After the wave of leading trade fairs and festivals that hit the design community, COVETED thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to list some of the most prestigious and beloved architecture and design events as well as festivals around the world. These events provide industry professionals with the opportunity to showcase their best products and novelties and establish business contacts. It also allows visitors to discover the latest trends in a multitude of sectors. So enjoy our 20 picks of the best events worldwide.

—  Maison et Objet  —

Source: My Design Agenda

Occurring twice a year at Paris Nord Villepinte, Maison et Objet is the international authority for home decor, interior design, architecture, and lifestyle culture and trends. Each year, the M&O Observatory members selects a theme that will be the basis of the event, this year, the community was bestowed with Silence, in January, and Comfort Zone, in September were the chosen ones, and an absolute success, may we add.

Website: http://www.maison-objet.com/en 

—  Salone del Mobile  —

Source: Fiera Milano

Offering the best solution in the home furnishing sector, Salone del Mobile Milano is an international showcase that has always mixed business with culture, shaping the history of design and furnishing yesterday, today and tomorrow. A global platform for truly top-notch products with the emphasis on innovation.

Website: https://www.salonemilano.it/en/

—  London Design Festival  —

Source: Dezeen. Villa Walala by Camila Walala

London Design Festival celebrates and promotes London as the design capital of the world. The festival was founded in 2003 by Sir John Sorrell and Ben Evans and its concept was created to promote city’s creativity through the hands of thinkers, practitioners, retailers, and educators. LDF includes a series of exhibiting destinations, such as 100% Design, Decorex International, designjunction, Top Drawer, and many others.

Website: http://www.londondesignfestival.com/

—  Dutch Design Week  —

Source: Dezeen

Dutch Design Week is an influential event that boasts 100 locations. It allows over 2500 designers to present processes, to experiment as well as showcasing their ideas and solutions. It is the idyllic event to “Ask yourself new questions, draw inspiration for your own answers and allow the power of design to convince you.”

Website: http://www.ddw.nl/

—  IMM Cologne  —

Source: Dezeen

Holding the honour of being the very first exclusive interior design show of the year, IMM Cologne is a renowned meeting point that gathers international exhibitors and decision-making professional visitors from all around the globe. The event showcases the most awe-inspiring interior design ideas and trends.

Website: http://www.imm-cologne.com/imm/index-2.php

—  ICFF  —

Source: NYCxDesign

The High-end luxury furniture tradeshow occurs once a year at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. ICFF serves as the premier North America’s design platform where luxury furniture brands showcase their latest achievements as well as classics. Each year, around 700 exhibitors from all around the world are expected to participate.

Website: https://www.icff.com/

—  Venice Biennale  —

Source: Dezeen. The Spanish Pavillion, Image Credit to Fernando Maquieira

Founded in 1985, La Biennale di Venezia is regarded as one of the most famous and prestigious cultural organizations in the world, standing at the forefront of research and promotion of new contemporary art trends. Its exhibitions range from a series of specific sectors, including architecture, art, dance, music, and cinema.

Website: http://www.labiennale.org/en

—  Pritzker Prize  —

Source: Dezeen. Image Credit to Cristobal Palma

This renowned international prize was established in order to honour a living architect or architects whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision, and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture.

Website: http://www.pritzkerprize.com/

—  Design Miami  —

Source: The Architect’s Newspaper

In a celebration of commerce and culture, the leading venue Design Miami/ commemorates the best achievements in design from all around the world. Situated near the Miami Beach Convention Center, this influential marketplace delivers the best international convention that counts with the participation of a diverse range of designers, curators, collectors, gallerists, and critics.

Website: http://miami2017.designmiami.com/

—  World Architecture Festival  —

Source: Dezeen. Interlace Housing in Singapore by Ole Schreeren. Image Credit to Iwan Baan

At World Architecture Festival, one is guaranteed to discover the best architecture projects of the world. The annual event was held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, however, this year it will be moving to Berlin. Its sister event, Inside Festival specialises exclusively on interiors.

Website: https://www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/

⇒ Related Article: Highlights from the Esteemed Feria Hábitat Valencia 2017 ⇐

—  Basel World  —

Source: L’Duchen

Organised each spring in Switzerland, the leading event Basel World celebrates the best achievements in fine jewellery and watchmaking. It is the world’s most important marketplace and trendsetting show for individuals to find the latest products regarding those two sectors.

Website: https://www.baselworld.com/

—  Tokyo Design — 

Source: Tokyo Design

Japan’s Leading trade fair takes place at the Tokyo Big Sight, otherwise known as the Tokyo International Exhibition Center. It is organised by Reed Exhibitions Japan, Ltd., the annual event offers a wide variety of opportunities, as a result, visitors can expect the freshest as well as the most sophisticated and functional products within the design and lifestyle industries.

Website: http://www.designtokyo.jp/en/

—  Boutique Design New York  —

Around November, design enthusiasts and industry professionals alike stop at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center for BDNY to find the most compelling and elegant hospitality design solutions. The Boutique Design New York is a fast-growing trade fair and conference that draws around 7,800 hospitality designers, architects, purchasing executives, owners and operators.

Website: http://www.bdny.com/

—  Downtown Design  —

Source: Downtown Design Dubai

Located in the heart of the Middle East, the prestigious and impressive Dubaian show Downtown Design is organised under the sponsorship of Vice Chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Author and Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Downtown Design is the sole platform in the entire Middle East that is dedicated for the region’s trade professionals to find the best high-quality and most innovating designs from all over the world.

Website: downtowndesign.com

—  Burning Man  —

Source: Dezeen. Mamou-Mani’s Tangential Dreams sculpture.

Burning Man isn’t your most conventional festival, “It’s a city wherein almost everything that happens is created entirely by its citizens, who are active participants in the experience.” Each year, thousands of individuals gather in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert to create a temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance, in the name of creativity and togetherness.

Website: https://burningman.org/event/

—  Feria Hábitat Valencia  —

Source: Mueble de España

Offering the latest trends in multiple sectors of the industry, the International trade fair Feria Hábitat Valencia offers the best opportunities for companies to introduce their products to a discerning audience. It is the idyllic platform to find an overview of the current offerings on the market, to exchange ideas with fellow colleagues, and to establish business contacts.

Website: http://www.feriahabitatvalencia.com/en/

—  Big Boys Toys  —

Source: Big Boys Toys

Big Boys Toys Dubai is regarded as the premier innovation and luxury lifestyle exhibition in the Middle East. Each year, the esteemed event surprises visitors with the latest and most exceptional products across 13 categories, including digital, marine lifestyle, fashion, aviation, kid’s world, wellness, arts, pets, and much more. As a whole, BTT is viewed as a platform that not only gives wings to creativity and art but also combines the best that science has to offer.

Website: http://www.bigboystoysuae.com/

—  Sleep Event  —

Source: The Sleep Event

Created to inspire its audience to think about design in new ways, Sleep, Europe’s definitive hotel design and development event, challenges itself to elevate the visitor experience every year. With a stimulating and insightful conference programme, innovative installations and an exhibition of cutting-edge products specifically aimed at high-concept hotels, Sleep Event attracts influential speakers, creative talents, and leading contract brands from around the world.

Website: https://www.thesleepevent.com/

—  What Design Can Do  —

Source: Dezeen

What Design Can Do (WDCD) was initiated in 2011, in Amsterdam, as a platform to showcase design as a catalyst for change and as a way of addressing the societal questions of our time. The event’s aim is to present best practices and visions, to provoke discussion and to facilitate fruitful exchange between disciplines. For 2017 and 2018, the focus of the event has and will be climate change, one of the most urgent and affecting issues to humankind.

Website: http://www.whatdesigncando.com/

—  Lisboa Design Show  —

Source: Construir

Taking place at the prestigious Feira Internacional de Lisboa, the coveting Lisboa Design Show is Portugal biggest design exhibition focusing mainly on visual design, product design, fashion design and interior design industries in the country. It gathers over 300 exhibitors and counts with the participation of more than 55 000 potential buyers.

Website: lisboadesignshow.fil.pt

⇒ Related Article: Recall The Best Moments From Designjunction 2017 ⇐

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Source: Dezeen