Auckland Design Week 2026 launches, looking to be bigger and bolder than before
Auckland Design week kicks off its third year.
Guests attend the launch of Auckland Design Week at the Lexus showroom in Auckland’s Newmarket.
Jen Jones addresses guests of the launch.
Auckland Design Week’s 2026 edition was launched on Wednesday 5 November to a gathering of the local design community at Auckland’s Newmarket Lexus showroom.
In what will be its third year, the 2–10 March 2026 event will centre around its new home at Shed 10 on Auckland’s waterfront — the ‘Design Depot’ for the event — hosting a diverse programme of exhibitions, workshops and the flagship Design Conference.
Auckland Design Week’s (ADW) founder Jen Jones says next year’s theme, People + Place, will “explore the relationships between people, communities and the environments we inhabit — physical, cultural and digital, encouraging innovative, sustainable and inclusive design practices inspired by indigenous knowledge and contemporary expression.”
The week will include public and Pro Design Days and events spanning multiple venues across Tāmaki Makaurau, engaging partners such as IKEA, Dulux, Coco Republic and Konei. A special partnership with Whanganui and Chatham Air will offer an exclusive day trip from Auckland to the UNESCO City of Design.
The annual one-day Design Conference will feature keynote speakers Briar Hickling, co-founder of architecture and interior design practice Linehouse (with studios in Auckland, Hong Kong and Shanghai) and Vincent Lowe, former Global Art Director for Nike Running who has also worked with brands Apple, Google and Adidas. Other keynote speakers will be announced shortly.
Jones, who recently travelled to the Barcelona and Dutch Design Weeks to connect with the global design community, notes that Auckland Design Week’s calibre stands “shoulder to shoulder with international events — an impressive achievement given our relatively recent inception.”
She adds that since launching three years ago, the event has gone from strength to strength, which is testament to the quality and engagement of Aotearoa’s design community. “The move to the larger venue of Shed 10 is an exciting evolution. I’m confident next year will be our best yet. The team and I are curating an incredible lineup to highlight design in all its forms and, importantly, create a home where our community can collaborate and connect.”
For more information about Auckland Design Week, visit Auckland Design Week.
For further information please contact:
Kara Sweney
kara.sweney@toniccommunications.co.nz
0220 628 525
