition – Alongside the Stand Awards, the inaugural Andy Bishop Award will honour a respected industry figure, celebrating long-term contribution and community values.
  • 40th anniversary activity – 40 rubber ducks will be hidden across the show floor, with prizes from brands including hib., Ca’ Pietra, Abode, Armac Martin, Origins Living, SMEG, AGA Rangemaster Ltd, Perrin & Rowe and BORA.
  • Networking opportunities – BIFIS will host lunches on Monday and Wednesday, while Blum will sponsor the show bar.

Jon Johnston, Sales Director, kbb Birmingham, commented, “kbb Birmingham 2026 will be a landmark edition for the industry as we celebrate 40 years of the show, and the programme truly reflects the scale of that milestone. From the Innovation Awards and our continued commitment to sustainability through the Used Kitchen Company partnership, to the launch of the Spanish Design Pavilion and the introduction of the new app, there will be so much for visitors to engage with. Add to that a packed show floor of new and returning exhibitors, and a few fun surprises to mark the anniversary, it’s clear that kbb Birmingham 2026 will be an unmissable event for the entire KBB community. We look forward to bringing the industry together and highlighting the latest products and initiatives at the show.”

Register for kbb Birmingham 2026

Taking place at the NEC from 1–4 March 2026, kbb Birmingham will showcase over 25 product categories, offering a comprehensive insight into the latest innovations shaping kitchen, bedroom and bathroom design.

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Jobs at greatest risk from AI revealed by experts: “For millions, it’s already there”

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THE jobs most at risk from AI are those in customer service, data entry, banking and paralegals, experts have revealed. Safeground includes careers that are resilient to AI, such as building trades, healthcare roles, and hands-on occupations.

Just last month, the government announced free AI foundations training for all workers has been expanded to up-skill 10 million people, with new partners including NHS and techUK.

But for many, they fear AI will mean their job will be automated in a matter of years – leaving them jobless.

Newspage spoke to experts in AI and small business owners about the jobs they fear will become largely defunct due to AI and what people in those industries need to do about it.

Colette Mason, Author & AI Consultant at London-based Clever Clogs AI, shared the jobs she believed were at risk from AI. “AI isn’t coming for your job. For millions, it’s already there. Customer service: 80% automation potential. Data entry: 7.5 million roles gone by 2027. Banking: 200,000 Wall Street jobs at risk within five years. Paralegals: 80% risk by 2026. Microsoft writes 30% of its code with AI, then lays off 40% of its engineers. Retraining doesn’t mean learning to chat with ChatGPT. 

“It means understanding systems and security and risk, where AI breaks, where human judgement is non-negotiable, and staying on the deciding side. Timeframes? Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) says 11.7% of US jobs are automatable now, not future AI, today’s. VCs call 2026 the year budgets shift from headcount to compute. 

“Safe ground? Trades, healthcare, anything needing physical presence and real human relationship. In 2025, 40% of graduates chose plumbing, electrical, and construction over white-collar degrees. They read the room before most boardrooms did.”

Rohit Parmar-Mistry, Founder at Burton-on-Trent-based Pattrn Data, said jobs are being lost by firms replacing junior staff with AI. He continued: “Let’s stop pretending AI is about to wipe out entire professions. The so-called ‘jobs apocalypse’ is largely a boardroom fantasy, heavily pushed by big corporates obsessed with short-term cost-cutting rather than actual innovation. In our AI Audits, we constantly see firms trying to replace junior staff with generative AI to save a few quid. The result? 

“Quality plummets and they end up with a costly mess because they removed the human reasoning that makes businesses function. Automation theatre always fails when it meets real human complexity. If you want to ‘AI-immunise’ yourself, stop viewing it as a competitor. 

“Learn how to use these tools to automate the dull parts of your day, freeing you up for the complex, creative, and relationship-driven work that algorithms can’t touch. The real threat isn’t AI taking your job, it’s someone who knows how to use AI taking your job. Technology should serve people, not the other way around.”

Patricia McGirr, Founder at Burnley-based Repossession Rescue Network, agreed that junior roles are being lost. She added: “AI will not steal your job. It will expose how replaceable it is. The most at risk roles are built on repetition. Data entry. Basic accounts prep. Templated legal drafting. First line underwriting. Scripted customer service. If your day runs on a checklist, a machine can run it faster. 

“The real danger is not robots everywhere. It is shrinking career ladders. Fewer junior roles. Higher output targets. Wage pressure within three to five years. Anyone entering those sectors needs to pivot now. Learn AI tools quickly, yes. But build the layer above them. 

“Judgement. Context. Commercial awareness. Regulatory responsibility. Client trust. AI can process rules. It cannot sit across the table from a worried client and carry the consequence of advice given. Average is automated. Accountable is not. That is the dividing line.”

Kate Allen, Owner at Kingsbridge-based Finest Stays, advised business owners to work with AI. She continued: “Process-driven, pattern-based professions are perilously poised for AI takeover. Payroll processing, paralegal paperwork, basic bookkeeping, routine reporting, call-centre queries and junior programming all sit squarely in the firing line. If a role runs on rules, repetition and rigid workflows, it is vulnerable.

“Careers rooted in empathy, interpretation and imagination such as therapy, teaching, leadership, negotiation, nuanced journalism and skilled trades remain resilient because the human touch still triumphs where context and care count.

“My advice is simple: pivot and prepare, pair your profession with AI fluency, learn to prompt and supervise systems, and prioritise creativity, critical thinking and complex communication. Automation will accelerate over the next five to ten years, so adapt early, add value and stay strategically human.”

Dr Marianne Trent, Clinical Psychologist at Coventry-based Good Thinking Psychology, said the human connection is still important. She added: “With people regularly turning to ChatGPT for mental health advice you might think psychologists might be at risk. However, speaking as a clinical psychologist I feel that ultimately people will notice that human connection is so important and protective for mental health. 

“I’d wager that your therapist is infinitely less annoying and used way less em-dashes than a chat with a bot too.”

Photo Credit: gabriele-malaspina-

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Dr Vanessa Brady OBE confirmed as speaker at Bathroom Association Connect Conference 2026

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The Bathroom Association has confirmed Dr Vanessa Brady OBE, Founder & CEO of the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID), as a featured speaker at the Bathroom Association Connect Conference 2026, taking place on Thursday, 8 October 2026, at The Grand Hotel, Birmingham.

The annual conference brings together the bathroom sector’s supply chain and partners for a day of insight, discussion and networking, followed by an exclusive gala dinner.

Design, trends and growth: what the bathroom sector needs next

With the 2026 conference theme set as ‘Stronger Together’, the programme focuses on how the industry can collaborate on what customers actually need, aligning across standards, innovation, sustainability, skills and market expectations to build a stronger, more resilient sector.

In her session, Dr Brady will bring an interior design lens to the bathroom category, examining how evolving trends are shaping product expectations, from aesthetics and materials to functionality and the overall user experience, and what this means for manufacturers and the wider supply chain. Her talk will explore how the sector can respond to shifting consumer priorities and translate design insight into commercial opportunity, helping the category grow through smarter specification, better-informed product development, and stronger collaboration between design, manufacture and delivery.

Amy Kirk, Engagement Director and conference organiser at the Bathroom Association, said: “Vanessa’s expertise is invaluable in helping our sector understand what today’s consumers want, how trends are shaping specification decisions, and how manufacturers can respond to drive growth. Her session speaks directly to our Stronger Together theme, because the best outcomes happen when design intent and product reality are joined up across the supply chain.”

About Dr Vanessa Brady OBE

Dr Vanessa Brady OBE is an international award-winning interior designer, business consultant, and founder of the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID), with over thirty years of experience spanning construction, B2B procurement and post-analysis of the design profession. She speaks on behalf of the UK Government for the Creative Industries, representing the interests of the interior design profession, and received an OBE for services to Interior Design and the UK Economy.

Most recently, Dr Brady was bestowed with the Freedom of the City following an extensive campaign to protect intellectual property rights for interior designers in the UK. She was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Design in recognition of her achievements in interior design education and won the Woman in the City Award for the Built Environment in 2013.

About the Connect Conference

Connect Conference 2026 will feature keynote talks, panel discussions and dedicated networking time, followed by an exclusive gala dinner. The charity raffle and auction, as well as the Thirty-Under-Thirty Awards, also return.

Sponsorship opportunities and delegate packages are available with options including day delegate passes, gala dinner attendance, and accommodation packages. View the Connect Conference website for more details.

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Duravit products work perfectly within the hospitality sector

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Duravit has always been seen as a key brand when designing interiors for the hospitality sector, be it large projects or boutique hotels, Duravit is sought for all areas from cloakrooms to high end ensuites.  A recent example is the products that were selected for the boutique Hotel Blaue Burg in the Bavarian Alps.  Chosen for their quality, design aesthetic and their durability – all essential attributes in hotel design.  

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In this instance the guestrooms each required a spa-style bathroom featuring freestanding bathtubs, that provided soft lines to create a dialogue between nature and architecture.  Here Duravit’s freestanding LUV bathtub was the ideal option, creating a sense of lightness in deliberate contrast to the rugged landscape.  Designed by Cecilie Manz for  Duravit the LUV bathtub has soft curves and clean lines.  It was pared with the C.1 bathtub mixer to emphasize the gentle bathroom architecture and add a precise accent to the bathtub’s organic lines.

The WHITE TULIP countertop washbasin by Phillippe Starck and the C.1 faucet were selected for the vanity area helping to complete the tranquil bathroom concept.

BothLUV and WHITE TULIP collections are crafted from Duravit’s durable, high-quality and easy-care ceramics.  Designed for longevity, the durable surfaces are perfect for daily use in hotel operations and support efficient cleaning and high hygiene standards.

Sustainability is shaping bathroom design, and Duravit’s C1 tap designs embody this.  Engineered with precision for durability, the taps are available in chrome or black matt PVD‑coated surfaces for enhanced scratch resistance and long‑lasting protection against corrosion.

The beauty of these taps goes beyond their finish; they incorporate intelligent features FreshStart and MinusFlow  helping reduce energy use and minimising water consumption without compromising performance.  Meanwhile, AirPlus technology enriches the water stream with air, creating a fuller, softer flow that feels luxurious while using less water.  C1 is a collection of taps that are smart as well as stylish—ideal for contemporary bathrooms where sustainability and design are essential.

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Surfaces matter: Rehau RAUVISIO helps rethink kitchens & bathrooms in hospitality design

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Contemporary hospitality design is increasingly shifting its focus from pure aesthetics to the creation of a cohesive guest experience. Kitchens and bathrooms – once treated as purely functional zones – have become key spaces that shape the identity of hotels, aparthotels and PRS concepts. Here, materials, light and detailing determine not only the first impression, but also the long-term performance of the investment.

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In the premium segment, designers are turning to solutions that combine refined aesthetics with durability under intensive use. A compelling example is the RAUVISIO crystal collection by REHAU – a surface with an elegant glass-like effect that performs beautifully both on furniture fronts and as a splashback. It’s perfectly smooth finish reflects light, visually enlarging compact kitchenettes and hotel bathrooms alike. At the same time, it offers greater resistance to impact and everyday wear than traditional glass.

For projects with particularly high performance requirements, durability becomes paramount. This is where the RAUVISIO noir collection stands out – a surface engineered for enhanced scratch resistance and moisture stability, making it ideal for intensively used spaces. In hotel apartments and suite bathrooms, it ensures longevity without compromising on design. Its deep, matt black finish lends interiors a sense of sophistication and drama, aligning seamlessly with contemporary trends favouring bold contrasts and atmospheric palettes.

Complementing this concept is RAUVISIO cube – a surface inspired by architectural concrete. Its raw, mineral aesthetic pairs effortlessly with minimalist forms and natural materials. Within hospitality environments, it enables the creation of loft-style interiors that remain welcoming and comfortable.

The synergy of these three collections allows designers to craft cohesive, modern kitchen and bathroom spaces that respond equally to investors’ expectations and to guests’ desire for quality, durability and an authentic design experience.

For more: interior.rehau.uk/surfaces

Free sample service: interior.rehau.uk/surface-select

UKinteriors@rehau.com

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Frontline Bathrooms unveils refreshed Aqua brand with new brochure

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Frontline Bathrooms has completed a full rebrand of Aqua, its exclusive product range, signalling a clear shift in how the business defines and delivers a distinctive offer for the KBB trade.

Since joining the business one year ago, Darren Allison has led a comprehensive review of Frontline Bathrooms, drawing on detailed feedback from across the organisation as well as from the wider industry, including retailers, merchants, designers, specifiers, installers and service partners. This combined internal and external insight revealed a clear and consistent message: the trade wants products that stand apart without unnecessary complexity, are grounded in credible design, supported by reliable logistics and priced in a way that reflects today’s more informed and value-conscious market.

The refreshed Aqua range has been shaped directly by this feedback. At its core is a renewed focus on UK-led design, including collaboration with respected industry figures such as Barrie Cutchie, bringing depth of experience and global perspective to a collection defined by restraint, proportion and long-term relevance rather than short-term trends. 

Alongside product development, significant work has been undertaken behind the scenes. Supply chains have been reviewed and strengthened, with manufacturing partners across the UK, Europe and internationally, all operating within ISO-certified facilities, providing reassurance on quality and compliance. A next-day service proposition underpins the range, recognising the operational realities of merchants and installers and the importance of reliability at every stage of a project.

Visually, Aqua has been re-introduced with a new logo, updated typography and a contemporary colour palette, supported by a redesigned 404-page A4 brochure format that prioritises clarity, clean imagery and easily navigable product information. Packaging has been rethought to reflect the same principles, while sustainability considerations, including carbon footprint awareness across the supply chain, now sit clearly behind the brand.

Darren Allison, managing drector at Frontline, says: “When I joined Frontline Bathrooms, my priority was to listen to the trade properly. I spent time speaking with retailers, merchants, designers, installers and our own teams to understand what was genuinely missing from the market, and the feedback was very clear. The industry wants products with real differentiation, credible design, transparent value and a supply chain that can be relied upon to deliver.

“Aqua is our response to that. The rebrand goes far beyond aesthetics; it is about strengthening the product offer, benchmarking it rigorously and backing it with ISO-certified manufacturing across the UK, Europe and internationally, alongside a next-day service proposition that reflects how the trade actually operates. Design has played a key role, which is why working with Barrie Cutchie was such a natural fit, bringing experience, restraint and longevity to the range rather than short-term trend chasing.

“We have also been very deliberate in simplifying how Aqua is presented and supported, from the new visual identity and brochure format through to tailored point-of-sale for individual customers. The aim is to deliver a genuinely exclusive trade brand that is easy to understand, straightforward to sell and built on substance rather than inflated claims.”

Nearly all the products under the Aqua brand will be supported by new guarantees including lifetime guarantees. 

The rebrand is also supported by renewed PR and social activity, designed to strengthen engagement with the wider market and create a more open dialogue between manufacturer, distributor and customer, addressing what Frontline sees as a longstanding lack of meaningful engagement within the sector.

To support retailers and merchants on the ground, Frontline is introducing a new, flexible approach to point-of-sale materials. Rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, POS will be tailored to individual partners, shaped around their specific requirements, allowing Aqua to retain a sense of exclusivity while maintaining a clean, straightforward presentation that works in real showroom and merchant environments.

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    Snaidero displays Abode in new London design space

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    Kitchen and bathroom brand Abode has announced its new partnership with Snaidero Projects UK. Specialists in designing home interiors that redefine luxury and elevate everyday living, Snaidero Projects UK has selected Abode for its brand-new design space, suitably located on the Greenwich Peninsula in the heart of London’s Design District.  

    Keith Barker, CEO of Snaidero Projects UK explains, “I am very proud to introduce our new purpose-built kitchen design space to housebuilders and property developers in London and the Southeast. For developers, imagining how future buyers or renters will feel is essential and our showroom makes that experience real. Launched at the end of last year, several key customers were invited to explore our new design quarters, view our products, and ultimately discuss future project opportunities with our in-house team of designers. We work with a large collection of developers throughout London such as the Berkeley Group, St. George South London, Catalyst and others, and we look forward to establishing the range of Abode products throughout Snaidero kitchen projects moving forward.”

    Matthew Miller, sales director LVA at Snaidero Projects UK adds, “Our new design space has been in the making for some time and last summer, Keith and I met with Graeme from Abode when the building was just an empty shell. We didn’t want to be just another kitchen showroom but instead, a unique design space that balances our architectural vision and eye for exceptional design. With this in mind, Abode sinks and taps were a natural fit for Snaidero as like us, they help create kitchens that not only inspire but also bring uncompromising quality to every project.”

    Helping to add to the sensory experience at Snaidero Projects new London design space, the range of Abode products on display include the durable Koto Single Bowl Sink with Nano PVD Technology, Atlas Aquifier Water Filter Tap and Click Handspray in matching Brushed Brass for a truly bespoke look and feel. The second roomset features Abode’s R15 Matrix Extra Large Stainless Steel Sink and Hex Dual Lever Mixer Tap, which is finished in cool Brushed Nickel to provide an alternative to the deep, brass kitchen display. 

    No matter the brief or price point, each roomset is designed to help customers realise their next kitchen project with carefully selected Snaidero cabinets and doors, designer sinks and taps by Abode, alongside Hendel & Hendel architectural ironmongery solutions, and Fisher & Paykel appliances to allow buyers to experience the quality, and visualise how minimalist design maximises space.

    The Abode ‘Tap Bar’ helps form the Snaidero selection area, where customers that demand key components in a variety of designs, styles, and finishes are free to explore a prime selection of kitchen taps and handsprays. Popular models on display include the modern Althia Single Lever Tap in brand-new Dark Bronze finish, the classic Ludlow Monobloc Mixer Tap in Antique Brass that complements more traditional design schemes, and the Genio Semi-Professional Pull-around Tap in sophisticated Matt Black finish, which combines functionality and style.

     Graeme Blythe, national contracts manager at Abode says, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Snaidero Projects UK, which we have worked closely with on several high-profile developments over the last few years such as The Stage in Shoreditch, and a regeneration project in Elephant & Castle. As London continues to be regarded as a global hub for leading design and architecture, we’re thrilled to heighten our presence in the capital by assisting Snaidero with an exclusive mix of Abode sinks and taps, which demonstrate the scope and versatility of our products.”

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    BC Designs elevates hotel bathrooms with design-led solutions

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    Keeley Sutcliffe, design manager at BC Designs, explains how bathrooms are now central to perceived value in hospitality, with baths and brassware moving from functional necessities to strategic design decisions.

    Within the hospitality sector, the bathroom has become a key driver of perceived value, with developers and operators recognising that guest experience is shaped by material quality, spatial planning and the presence of statement pieces that justify premium positioning. As room rates continue to be influenced by design differentiation, the specification of baths and brassware is being treated as a strategic decision rather than a purely functional one.

    For BC Designs, this shift aligns closely with the performance characteristics of its Cian solid surface baths, which are regularly specified in boutique hotels and higher-end schemes where durability must sit alongside strong visual impact. Models such as the Highcroft and Senator offer classic silhouettes that translate well across both heritage refurbishments and contemporary developments, providing a recognisable form that anchors the bathroom layout without appearing overly decorative. The Cian material itself offers high heat retention and a non-porous, repairable surface, which is particularly relevant in hospitality settings where asset longevity, maintenance cycles and whole-life cost are central to procurement decisions.

    Colour specification is also playing a more defined role in hotel bathroom design, as operators look to embed brand identity more consistently throughout the guest journey. Through BC Designs’ ColourKast finish, baths can be specified in deeper tones that support a scheme’s overall concept, allowing the bath to act as a focal feature within the suite rather than a neutral backdrop. When paired with traditional-style brassware ranges such as Victrion, designers are able to achieve a cohesive language that feels resolved and commercially robust.

    For specifiers and project teams, the appeal lies in achieving a bathroom that delivers on aesthetics, operational resilience and long-term value, ensuring that design intent translates effectively into day-to-day performance.

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    Grant Westfield: transforming hotel bathrooms with style, speed and sustainability

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    With more than 140 years of experience in interior building design, Grant Westfield has become a trusted partner for the hospitality sector, delivering premium bathroom wall solutions that balance aesthetics, performance and efficiency. Manufactured in the UK, its award-winning brands Multipanel and Naturepanel are designed to meet the exacting demands of modern hotel environments.

    Hotel bathrooms must withstand intensive daily use while delivering a high-end guest experience. Grant Westfield’s waterproof wall panel systems are engineered specifically for these conditions, offering durability, ease of maintenance and design flexibility across projects ranging from boutique hotels to large international chains.

    Multipanel, the UK’s leading waterproof wall panel brand, provides a stylish, grout-free alternative to tiles. Its extensive décor range includes marble, stone, tile and wood-inspired finishes, allowing designers to create a luxury aesthetic with greater cost certainty. The patented Hydrolock® joint system ensures a seamless appearance and excellent water resistance, supporting long-term performance in high-traffic bathrooms.

    Naturepanel, introduced in 2024, expands the portfolio with panels that authentically replicate the look and texture of real wood. Designed for commercial interiors, it brings warmth and natural character to hotel bathrooms, spas and wellness areas without the maintenance challenges of timber.

    Speed of installation is a critical advantage. Grant Westfield’s panels can be installed up to five times faster than tiles, often over existing surfaces, with no grout or drying time. This minimises downtime, reduces labour costs and allows rooms to return to service quickly. Ongoing maintenance is equally efficient, as grout-free surfaces are easier to clean and keep hygienic.

    Sustainability is integral to the offering. Both Multipanel and Naturepanel are FSC® certified, 100 percent recyclable and responsibly manufactured in the UK, supporting hotels in meeting environmental targets without compromising on design or durability.

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    Clerkenwell Design Week returns for 15th anniversary with new Design Interventions

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    Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) will return to London’s EC1 from 19–21 May 2026, marking its 15th anniversary with an expanded programme of installations, exhibitions and talks. This year, the global design festival introduces Design Interventions, a curated series of large-scale, site-specific installations designed to activate Clerkenwell’s streets, parks and venues.

    Developed in response to a call for entries from architects and designers, the selected installations will encourage interaction while exploring materials, structure and the built environment. Positioned across EC1, the installations are set to create immersive moments throughout the festival.

    Interactive installations across Clerkenwell

    Among the highlights, Fountain of Technicolour Beads by One Bite Design will be installed on Clerkenwell Green, using terrazzo to explore Colour Vision Deficiency (CVD) through spatial design. Nearby, The Crinkle-Crankle Bench by StudioFolk introduces sculptural seating created from natural stone.

    A further installation, The Pulse of Becoming, created by Portsmouth-based graduates, will bring a living element to the festival, with chia seeds embedded in sculptural forms sprouting over the three days.

    Expanded CDW Awards and new venues

    A key addition for 2026 is the expanded CDW Awards, delivered in partnership with Design Milk. Taking place at Haberdashers’ Hall, the awards will celebrate product innovation alongside the individuals and studios shaping contemporary design.

    New venues for 2026 include Museum of the Order of St John, hosting INTERIORS FROM SPAIN curated by Disegno, alongside Material Source Studio and Workplace on the Square, both focused on materials and workplace design.

    Returning venues and brand showcases

    CDW’s established venues return, including St Bartholomew the Great, home to the Conversations at Clerkenwell talks programme curated by Katie Richardson. The venue will also feature installations and brands including Roche Bobois, DEDON and MAGIS Spa, alongside a suspended installation by Fung+Bedford.

    Elsewhere, the House of Detention will host the Light exhibition, showcasing international lighting brands and immersive installations, while a series of historic buildings – from Old Sessions House to The Charterhouse – will provide a backdrop for product launches and exhibitions.

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    International brands and digital experience

    Hundreds of international brands will exhibit across the festival, including String Furniture, Moroso, Swedese, Dornbracht and Vincent Sheppard, alongside country pavilions from Austria, Denmark and Italy. Showroom partners such as HAY, Herman Miller, Muuto and Cosentino will also host events across Clerkenwell.

    For 2026, a new digital app will replace the printed guide, allowing visitors to plan routes, explore exhibitors and access event information in real time.

    “We’re thrilled to be back in Clerkenwell this May with our new Design Interventions initiative which acts as a creative platform for the incredible talent and imagination of the participating architects and designers,” says Marlon Cera-Marle. “These thought-provoking installations are set to bring a new interactive dimension to the show. We’re looking forward to another successful year welcoming tens of thousands of people from the UK and abroad to EC1 to discover the latest that global design has to offer.”

    Clerkenwell Design Week 2026 takes place across EC1, London, from 19–21 May, bringing together architecture, interiors and product design in one of the UK’s leading design destinations.

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