Press Release
June 19, 2026
Last week, Denmark's Official Design Festival proved that meaningful change begins in the present, with record numbers of visitors and exhibitors.
For three unforgettable days, Copenhagen became a live expression of design's power to connect people, ideas, and perspectives.Through exhibitions, talks, workshops, conversations, installations, events, and immersive experiences, 3daysofdesign demonstrated that the moments we create today have the potential to shape a better tomorrow.
As many as 125.000 visitors from more than 140 different nationalities travelled from all over the world to experience Copenhagen as a capital of design. An open festival that’s free for everyone to attend, 3daysofdesign continues to reinforce its commitment to accessibility, diversity and inclusion. In this open and free spirit the real number of attendees, including the general public and exhibitors, is significantly higher.
Boasting 572 exhibitions from 37 different countriesand 894 events held across the city - the festival believes that the truesuccess of this year’s Copenhagen Design Week isn’t measured in numbers, it’sfound in the moments that mattered.
"In an era often defined by digital interaction and emotional distance, what resonates most with me is seeing people journey from across the world to gather in Denmark’s capital for three amazing days. Amidst the growing international scale and scope of Copenhagen Design Week, and our increasing support from the global design community, these moments of physical convergence remind us of design’s enduring cultural significance, and the importance of genuine human connection. Design is not merely about objects or aesthetics; it is a catalyst for curiosity, dialogue, and engagement. It creates a common ground that unites people across diverse disciplines and perspectives, countries and cultures. That, to me, is what makes 3daysofdesign truly exceptional."- Signe Byrdal Terenziani, Managing Director of 3daysofdesign
Echoing this year's theme, “Make This Moment Matter”, participants engaged in thoughtful exchanges, unexpected encounters, and a collective energy that arises when creative minds gather together with a common purpose. Based on a shared belief that design is more than the things we make. Design is how we live, create, relate, collaborate, and imagine new possibilities.
What unfolded was a festival that celebrated not only design itself, but also design's capacity to foster a sense of belonging, influence society, protect the environment, and have a positive impact on the world at large.
"Make This Moment Matter is an invitation to be present, and to recognise the ripple effect of the considered choices we make today,” adds Terenziani. “Throughout the festival, we witnessed an extraordinary willingness to engage, connect, and contribute. It was inspiring to see so many different people come together to explore how design can help shape the future by acting in the present."
The theme resonated as a red thread throughout the festival's exhibitions and events across 3daysofdesign’s 8 Design Districts. It was reflected in conversations around circularity, material innovation, recycling and repurposing waste. Explorations into wellbeing, sensorial design and cultural identity. As well as products and projects that challenged conventional thinking.
Highlights included the “Entering the Now” Symposium, which brought together leading voices from design, architecture, art, culture and business to examine the importance of presence in an increasingly complex world. The festival's new initiative this year, LongTable Dinners, created even more opportunities for connection and dialogue across disciplines, while curated Design Walks invited visitors to experience Copenhagen through a cultural, architectural lens. Throughout the city, 3daysofdesign team members and a select group of Design Ambassadors from around the globe were on-site to welcome and guide guests. A move to keep the personal, intimate atmosphere that 3daysofdesign is known for, while adding to the caring, inclusive and human-centred festival experience.
3daysofdesign2026 stood as a reminder that every moment is an opportunity. An opportunity tocreate, to connect, to learn, and to contribute. The festival is a testament toits belief that that when people come together around a shared belief indesign's potential, even the smallest moments can have a lasting impact. And that the legacy you leave behind starts now.
Join us next year at the 14th Edition of 3daysofdesign from 9 - 11 June 2027.
