Dubai Design Week 2026 Announces Open Call

Applications are now officially open for the 12th edition of Dubai Design Week, scheduled to take place from November 3 to 8, 2026. As the region's premier platform for design, the event continues to champion innovation, creativity and cross-cultural exchange by bringing together emerging and established voices to shape conversations around design and the built environment.

Designers, architects, creative practitioners, studios, brands, cultural organisations and educational institutions from the UAE, the wider region and around the world are invited to submit proposals across a comprehensive programme of opportunities.

Comprehensive Programme Opportunities

The open call spans multiple platforms designed to showcase diverse forms of creative expression:

Abwab

A collective exhibition open specifically to practitioners across West, South and East Asia, as well as the African continent. This programme aims to foster regional dialogue and highlight talent from these geographies.

Urban Commissions

This strand explores communal urban infrastructure through local and global architectural, urban planning and public practices. Selected participants will contribute to meaningful discussions about city spaces and community engagement.

Installations

A core component of the festival, installations provide practitioners with the platform to transform public spaces across Dubai Design District (d3) through large-scale, built environments that engage visitors directly with design thinking.

Workshops

Hosted in a pop-up Maker Space, these interactive sessions allow visitors of all ages to explore and build skills across various design disciplines. Sessions are led by professionals, expert facilitators and creative practitioners.

Exhibitions

Curated experiences highlight various design themes that spotlight talent while fostering cultural discourse and knowledge-sharing among attendees and industry professionals.

Activations

Immersive projects, cross-disciplinary collaborations and special presentations by designers, creatives, brands and institutions offer dynamic engagement opportunities throughout the week.

Weekend Marketplace

A consciously curated outdoor retail experience featuring products by designers, producers and homegrown small businesses from the region, giving visitors direct access to local creative commerce.

Downtown Design

Recognised as the Middle East's leading fair for contemporary and high-quality design, this showcase presents the latest collections, products and design solutions from renowned and emerging creators alike.

A Platform for Global Exchange

Dubai Design Week has evolved into one of the most significant design gatherings in the MENA region over its eleven-year history. The 2026 edition builds on this momentum by maintaining its commitment to cross-cultural exchange and providing tangible opportunities for both established and emerging practitioners to present their work on an international stage.

The application period remains open through the summer, with final selections expected to be announced in September 2026 ahead of the November showcase. For those interested in applying or learning more about specific programme requirements, official registration details are available through the Dubai Design Week website.

As cities worldwide increasingly recognise the role of design in addressing social, environmental and economic challenges, Dubai Design Week positions itself not only as a celebration of creative excellence but also as a forum for critical dialogue about the future of our built environments.