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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.
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.