To help you get ahead of the Milan Design Festival, we've identified five core themes already bubbling to the surface of the show.
Over the past year, we've been tracking trends for our clients; helping them sort the short-wave from the long, so that they can respond to the current uncertain landscape with robust brand and innovation planning. We can already see that many of Milan's 2026 exhibits resonate with some wider recurring trends - we're looking forward to seeing how they're evolving and what's new.
And because you can't visit Italy without a slice of La Dolce Vita, we've consulted our in-house food expert and No.1 Italian colleague, Andrea, on some excellent spots to kick back when the exhibits close. Drawing on his past life as a part-time chef for Michelin-starred restaurants, we're sharing his 4 favourite places to soak up the atmosphere, get a delicious plateful or a glass of something relaxing.
You might have heard of this new thing called AI?
As buzzy as AI is, "Human-ness" - the counter-trend is equally prolific. With the long term impact of AI yet to be understood, uncertainty has many concerned for the future. Human-ness is the push-back.
We expect to see this in the celebration of the anti-machine - the things computers can’t compete with. Emotions will be stimulated, the senses celebrated, and the presence of the human hand will be emphasised in craft and in curation.
High profile figures, like Bryan Johnson, are pushing the boundaries of health. Parallel to this, the mainstream consumer is also reevaluating their future-self - making a longer, healthier life a priority.
Longevity is the intersection of these trends, signalling an attitudinal shift from life-span to health-span.
We expect to find exhibits at Milan Design Week geared towards this broader picture of health and wellness. Bathrooms, kitchens and the elements found in them will highlight a dynamic and enduring way of life.
Difficult trade and supply chain conditions and increasing nationalistic sentiment is disrupting the world-wide political-economic landscape. Protecting national interests has become a priority, consequentially fracturing international relationships. But this does not align with the realities of the design industry.
We predict exhibits - particularly those commissioned by individual regions - will tackle these issues by provoking dialogue about collaboration. They will champion the virtues of their nation states in creativity and coordination, rather than with rhetorical introspection.
Escapism is always on the schedule at Milan. Mysterious and immersive, transportation to new worlds is an imperative of a design festival. Whilst still emphasising the human and sensorial, many exhibits will lean into artificial intelligence - as inspiration or as facilitators of the previously impossible, to help us escape.
In the furniture realms, expect a continuation of recent maximalist visual languages and the overlay of the dream-like and absurd.
Technology will explore human-centred, embodied and spatial computing, made possible by developments in AI.
Whilst reports about the decline of alcohol consumption have been circulating for the past 5 years, in 2025 this seemed to visibly accelerate. The global proliferation of no-and-low alcohol behaviours, swerving hangovers in favour of healthier pursuits, manifested as blogs, brands and events.
We anticipate this trend will be visible in exhibits, but also in the breakout spaces and popups associated with the festival. Activities will be curated to help people feel vibrant and uplifted, without the next-day consequences associated with alcohol.
To help with your soft socialising (or maybe your slightly harder socialising), Andrea has dipped into his library of food and drink destinations — both Milano staples and temporary festival features. Here are a few recommendations to help you relax outside of exhibition time.
We recommend booking because… well, it's Milan Design Week, right?
Founded by two Noma alumni, Loste is Milan’s most quietly exceptional café — single-origin coffee from April Coffee Roasters, hand-rolled pastries by a former Noma pastry chef, and a walk-in only policy that keeps it unhurried. A perfect reset between exhibits.
Open in MapsA local favourite known for its honest, unpretentious Milanese cooking. Traditional dishes and seasonal produce done with care and soul.
Open in MapsRich, slow-cooked broths served in a minimal, design-forward space. A restorative bowl after a long day on your feet at the fair.
Open in MapsA canal-side cocktail bar with vintage charm on the Navigli. Laid-back atmosphere, creative drinks, and one of the best spots for an aperitivo.
Open in Maps