DESIGN@HKG 2026 to bring 40+ design events across HK

DESIGN@HKG 2026, the newly rebranded edition of the Hong Kong Design Center's (HKDC) annual flagship campaign, will take place from Nov. 10 to 24, activiating the entire city with a rich lineup of more than 40 activities. 

Formerly known as BODW in the City, the event's refreshed identity reflects both a sense of arrival and a sense of identity. The "@" symbol signals not only arrival, but also invitation and participation —"come and join us here" — while HKG, the airport code for Hong Kong International Airport, conveys arrival while paying tribute to the city itself – a place with design woven into its DNA. Together, the name positions the program as a gateway for creativity, collaboration, and cultural exchange. 

Under its refreshed identity, DESIGN@HKG will showcase Hong Kong's creative talent while driving cross-sector and cross-cultural collaboration among designers, local businesses, and prestigious international partners. 

Drew Lai, Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries at the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the HKSAR Government, remarks in the opening note at a press conference on Sept. 24. Photos courtesy of the event organizers

At a press conference on Sept. 24 at The Murray, Hong Kong, Drew Lai, Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, said that by leveraging Business of Design Week (BODW), DESIGN@HKG will host more design-themed activities, foster a greater atmosphere in the community and boost the overall impact brought by BODW, thereby strengthening the status of the event on international design calendar.

Steve Leung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Design Center, remarks in the welcoming speech.

Steve Leung, Chairman of the HKDC, remarked that the event reflects Hong Kong's role as an international hub where strong business ambition meets creative energy. Through the collective efforts of designers, brands, and community partners, DESIGN@HKG will turn the city into a vibrant canvas for creative exchange, inviting residents and visitors alike to experience how design can inspire, connect and transform.

The two-week art festival will feature more than 40 activations brought by a network of 80 to 100 local and international partners, spanning interactive installations, thematic guided tour, design pop-ups, guided design trails, exhibitions, workshops and talks. 

A rendering of "BREATHE WITH ME" by Swiss experience designer Annabelle Schneider to be presented during DESIGN@HKG 2026.

A highlight of the lineup is "BREATHE WITH ME," an immersive architectural installation created by Swiss-born, New York-based artist and experience designer Annabelle Schneider. 

Presented in partnership with the Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong as a key feature of both DESIGN@HKG and Swiss Month 2026, the installation transforms architecture into a soft, breathing sanctuary, offering a rare space for urban well-being in one of the world's fastest cities and inviting visitors to pause and reconnect with themselves through light, sound, scent, touch and breath. 

This year's edition expands its community-wide engagement through two curated lifestyle routes and two design pop-up stores, bringing together cross-brand collaborations, immersive sound-spatial journeys, and sustainable product crossovers. 

Across the city, everyday urban transit and neighbourhood spaces will come alive through dynamic district activations — from a historic Hong Kong tram reimagined as a thematic live micro-theatre stage, university students' furniture showcases produced in partnership with local manufacturers, to digital art installations developed through interactive school workshops, and hands-on creative workshops co-created with local designers and international brand partners. 

Together, these activations turn commercial hubs and public spaces into interactive design destinations, inviting the public to explore Hong Kong's creative scene firsthand. 

More partnerships, designers, and experiences will be announced in the coming weeks.