The Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI), a member of the ECA, has announced the schedule for the fifth annual Irish Design Week, running from 7 to 14 November 2026. The weeklong, nationwide programme celebrates design in all its iterations ranging from fashion to architecture, and from craft to graphic design. This year’s programme coincides with Ireland’s hosting of the EU Presidency and is framed around the theme Fáilte Future Europe. It will examine design through both a regional and European perspective.
The overall itinerary is structured across four distinct strands, combining large commissioned partnerships with smaller, independently run third-party events across the country. The programme opens on Saturday 7 November with the Standing Ground exhibition at Collins Barracks, a collaborative fashion showcase featuring contemporary designers alongside Carrickmacross Lace artisans. Mid-week events include academic design conferences at NCAD, IADT and TU Dublin, as well as the opening of the IDEA exhibition at the National Design & Craft Gallery in Kilkenny. The week concludes with regional, heritage-focused events highlighting disciplines such as Donegal Tweed, Connemara Marble and Waterford Crystal, before wrapping up at Design Kenmare.
Serving as the flagship event of the week, the European Creative Industries Summit will anchor the programme’s international discussions. The DCCI has partnered with the European Federation for Creative Economy to host the gathering, following an official handover from the Basque Government. The core summit sessions will take place at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin.
photo: DCCI