DesignBlok will take place from October 7 to 11, 2026, and will introduce the theme of Light, which will philosophically and curatorially frame its twenty-eighth edition. The largest design and fashion showcase in Central Europe will once again take visitors to exceptional locations in Prague and present a number of new exhibition projects.
Theme
The central theme of this year’s DesignBlok will be light—a symbol of knowledge, truth, hope, and life. This year, the festival will focus on the influence and role of design in society and on questions of how design can contribute to the development of human lives and the resolution of socioeconomic challenges in contemporary society. Curated exhibitions, exhibitor installations, discussions on the DesignBlok Stage, and the program within the DesignBlok Talks conference will explore light in both a practical and symbolic sense.
Main Exhibitions
The main exhibition will be a showcase of lighting and lamps from Central Europe from the 1950s to the 1980s, prepared under the curatorial concept of Eva Slunečková in cooperation with the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague. In the National Gallery Prague, Maxim Velčovský will create a monumental light object for the Small Hall of the Trade Fair Palace under the curatorial direction of Michal Novotný and Michaela Kádnerová. Installations and new products by leading Czech lighting manufacturers and designers will also be presented.
In collaboration with the Prague Castle Administration, DesignBlok continues to open the exceptional buildings of one of the world’s largest castle complexes to the general public. The festival returns to the Prague Castle Riding School, and a special exhibition will also be created in the Chapel of the Holy Cross in the Second Courtyard.
“Does design have the power to improve the state of the world? How does it contribute to the development and quality of human lives? What new order or movement can it bring to solving the problems that surround us?”
“John Amos Comenius attributed to light the power to lead man out of confusion and bring him to the truth—he set bringing knowledge and enlightenment as the highest goal. We want to explore the influence and role of design in the contemporary world within this broader context. Does design have the power to improve the state of the world? How does it contribute to the development and quality of human lives? What new order or movement can it bring to solving the problems that surround us? These questions will be addressed by our exhibitions, discussions, and lectures, including the DesignBlok Talks conference program. So, Fiat lux!—Let there be light!” described Jana Zielinski, the director of DesignBlok.
Designblok 2026 takes place from October 7 to 11, 2026; exhibitor applications will open in February 2026. Advance tickets and more information can be found at designblok.cz.
