Over 150 Global Design Leaders to Gather at Design Shanghai 2026
Asia's leading international design event will return to its original home at Shanghai Exhibition Center after a six-year hiatus.
The Design Shanghai 2026 will feature diverse design brands and curated projects, as well as the specially produced Kohler · Design Shanghai Global Design Conference and the CMF (Color, Material, Finish) Forum.
Over 150 design leaders from around the world will discuss new design approaches to nature, emotion, and culture.
From French luxury house Roche Bobois to heritage-inspired Shang Xia and sculptural design brand Reflections Copenhagen, a curated mix of global and Chinese labels will present furniture, lighting, and lifestyle pieces that blend East and West with a strong focus on craftsmanship.
From statement objects and refined cashmere to poetic fragrances, the zone explores how thoughtful design elevates everyday living – showing how design continues to shape the way we experience life.
Among the highlights are the Kohler · Design Shanghai Global Design Conference and the CMF Forum. The conference will take place March 19–21 under the theme "Beyond Sustainability: Designing in Symbiosis with Nature."
The three-day program will bring together leading voices in architecture, urbanism, materials, and ecology to rethink how design can move beyond balance – and actively contribute to environmental restoration.
Under themes like regeneration and reuse, the conversation will shift to real-world impact. Tongji University's Zhu Dajian (诸大建) will reflect on two decades of circular economy practice in China, exploring how design can drive sustainable development in an era defined by existing assets. Satoshi Ohashi, the Chinese president of Zaha Hadid Architects, will examine the lifecycle and character of materials, and how technology and culture can evolve in harmony with natural rhythms.
The dialogue will turn even more forward-looking with biomimicry and regenerative design. Michael Pawlyn, founder of Exploration Architecture, will share groundbreaking ideas for green cities inspired by natural systems – where architecture isn't just built, but grows as part of a living ecosystem.
The CMF Forum will discuss everyday sensory experience. The March 19-20 event, held in partnership with associate professor Fu Jiong (傅炯) of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, explores how color, material, and finish can enrich modern life with emotional resonance and renewed energy.
While connecting global perspectives, Design Shanghai has served as an important platform for expressing local culture in contemporary language.
Take Made in JDZ, for example. JDZ stands for Jingdezhen, reimagined as Junction, Diverse, and Zone. This year, curator Ran Xiangfei (冉祥飞) will present an upgraded edition of the project, themed Craft Takes the Stage.
Using a "spotlight" concept and aviation crates as display elements, it presents ceramics, glass, lacquer, metalwork, wood, and textiles in a contemporary context – shifting craft from something simply viewed to something fully experienced and reflecting Jingdezhen's evolution from the "porcelain capital" into a diverse hub of craftsmanship.
If you go:
Dates: March 19-22
Venue: Shanghai Exhibition Center | 上海展览中心
Address:1000 Yan'an Rd M. 延安中路1000号
Tickets: 158-258 yuan
