It is a regular event in May within the rich programme of NYCxDESIGN, New York’s leading design festival. But ICFF is changing and evolving, this year more than ever, with the aim of creating a more dynamic and responsive platform for contemporary issues. The fair is expanding its collaborations and refining its content, using design as a connecting force capable of involving emerging talents and internationally renowned names, bringing together different cultures and disciplines. ‘Common Ground: A Global Dialogue on Design and Shared Valuesβ will be the guiding theme of the 2026 edition. This concept puts the spotlight on current issues, not only in terms of design β i.e. materials, sustainability and innovation β but also with regard to the broader challenges of living and the demands of social design.
This new vision includes the first partnership with Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester: the shared goal is to launch a new programme that supports Habitat’s work to expand access to affordable housing and promote equitable housing solutions; and ICFF brings the design community closer to supporting Habitat’s mission. Also in terms of new synergies, this year sees the addition of a collaboration with the Mayfair Design District, which brings a London perspective to New York through the fair’s Bespoke programme. There are also new independent voices bringing a fresh perspective to the fair, including Julia Haney Montanez, co-founder of The Design Release, who joins ICFF as curator of the Look Book programme in 2026, and writer and design curator Adrian Madlener, as consultant to ICFF’s Talks programme.
This year’s conference programme will cover a wide range of topical issues in line with the theme ‘Common Ground’: from the use of healthy and environmentally sustainable building materials to effective and inclusive social strategies that design can generate. Speakers will include Amit Gupta of STIRworld, who will talk about intercultural exchange, Dwell editor-in-chief William Hanley, who will address the issue of affordable housing and the housing crisis, and Julie Lasky of the New York Times, who will moderate a panel discussion on how the Mamdani administration can support New York’s design community.
ICFF combines numerous opportunities for discussion and networking with a wide range of exhibitions. Noteworthy in this edition is Bespoke: The Art of Making, an event dedicated to craftsmanship and custom design, and the exhibition presented by Rarify in official collaboration with Tecta and the Bauhaus Archive Berlin, which showcases materials from the Bauhaus archive such as original drawings, prints and artefacts alongside contemporary furniture by German manufacturer Tecta, in a comparison between eras that shapes everyday life. Not to be missed is the Wanted event, which offers a showcase for schools with Schools Showcase and Design Schools Workshop.
