Clerkenwell Design Week launches new installation series: ‘Design Interventions’ and expanded CDW Awards

Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) will be returning to London’s EC1 on the 19 – 21 May 2026 with a new curated series of large-scale installations called Design Interventions. Marking the 15th anniversary of this global design festival a call-out will be launched to emerging and established designers and architects, seeking ideas for innovative structures: the strongest submissions will be installed across Clerkenwell and they will be translated into installations meant to encourage interaction and spark conversations about the materials and the built environment inside EC1.

In addition, a major highlight this year will be the expanded CDW Awards, presented with the digital design magazine Design Milk. The CDW Awards will not only celebrate the best new products and innovations but also the disruptors, dreamers and ‘doers of design’.

Design Interventions: an opportunity to reflect and connect
These site-specific, interactive installations will appear both in the festival’s venues and in the parks, streets and green spaces of Clerkenwell, also providing places to sit, reflect and connect with others while exploring structural and material concepts.

The Fountain of Technicolour Beads, one of the many Design Interventions selected for this year, will be on Clerkenwell Green. This immersive terrazzo installation has been created by Hong Kong-based multi-disciplinary studio One Bite Design, and it integrates spatial design with social awareness by focusing on Colour Vision Deficiency (CVD).
The Crinkle-Crankle Bench will take pride of place next to St James’ Church. This series of half crescent benches crafted from natural stone bricks is designed by architectural practice StudioFolk.

Expanded CDW Awards and new venues
Haberdashers’ Hall, will be a new addition to CDW’s list of spectacular venues.
Known as The Luxury Edit during the show, this new venue will be hosting the CDW Awards ceremony on Tuesday 19th May, presented in partnership with Design Milk. Following a strong debut last year, the awards will once again celebrate furniture, lighting, materials and interior solutions that are shaping the future of design. New categories will focus on the individuals, teams and ideas challenging conventions and celebrating the creatives driving design forward today.
In addition, as well as being home to a cluster of high-end Italian design brands, The Luxury Edit will host the talks series Design Meets featuring industry bodies, leading brands and industry experts.

The space outside The Luxury Edit will be animated by a The Pulse of Becoming, a ‘living’ outdoor installation. This Design Intervention, created by recent graduates Musab Umair, Amruta Ramesh Pullawar and Sharath Binu John who are based in Portsmouth, explores the cyclical nature of death, rebirth and life. Chia seeds embedded in two opposing crescent shells will sprout during the festival, turning bare surfaces green.

Another new venue for the festival will be one of the great hidden historical treasures of London: The Museum of the Order of St. John, above St John’s Gate, originally built in 1504. The atmospheric space, steeped in history, will be the temporary home to INTERIORS FROM SPAIN, a striking platform for contemporary Spanish design produced by London-based design journal Disegno.

Material Source Studio - which showcases products and materials for architects, interior designers and property professionals - and Workplace on the Square outside The Zetter hotel - a platform for design brands catering to offices - are two other new additions to CDW’s wide range of venues for 2026.
Office design brands will also be exhibiting at Workplace at Goldsmiths’ at The Goldsmiths’ Centre which returns as a festival venue this year.

Returning venues, new installations
St. Bartholomew the Great once again becomes the Church of Design, this year’s venue for the coveted Conversations at Clerkenwell programme curated by PR and Brand Consultant Katie Richardson, which will include discussions with leading and emerging designers on topical subjects.
Dulux, this year’s sponsor for Conversations at Clerkenwell, is launching a student-focused competition to design the backdrop of the talks stage using a palette of on-trend colours.

Roche Bobois, DEDON and MAGIS Spa are among the many leading international brands exhibiting at the Church of Design, and CONFLUENCE , a monumental origami-inspired installation by Fung+Bedford, will be suspended from the ceiling of the 900-year-old Grade I listed medieval church.

The House of Detention returns as the host of Light, showcasing a selection of exciting local and global lighting brands. Visitors will be greeted at the entrance with Loom Light, a 3D-printed light sculpture drawing on the optical language of Op Art, designed by MIMStudios, AI Build and SEAM Design.
[d]arc thoughts, an enlightening series of talks curated by [d]arc media, also returns.

Other festival’s venues

• Old Sessions House – Home to brand activations, presentations and the festival hub.
• The Charterhouse – Contemporary furniture, decorative lighting and luxury finishes.
• Detail & Finishes – Featuring refined luxury products and finishes in St John Priory Church.
• British Collection – Taking over the whole of St James’s Church once again and highlighting the best British design talent and brands.
• Ceramics of Italy – Hosting Italian ceramic and porcelain tile brands at a pavilion on St John’s Square. This exhibition is organised by the Italian Trade Agency in collaboration with the Ceramics Association of Italy.
• Commercial Design in the Park (formerly Project) – Focused on contract furniture and surface design, the venue will also host a series of talks from Commercial Interiors UK.
• Commercial Interiors on the Green (formerly Clerkenwell Green Pavilions) - contract furniture, solutions and surfaces brands from around the globe.
• Interior Hardware (formerly Elements) – Dedicated to architectural hardware and finishes.
• Future Talent (formerly Platform) – Spotlighting emerging design talent and companies.

International design names
Across all venues, CDW will feature hundreds of design brands, showcasing furniture, lighting, textiles, surfaces, home accessories and product design. Confirmed exhibitors include String Furniture, Moroso, Swedese, Dornbracht and Vincent Sheppard. Collections from Austria, Denmark and Italy will also return.
Hundreds of showroom partners are an essential part of Clerkenwell Design Week as they host product launches, talks and workshops. A small taste of participating showrooms include: Actiu, Andreu World, Boss Design, Camira, Domus, HAY, Hansgrohe, Herman Miller, Humanscale, J.Adams & Co, Knoll, Muuto, Milliken, Modus, Iris Ceramica, Knoll, Tarkett and Cosentino.

Interactive app and FOOD & DRINK
A new state-of-the-art app replaces the printed, paper guide and tickets in 2026. The CDW app will be an essential digital companion for visitors, helping them tailor their visit and navigate the venues, exhibitors, participating showrooms and much more according to their specific interests.

Festival-goers can also enjoy exclusive discounts and offerings from local food and drink partners. Architects and interior designers will have the opportunity to join guided specialist tours covering topics ranging from sustainability to emerging design talent and more.