Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) is pleased to announce it will be returning to London’s EC1 on the 19 – 21 May 2026. Marking the 15th anniversary of this global design festival, a new curated series of largescale installations will be launched called Design Interventions.

Following a call-out from CDW to emerging and established designers and architects for ideas for innovative structures, the strongest submissions will be installed across Clerkenwell. These will encourage interaction and spark conversations about materials and the built environment, while activating EC1 with striking, immersive moments throughout the festival.

The Fountain of Technicolour Beads by One Bite Design

Design Interventions: an opportunity to reflect and connect

These site-specific, interactive installations, created by the design and architecture community, will appear in the parks, streets and green spaces of Clerkenwell, as well as in the festival’s venues. Many of these pop-up structures will provide a place to sit, reflect and connect with others while exploring structural and material concepts. One of the many Design Interventions selected for this year will be on Clerkenwell Green. The Fountain of Technicolour Beads (pictured above), has been created by Hong Kong-based multi-disciplinary studio One Bite Design. This immersive terrazzo installation integrates spatial design with social awareness by focusing on Colour Vision Deficiency (CVD). And next to St James’ Church, The Crinkle-Crankle Bench (pictured above) will take pride of place. This series of half crescent benches crafted from natural stone bricks is designed by architectural practice StudioFolk. 

The Luxury Edit located at Haberdasher’s Hall

Haberdashers’ Hall, will be a new addition to CDW’s list of spectacular venues. Known as The Luxury Edit during the show, this new venue will be hosting the CDW Awards ceremony on Tuesday 19th May, presented in partnership with Design Milk. Following a strong debut last year, the awards will once again celebrate furniture, lighting, materials and interior solutions that are shaping the future of design. New categories will focus on the individuals, teams and ideas challenging conventions and celebrating the creatives driving design forward today.

The Museum of the Order of St John above St John’s Gate (originally built in 1504) is one of the great hidden historical treasures of London and is another new venue for the festival. The atmospheric space, steeped in history, will be the temporary home to INTERIORS FROM SPAIN, a striking platform for contemporary Spanish design produced by London-based design journal Disegno.

Material Source Studio, which showcases products and materials for architects, interior designers and property professionals, and Workplace on the Square outside The Zetter hotel, a platform for design brands catering to offices, are two new additions to CDW’s wide range of venues for 2026. Office design brands will also be exhibiting at Workplace at Goldsmiths’ at The Goldsmiths’ Centre which returns as a festival venue this year.

St. Bartholomew the Great once again becomes the Church of Design, this year’s venue for the coveted Conversations at Clerkenwell programme curated by PR and Brand Consultant Katie Richardson, which will include discussions with leading and emerging designers on topical subjects. Dulux, this year’s sponsor for Conversations at Clerkenwell, is launching a student-focused competition to design the backdrop of the talks stage using a palette of on-trend colours.

Church of Design at St Bartholomew the Great

Roche Bobois, DEDON and MAGIS Spa are among the many leading international brands exhibiting at the Church of Design, and CONFLUENCE, a monumental origami-inspired installation by Fung+Bedford, will be suspended from the ceiling of the 900-year-old Grade I listed medieval church. 

A mix of historic and contemporary buildings will once again become venues during CDW26.



• Old Sessions House – Home to brand activations, presentations and the festival hub.
• The Charterhouse – Contemporary furniture, decorative lighting and luxury finishes.
• Detail & Finishes – Featuring refined luxury products and finishes in St John Priory Church.
• British Collection – Taking over the whole of St James’s Church once again and highlighting the best British design talent and brands.
• Ceramics of Italy – Hosting Italian ceramic and porcelain tile brands at a pavilion on St John’s Square. This exhibition is organised by the Italian Trade Agency in collaboration with the Ceramics Association of Italy.
• Commercial Design in the Park (formerly Project) – Focused on contract furniture and surface design, the venue will also host a series of talks from Commercial Interiors UK.
• Commercial Interiors on the Green (formerly Clerkenwell Green Pavilions) - contract furniture, solutions and surfaces brands from around the globe.
• Interior Hardware (formerly Elements) – Dedicated to architectural hardware and finishes.
• Future Talent (formerly Platform) – Spotlighting emerging design talent and companies.

Visit information

HOURS

• 19 May 2023 Tuesday 10:00 - 18:00
• 20 May 2023 Wednesday 10:00 - 21:00
• 21 May 2023 Thursday 10:00 - 17:00

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE

www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com