Your Guide to Design Events Worth Traveling For
- Tiffany Figueiredo
- Sep 6, 2025
- 3 min read
Want to be at the center of the cultural zeitgeist? These are the events to know
by Tiffany Figueiredo
Photo from the Investec Cape Town Art Fair archives
The world’s great design weeks and art fairs are more than just events; they transform entire cities into cultural playgrounds. Installations pop up in courtyards, galleries spill into the streets, and for a few days, the energy of creativity takes over. Our month-by-month list includes not only the marquee design fairs but also art and fashion festivals that push into the design world and draw a global creative crowd.
Insider tip: Many of these festivals spill far beyond the official halls. Even if you never step inside the main fair, the host city will be buzzing with pop-ups, installations, and gallery shows that make the trip worthwhile.
FEBRUARY
The ultimate Nordic showcase, where sustainable innovation and timeless design meet. This is the place to see where Scandinavian style is headed next.
Africa’s largest contemporary art fair, bringing together the continent’s rising stars and established names. Pair it with a visit to Zeitz MOCAA to see why Cape Town has become a design capital.
One of the world’s most important fashion events, where runway shows and presentations spill over into interiors, architecture, and lifestyle design.
MARCH
The European Fine Art Fair is renowned for its museum-quality works spanning fine art, antiques, and decorative design. It is a pilgrimage for collectors who love craftsmanship and history.
Best known for its music and film, SXSW has evolved into a hub for interactive and experiential design, where innovation meets creativity.
APRIL
The biggest design fair in the world, when the entire city transforms into a showroom. From glossy furniture launches to experimental installations in hidden courtyards, it is a must for anyone with an eye for interiors.
Lorenzo Quinn's “Support” was installed before the 2017 Venice Biennale — photo by Hao Zhange
MAY
A major contemporary art fair with commissions and installations that often blur the line between art and design. The energy spills across the entire city.
The U.S. edition of the European Fine Art Fair takes over the Park Avenue Armory each spring. Expect a mix of Old Masters, modern art, and rare design pieces, all presented with TEFAF’s signature curatorial polish.
One of the longest-running cultural showcases in the world. The alternating art and architecture editions fill the Giardini, Arsenale, and palazzos with some of the most ambitious creative projects anywhere.
JUNE
Instead of convention halls, showrooms across the city open their doors, turning Copenhagen into a live-in catalog of Scandinavian design. Expect bicycles, natural light, and plenty of hygge.
“Medusa” by Sou Fujimoto and Tin Drum from the London Design Festival archives
SEPTEMBER
The biggest moment in American fashion, where set design, staging, and creative direction make it as much about design as it is about clothes.
The capital’s neighborhoods become stages for installations, pop-ups, and global launches. The scale is massive, but the magic is in the details, from East London ceramics to striking installations in the V&A.
Back to Milan for a second round of fashion week each year, where the shows themselves often unfold in architecturally ambitious spaces.
Asia’s rising hub for design, where programming spans urban planning, interiors, and cutting-edge product design.
Frieze London 2024
OCTOBER
A heavyweight in the contemporary art world, but one whose installations and special commissions often feel like large-scale design interventions.
NOVEMBER
The Middle East’s most important design event, showcasing architecture, interiors, and product design alongside a growing art and fashion presence.
DECEMBER
The Super Bowl of the art and design world. Collectors, curators, and creatives converge in Miami for a week that seamlessly blends blue-chip art with the glamour of the design world. The parties are legendary, and so is the shopping.
Let Fig Travel Co. plan your perfect year in design. We can secure tickets, arrange accommodations, and even provide backstage access at these design, fashion, and art events. If being at the center of the cultural zeitgeist is your idea of a perfect trip, get in touch.
