TEN: The Evolving Now
20—26 April 2026
Milan Design Week
Isola Design Festival 2026 marks its 10th edition with TEN: The Evolving Now, celebrating a decade of evolution within Milan Design Week. Organised by Isola Design Group, the festival will take place from 20 to 26 April 2026, reaffirming its role as one of the city’s most dynamic and independent design districts.
Over the past ten years, Isola has grown from a local initiative into a global platform connecting designers, creatives and audiences across Europe and the Gulf region. This milestone edition reflects on that journey by revisiting key exhibition formats while introducing new collaborations and perspectives. Bringing together diverse geographies and disciplines, the festival highlights both returning designers—once emerging talents, now established voices—and newcomers contributing to its evolving ecosystem.
At its core, Isola remains committed to accessibility and experimentation, continuing to support independent designers and to foreground material research, innovation and storytelling. This edition also marks a symbolic return to the heart of the neighbourhood, with the reopening of Fabbrica Sassetti—an iconic former 1930s wool factory—as the festival’s main venue, embodying the values of craftsmanship, production and community.
A central highlight of the 2026 programme is the presentation of ten curated showcases, developed under the direction of creative director Elif Resitoglou and spread across key locations including Atelier Kondakji, Copernico, Fondazione Catella, Stecca3 and ZonaK. These exhibitions build on established formats such as Isola Design Gallery, Rising Talents, No Space for Waste, Isola Design Awards Winners’ Showcase and Rasa – The Indian Collective, continuing to spotlight emerging practices and forward-thinking design approaches.
The programme is further enriched by additional curatorial projects, including Archivi Futuri, a research-driven exhibition investigating the future of objects beyond 2050. Other highlights include Ithra’s collective showcase focused on designers from the MENA region, a selection of innovative materials presented in collaboration with Materially, and Shape of Belonging, co-curated with Oliwia Maria Studio, an investigation into ancestral gestures and their influence on contemporary forms.
Together, these ten showcases form a layered narrative spanning sustainability, cultural identity, craftsmanship and technological innovation, offering visitors a comprehensive overview of the most relevant directions in contemporary design.
With a growing international presence and a strong connection to its local roots, Isola Design Festival 2026 stands as both a celebration of its origins and a forward-looking platform.
A full programme of talks, events and public initiatives will further activate the district, reinforcing Isola’s role as a vibrant meeting point for the global creative community.
