From January to December 2026, the Frankfurt Rhine-Main region will be the official World Design Capital 2026, inviting you to experience design in all its facets. Around 2,000 projects and events, conceptualised and implemented in collaboration with approximately 400 partners, await people from the Rhine-Main area and an international audience. These diverse events, exhibitions, workshops, and hands-on activities all fall under the motto Looking forward, shaping tomorrow together.
© Ben Kuhlmann
For twelve months, the entire region will be addressing some of the major questions of our time: How should public spaces be designed to offer added value to society? How can architecture, mobility and digitalisation contribute to a better quality of life? And what role does design actually play in a vibrant democracy? The diverse and extensive programme of World Design Capital 2026 will provide the answers.
Specially developed WDC events form key elements of the program and provide a common thread throughout the WDC year. These are supplemented by numerous projects initiated by large and small partners such as museums, universities, foundations, companies, initiatives, and associations. From the World Design Street Festival 2026 Module at the Frankfurt Bockenheim Culture Campus to intercultural art workshops at the Leather Museum in Offenbach to the exhibition 'A Step Ahead – Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt at 125,' which celebrates the 125th anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mathildenhöhe in Darmstadt. The events will be organised around monthly focus topics, ranging from design in education to climate & sustainability, building & living, science & research, design in politics, and design in business.
The overarching goal is for the events and projects to bring design to life as a tool for social change, thereby having a lasting impact on the Frankfurt Rhine-Main region beyond the year itself. In addition, the aim is to highlight the creative potential of Frankfurt Rhine-Main and to establish long-term networks between the various stakeholders.
© Ben Kuhlmann
What is behind the WFC 2026?
The World Design Capital® (WDC) is an initiative of the globally recognised, non-governmental World Design Organisation (WDO)® to recognise cities that use design as a driver for economic, social, cultural, and environmental progress. Frankfurt Rhine-Main (Germany) has been awarded the title for 2026 with the theme Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life. In recent years, the following cities have been honoured every two years: Turin (Italy), Seoul (South Korea), Helsinki (Finland), Cape Town (South Africa), Taipei (Taiwan, Chinese Taipei), Mexico City (Mexico), Lille Métropole (France), Valencia (Spain), and most recently San Diego (USA) and Tijuana (Mexico), which received the award jointly.
© Ben Kuhlmann
More information:
World Design Organisation
[email protected]
www.wdo.org
+1 514 448 4949
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