Brera Design Week 2026 presents “Essere Progetto” Innovation, art and community take centre stage in this year’s edition
On the occasion of Fuorisalone, from April 20 to 26, Milan is preparing to host a new edition of the Brera Design Week, the event that transforms the Brera district into a widespread urban laboratory combining design, lifestyle, art, fashion, and culture. This year, the guiding theme is Being a Project, an invitation to consider design not only as a finished object but as a cultural process that builds relationships between people, places, and communities. With 217 permanent showrooms, including 10 new entries, and over 300 initiatives, Brera confirms its role as an epicenter of international design.
Among the new features, the Brera Fuorisalone Passport debuts, a digital platform developed by Studiolabo in collaboration with Fuorisalone. Its goal is to simplify access to events: with a single registration, visitors receive a personal QR Code valid for attending multiple events, avoiding repeated registration forms.
The 2026 edition stands out for its international openness and focus on local craftsmanship and culture. The Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) presents When Apricots Blossom, an immersive exhibition hosted in the historic Palazzo Citterio. Created by Gayane Umerova and curated by architect Kulapat Yantrasast, the exhibition invites visitors to engage with tradition, innovation, and environmental responsibility, transforming the aesthetic experience into cultural reflection.
The theme Being a Project also comes to life at Portanuova with Blooming Imperfections – Relationships in Progress, a project exploring human relationships as constantly evolving processes. Andrea Olivari’s installations guide visitors through an interactive artistic itinerary where emotion and symbolism intertwine. Piazza Alvar Aalto hosts the Flower Bar and Casa Buri’s temporary restaurant, turning dining into a shared dialogue. Floral arrangements by Fiuri and sustainable furnishings curated by Alea complete the space with daily talks and photo corners.
Under the artistic direction of Alice and Alex Buroni, the Albori installation in the Sala dei Pilastri of Castello Sforzesco transforms the creative process into a journey of sound, light, and material. Also, glo for art 2026 at Palazzo Moscova invites the public to build an interactive universe where light, color, sound, words, touch, and scent generate continuously evolving works. Technology thus becomes an innovative poetic tool.
Other notable projects include installations by Grand Seiko, created with three Japanese artists, and Serotonin – the chemistry of happiness by American Express and Sara Ricciardi, a sensory interpretation of the happiness hormone. GROHE debuts with GROHE SPA Aqua Sanctuary, a wellness journey through water at Piccolo Teatro Studio Melato, while Veuve Clicquot, in collaboration with Yinka Ilori, celebrates joy with Chasing the Sun, an immersive and interactive installation.
The event also highlights artisanal tradition with Arts & Crafts & Design, a collaborative showcase uniting Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d’Arte, Michelangelo Foundation, Serapian, and Creative Academy. The project emphasizes the dialogue between masters and emerging talents, between materials and visions, transforming craftsmanship into a driver of contemporary design. Similarly, Valcucine with CRAFTING FORWARD explores the union of industrial innovation and craftsmanship, while MENU by Bodo Sperlein transforms the Anglican Church of Brera into a temporary architecture layered with materials and light.
