Dutch Design Week 2026: why we love it + practical info

From Saturday 17 to Sunday 25 October 2026, Eindhoven is dedicated to design for nine days. Dutch Design Week (DDW) is the largest design event in Northern Europe and it takes place in our own city. Below you can read why we like it so much, what you can do there and how to find your way.

Short answer: Dutch Design Week 2026 runs from 17 to 25 October, at around 120 locations across Eindhoven. The theme is R.A.W. (Rebel Authentic Worth). You'll find exhibitions, talks, installations and meet-ups by emerging and established designers. Plan ahead with the programme on ddw.nl, buy your ticket (wristband) online and allow time to travel between areas.

What is Dutch Design Week?

DDW is an annual festival for design in the broadest sense: product and craft, fashion, architecture, technology, service design, art and critical design. Designers show not just finished results but also experiments and first, raw versions of ideas. You can talk to them about the thinking behind their work. That makes it different from a trade fair: it's as much about ideas as about objects.

The festival draws a large international audience: design lovers, students, businesses, buyers, governments and designers themselves.

The 2026 theme: R.A.W.

This year's theme is R.A.W., Rebel Authentic Worth. DDW puts the unpolished and experimental centre stage, at a time when everything seems increasingly optimised, filtered and controlled. According to the organisers, design doesn't start with perfection but with the urge to break open existing structures, explore and question. Design as fuel for innovation.

Why we like DDW so much

Disciplines coming together

At DDW you see what happens when design, technology and innovation meet. A materials researcher next to a software developer, a fashion designer next to an engineer. We recognise that: our work also brings strategy, design, technology, marketing and AI together. The best solutions rarely come from one field, but from the edges between them.

It happens here, in Brainport

DDW fits Eindhoven. The city has a long history of making and inventing, from the old Philips factories at Strijp to today's high-tech Brainport region. Many DDW venues are former factory buildings with a second life. We love that the country's most important design event takes place in this region rather than in a capital. Read more about the region on our Brainport page.

Progressive: doing things differently or better

What appeals to us most is the attitude. Not accepting that things just are the way they are, but looking for a way to do them differently or better. Daring to experiment, even when the first version isn't finished. That's also how we look at online, marketing and AI: test, learn, improve. The R.A.W. theme fits that well.

Practical info: finding your way

Dates and locations

When: Saturday 17 to Sunday 25 October 2026
Where: around 120 locations across Eindhoven, in studios, cultural institutions, former factories and public space
Areas in the programme: including Strijp-S, Strijp T+R, Sectie-C, the area around the Station and Eindhoven West. Well-known venues include the Klokgebouw and the VEEM building at Strijp-S

Always check opening hours and any reservation requirements just before you go on ddw.nl. They can differ per location.

Programme and agenda

The full programme is on the DDW website. You can search by subject, day, location or discipline. Short on time? Pick one or two areas first and see what's on there, rather than trying to cover the whole city.

Tickets

For most exhibitions you need a DDW ticket in the form of a wristband. Buy it online in advance to avoid queues. Prices and ticket types are on the DDW site. Installations in public space can often be seen for free.

Getting between locations

Allow travel time between areas; they're spread across the city. With a valid wristband and registration you can use the Polestar Design Rides that run during DDW. Eindhoven is also easy by bike, and Eindhoven Centraal station is within walking distance of several venues.

Who is it for?

Curious without design knowledge: start with the installations in public space and an area like Strijp-S, where a lot is close together
Families and schools: DDW Young & Education offers routes, tours and teaching materials for different ages
Professionals and businesses: a Design Tour takes you with a guide past projects relevant to your organisation, together with colleagues or clients

Tips for your visit

Plan, but not too tightly. Decide in advance what you definitely want to see and leave room for detours. The surprises are often found along the way.
Talk to the designers. They're often with their work. The story behind it is as interesting as the object.
Go on a weekday if you can. Weekends are the busiest.
Wear good shoes. You'll walk more than you think, and many venues are large factory halls.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dutch Design Week 2026?

Dutch Design Week 2026 runs from Saturday 17 October to Sunday 25 October 2026, nine days in Eindhoven.

What is the theme of DDW 2026?

The theme is R.A.W., short for Rebel Authentic Worth. It puts the experimental and unfinished side of the design process centre stage.

Where does Dutch Design Week take place?

At around 120 locations in Eindhoven, including Strijp-S, Strijp T+R, Sectie-C, around the station and in public space.

Do you need a ticket for DDW?

For most exhibitions, yes: a wristband you buy online in advance. Installations in public space are often free to visit. Check ddw.nl for current prices and conditions.

How do you get from one location to another?

On foot, by bike or with the Polestar Design Rides, which you can use with a valid wristband and registration. Allow travel time between areas.

Is DDW worth it if you're not a designer?

Yes. Many visitors are simply curious. You don't need design knowledge to appreciate the work, and designers are happy to explain what they do.