My NYC Design Festival 2026 Edit

I’ll admit, I’m still combing through everything I saw at Milan Design Week last month. No, I don’t know how I feel about all the fashion brands. Yes, that built-in fireplace seating at the Osvaldo Borsani house was really that good. And no, the drinks from the Gucci vending machine did not taste good (were they supposed to?).

January through June is starting to feel like an international design roadshow, a kind of traveling summer camp where your slightly sleep-deprived global design besties pop up in different cities to spend equal time critiquing chairs and sitting in traffic together. Cute.

In January, I was in Toronto for the city’s Design Festival. February brought Mexico City’s Zona Maco, Palm Springs Modernism Week, and LA Art Week. In March, frankly, I took a nap. April was Milan. May is New York. And next month I’ll be in Copenhagen for the entire month in what I’m calling ‘30 Days of Design.’

Which brings us here: NYC Design Week Month, since it’s no longer really just a week. Officially, according to the NYCxDESIGN Festival calendar, it runs May 14–20. Unofficially, my calendar looks chaotic starting *checks g-cal* today.

So, in the spirit of getting ahead of the crowds, consider this your early access guide.

Rather than attempting to comprehensively catalog every single launch, exhibition, panel, showroom opening, and vaguely design-adjacent cocktail party happening across the city (an impossible task), this roundup is organized by what I personally am most looking forward to.

If hot dogs have two fans, it’s me and DUDD HAUS. The design collective presents a group exhibition of over 120 nightlights at The Future Perfect townhouse with support from Bocci.

Dates: May 12-June 10, 2026 (Opening Reception: May 19)

RSVP: RSVP required.

In 2024, I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Ana about the launch of her brand, TEGET, for Architectural Digest. Naturally, I’m very excited about her SVILA opening today at Emma Scully Gallery, featuring works in wood, glass, and metal.

Dates: May 7-June 13 (Fridays + Saturdays 11a-5p)

Address: 16 East 79th St Suite 21

RSVP: Free and open

Reading has gotten a bit performative (see: fashion at design weeks), but not here, where this pop-up makes sense. I will also vouch for the fact that my friend Conway of Hudson Wilder knows how to put on programming, which they’ll have throughout the duration of the partnership.

Dates: May 14-20ish

Address: 142 Plymouth Street

RSVP: Free and open

Afternoon Light returns in its second edition. My client, Dimwit, debuts its stunning dimmers, and I heard a rumor that there might be perfectly sample-kit-sized totes… I’m also obsessed with Forks Plus and Palet Company who are showing.

Dates: May 16-19

Address: 161 Water St

RSVP: Tickets HERE

Design Hotels has been quite smart in activating its global portfolio (s/o Hannah Dean) to align with design weeks while also championing creatives, artists, and designers. For NYCxDesign, the group will debut their first-ever public exhibition, featuring collectible work by NYC-based designers. Curated by Simple Flair.

Dates: Opening Reception, May 14 | open May 15-20 11a-5p

Address: 11 Howard St

RSVP: Opening Reception

At Matter&Shape in March (while I was taking my aforementioned nap), FRAMA debuted ‘Mechanics of Scent’, placing its Apothecary scent within a physical installation drawing on the brand’s design principles. I know people who, up until this point, knew FRAMA as a furniture brand or as a bodycare/fragrance brand, so I’m happy to see them bring these worlds together into a cohesive story. Explore the installation at a cocktail hosted with 180 The Store.

Date: May 15 5-7p

Address: 180 Duane St

RSVP: Open.

I first met Aaron and Irisa Kawabi sometime in 2024 and have continued to follow the evolution of their collections. In collaboration with Christopher Merchant, the trio debuts the Amica Lighting Collection at Assembly Line Annex.

Dates: May 14-July 17

Address: 66 West Broadway, Suite 402

RSVP: Open during gallery hours

Earlier this week, I went to a dinner celebrating Dumbo, its recognition as a Design District, and the women shaping design and culture in the neighborhood. This year marks the neighborhood’s first Design Day, with an entire day of programming, open studios, and talks. Some highlights on my radar: Open studios from 3-6p, Untapped Print Edition 004 Launch + Site-Specific Performance, Closing Party - DJ’d by Conway Liao (see what I said about being good at programming).

Date: May 20

Address: Dumbo Neighborhood

RSVP: Individual RSVPs/details

I don’t want to hear any of you complain that you didn’t see any emerging design. Pale Blue Magazine curates the second edition of TANGENT, bringing together 15 emerging designers.

Dates: Opening May 9 6-10p | May 10 12-7p, May 12-14 12-8p

Address: 5-37 46th Ave, Long Island City

RSVP: RSVP Required for Opening Reception

My friend David of FOR SCALE is always up to something. In collaboration with Bankston, A Manifesto on Touch is an exhibition featuring architectural hardware at Colbo Next Door.

Dates: May 14-17 11a-7p

Address: 51a Orchard St

RSVP: By appt only.

Once again, there is nothing more efficient or appreciated by a g-cal than when a neighborhood gets together and plans. Thanks, Chelsea. I never miss what Pierre Yovanovitch is up to, and my mom turned me on to Dobrinka Salzman’s impeccable taste some years ago.

Date: May 13, 6-8pm

Address: Chelsea

RSVP: Free and open