Design Shanghai 2026 Elevates Asia’s Leading Design Talent

“For 13 years, Design Shanghai has championed modern design across China and Asia, witnessing the rise of a dynamic creative era. It’s inspiring to see so many remarkable designers and artists shaping this momentum, as Asian design steps confidently onto the global stage” Zhuo Tan, Show Director, Design Shanghai.

 

March 2026 | The 13th edition of Design Shanghai will take place from 19-22 March 2026. The show returns to its original venue, the historic Shanghai Exhibition Centre, featuring an enhanced programme and an elevated visitor experience focused on innovative Asian design.

Design Shanghai is a celebration of creativity, innovation and the future of design. The show has become a powerful catalyst for elevating Asian design onto the global stage, serving as a dynamic platform where local creativity meets international influence. By bringing together world-renowned brands, visionary designers and industry leaders from across continents, the event creates meaningful dialogue, fosters cross-cultural collaboration and showcases the depth and sophistication of Asia’s design talent.

Notably, over the years, the fair has played a pivotal role in fostering the remarkable rise of Chinese designers, elevating both emerging talents and established brands onto the global stage. This year’s edition will present 500+ brands from over 20 countries, alongside five distinctive special features led by an extraordinary lineup of artists, designers, and craftsmen: TALENTS, Made in JDZ, Beyond Craft, Collectible Design & Art and Materials First. Each underscores Design Shanghai’s mission to position Chinese creativity confidently within the worldwide design conversation.

As one of China’s most internationally connected cities, Shanghai is home to more than 70 regional headquarters of Global 500 companies. Guided by the Shanghai Design City Plan, the metropolis is striving to establish a world-class design cluster by 2030. Repeatedly recognized in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, Shanghai holds the distinction of being China’s only officially designated City of Design. In 2024, Shanghai’s creative and design industries generated an impressive output value of ¥1.64 trillion, surpassing ¥2 trillion in 2025 – a testament to the city’s expanding global influence in design innovation.

 

CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE

Who are the Leading Homegrown Brands Defining China’s Design Identity

SHANG XIA,  PUSU, U+  and PAST TO NOW [Design Shanghai 2026]

 

Design Shanghai 2026 features an exceptional roster of leading homegrown brands that seamlessly blend local culture with global sophistication, collectively shaping China’s evolving design identity. Together, these creators demonstrate how original Chinese design harmonises cultural depth with contemporary aesthetic clarity and honour tradition while embracing the future. Rooted in local craftsmanship yet engaged in an international dialogue, their work reflects a confident, outward-looking design language that resonates on the global stage.

Shanghai-based 12h presents the Record Cabinet, crafted from solid wood with mid‑century influences and designed for a new generation of vinyl enthusiasts. The studio follows a “slow design” approach, combining Eastern aesthetics with modern production to make furniture that is functional and lasting.

SHANG XIA, a brand devoted to contemporary oriental lifestyle and Chinese cultural heritage, presents a booth designed by Zhou Guangming (Shanghai), bringing together traditional craft essence with modern hospitality design.

Chen Yanfei, founder of PUSU (Shanghai), channels the elegance of Ming-style furniture and the art of calligraphy into modern life. The innovative approach of inheriting Chinese craftsmanship is applied across all its designs, giving rise to original product lines including classic hardwood furniture and art furniture with handcrafted lacquer finish, presenting an inclusive living scene of contemporary oriental art. 

U+, led by Shen Baohong (Shandong Province), combines traditional form and craftsmanship with global design language to create cutting-edge furniture. ​​Rooted in the present, U+ never restricts itself to the inheritance and innovation of Chinese traditions, but actively explores both the eastern and western philosophies for guidance.

PAST TO NOW (China) works with historical designs, reintroducing them through careful editing and contemporary production. Presented at Design Shanghai, the collection includes furniture and lighting pieces, including a sculptural lamp, defined by clear proportions, material integrity and functional clarity. Each work reflects the brand’s commitment to extending the life of designs with lasting relevance.

 

CRAFT & INNOVATION

The Contemporary Value of Traditional Craftsmanship

Above: Yamato, Asia Color Trend Book, Kyoraku Kougei, and Kubo Paper Studio [Beyond Craft, 2026 show]
 

Beyond Craft, launched in 2024, explores the beauty of Asia through materials and craft while emphasizing the contemporary value of traditional craftsmanship. The initiative illustrates how heritage techniques can evolve and thrive within today’s design landscape. The upcoming 2026 exhibit will feature creations from over ten brands, spanning categories such as jewelry, objects, furniture, precision components, and optical devices.

Design Shanghai 2026 celebrates Japan’s fusion of heritage and innovation, spotlighting brands that reinterpret traditional craftsmanship for the modern world. Komatsu Co. Ltd, established in 1904, presents the YAMATO brand (Koishikawa, Tokyo), which expresses Japanese beauty through washi paper and gold leaf. From temple wall coverings to interior panels, Yamato continues to evolve Japan’s refined spatial aesthetics.

DOMYO (Taito-ku, Tokyo), founded in the Edo period, showcases the art of handcrafted knotted cords, transforming 370 years of historical restoration techniques into modern expressions.

KUBO PAPER STUDIO (Ogawa, Saitama Prefecture), a fifth-generation atelier from the Ogawa washi region, offers a contemporary palette of traditional paper art rooted in 1,300 years of heritage. Their work highlights the resilience and craftsmanship of Japan’s papermaking legacy.

EMISSION (Ginza, Tokyo) by Takahiro Matsuo introduces Prism Ray, a patented optical material crafted by skilled artisan merging technology and art to translate the poetry of light into immersive experiences and jewelry.

Completing the showcase, KASANE (Japan/Luxembourg) reimagines ancient roofing materials as elegant, sustainable wall panels that introduce natural textures to modern interiors.

Among this year’s highlights, HARIO Lampwork Factory (Shanghai) will also make a special appearance. The brand originates from the century-old Japanese heat-resistant glass manufacturer HARIO and extends its refined lampworking techniques into the realm of handcrafted jewellery. Each piece is meticulously shaped by artisans in an open flame. While inheriting over a hundred years of craftsmanship, the brand adopts a minimalist and contemporary design language, seamlessly integrating traditional glass artistry into everyday adornment.

Meanwhile, Bing Yu Tang will present a culturally resonant showcase. As a brand under the Chinese traditional incense research institute Xunxisuo, Bing Yu Tang is dedicated to researching and revitalising the heritage of Eastern incense culture. At Design Shanghai, the brand will collaborate with emerging designer He Kaining and his project "The Present of Time” on a special exhibition that reinterprets 5,000 years of incense history shared between China and Japan through a contemporary lens. Through spatial design, objects, and sensory experiences, the presentation seeks to establish new connections between ancient ritual traditions and modern life, offering a renewed global perspective on Eastern cultural heritage.

 

TALENT UNDER 35

How is the fair championing a new generation of designers

Above: Liang Living Studio, JUN WANG STUDIO X ZiyuanJiang , Friedrich Gerlach and Yin Dahua [TALENTS 2026 show]

 

Design Shanghai is proud to be mentoring, supporting, and offering a global stage to the next generation of designers (under 35) through its dedicated flagship exhibition, TALENTS , curated by Frank Chou, and centered around the theme “About Time”:

“Product designers have long played a key role in shaping cultural consensus. From early environmental discussions to critiques of consumerism, many ideas originated within design discourse itself. TALENTS therefore seeks to spark broader cultural reflection.  “Time” refers not only to chronology, but also to an era, personal experience, and macro narratives. We hope to view time as an important yet often overlooked design material - one that speaks to how design records its era and the meaning and value it carries across time.” Frank Chou, Curator of TALENTS.

Designers to watch at the show this year include Liang Living Studio (China). Founded by ceramic artist Hong Zhangliang, the studio works at the intersection of traditional Eastern craftsmanship and contemporary design. Known for its neriage (marbled clay) techniques, the studio extends this approach across stone, metal, and wood. For this year’s show, it will present a study of classical Chinese vessel archetypes, realised in saggar- and jade-glazed marbled porcelain with a gui pattern, continuing its exploration of material, memory, and form.

Grounded in a research-led approach, JUN WANG STUDIO x Ziyuan Jiang (China/Japan) is a design practice based between Tianjin and Kyoto. For the show, the studio will present lighting works from the Unreleased series, comprising experimental pieces that explore material tension, structure, and light.

Working across science, design, and material research, Friedrich Gerlach (Germany) focuses on experimental production methods and emerging materials. At this year’s show, he presents the Biocement Chair –the first of its kind –crafted from recycled construction waste. Composed of three individually manufactured profiles, the chair translates industrial research into a functional object, making industrial experimentation accessible through design.

YIN DAHUA (China) will present a cohesive collection comprising a sculptural dining table with copper accents alongside volcanic-inspired lamps. Merging Chinese joinery traditions with modern minimalist craftsmanship, the works are defined by pure geometry and material contrast, with forms that reference the ritual presence of ancient altars while remaining distinctly contemporary.

 

MADE IN JDZ

From “ Porcelain capital” to a vibrant hub for China’s new craft culture   

Above: XISHANGTAOSHE, QUIatelier, HANDICERAMICS and Nearby [Made in JDZ, 2026 show]

 

Made in JDZ is a curated feature programme by designer Ryan Ran that brings together ceramics, metalwork, and lacquer art to explore the intersection of contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship. Rooted in Jingdezhen’s historic heritage, this year’s edition reimagines traditional techniques through a bold, modern lens. The 2026 exhibition explores the theme "Craft Without Borders." Centered on the concept "On the Stage," this year’s zone highlights how craft is moving beyond the exhibition hall and into fashion and everyday life. Made in JDZ reflects the growing visibility of craft and its ongoing revival within contemporary youth culture.

“Traditional craft exhibitions often emphasize the technical height of craft itself, whereas Made in JDZ focuses more on an attitude of how craft can sustain itself, revive, and enter everyday life. We aim to present contemporary expressions by Chinese designers, artisans, and brands rooted in traditional craft. It sounds simple, but it is extremely difficult to calibrate. - Ryan Ran , Curator of Made in JDZ

The Studio HANDICERAMICS (China) focuses on the art of mindful living through nature-inspired, handmade pieces. Their collection, ranging from tableware and tea sets to vases, blends functional art with an appreciation for simple beauty. HANDICERAMICS will be presenting Emotion Edge, a mug design where the base features a triangular structure that combines triangular facets with a cylindrical body to create a clear and stable geometric boundary. This “edge” symbolizes emotions being perceived and processed in daily life - not in opposition, but in coexistence.

NEARBY (China) is a ceramic studio and brand rooted in Jingdezhen, dedicated to exploring the everyday relevance and expressive possibilities of ceramics in contemporary life. NEARBY will be presenting ‘The Spherical Stem Cup’, a delicate stem cup surrounded by ceramic beads, creating a slender, upright silhouette.

SHEENYARD (China) blends the warmth of Jingdezhen ceramics with thoughtfully crafted light. Their collection of luminous pieces is designed to elevate the atmosphere of any living space. SHEENYARD will be presenting Modest Light, a lighting piece inspired by the belief that life’s modest fullness holds true abundance. Designed not to outshine but to accompany, its gently brimming glow creates a quiet nook for reading, a soft warmth for teatime, and a tender guardian for peaceful nights.

 

COLLECTIBLE DESIGN & ART

Brings Together Makers, Galleries, and Curators

Above: NATURA ACCESSORIES,  Jaipur Rugs, Hugo Design and Mingyu Xu Studio  [Collectible Design & Art, 2026 show]
 

The Collectible Design & Art feature will present an exceptional curation of limited-edition works that bridge art and design at their most expressive. By fostering dialogue between artists, designers, and galleries, this platform celebrates the craftsmanship and ideas that define today’s evolving landscape of collectible design. This year’s presentation includes contributions from Hugo Design (UK), ES ART Society (Russia), BRIGS (Russia), Mingyu Xu Studio (China/UK), Natura Accessories (Russia), Zeto Art (France) and Jaipur Rugs (India) each offering a distinct viewpoint within this global conversation.

Above: RE-ART Room, [Collectible Design & Art, 2026 show]
 

Curated by Yiqian Zhao and presented as part of the Collectible Design & Art feature, RE-ART ROOM brings together 20th-century furniture and nearly 10 artists' works in a carefully composed environment. The exhibition highlights the craftsmanship, materials, and design sensibilities of the era, encouraging visitors to slow down and engage with objects made by hand.

In contrast to today’s fast, image-driven culture, RE-ART ROOM focuses on the physical experience of texture, form, and detail - reminding us of the human touch behind each piece and the enduring value of thoughtful design. This year’s installations bring together a diverse group of artists whose work connects material, space, and experience in distinct ways. Yiqian Zhao’s “Dreamer” is a 4-metre-high mixed-media sculpture that merges historical references with a commentary on contemporary consumer culture.

Above:  Weaving Nature by Hu Yuehua
 

Hu Yuehua’s “Weaving Nature” reinterprets ecological forms through textile craft, using cotton, linen, and indigo dyeing to explore the relationship between human skill and the natural world. In “Quest for Urban Signals”, Shuare Shizhu connects his origins in the Daliang Mountains with the city of Shanghai, using painting and performance to trace the dialogue between wilderness and the urban environment.

As China’s leading design show, Design Shanghai continues to affirm its status as a global powerhouse. Following a record attendance of 76,000 visitors last year, this prestigious fair –now more than a decade strong –has remained a vital stage for both celebrated international brands and emerging independent designers to unveil new collections and gain worldwide recognition.

 

Notes to Editors

• For further information, hi-res imagery, and coverage opportunities, please contact design@bacchus.agency 
• Exhibition time: 19–22 March 2026
• Exhibition location: Shanghai Exhibition Centre
• Official website: https://www.designshanghai.com/ 
• Tickets: https://ticket.designshanghai.cn/?f=WebCN&lang=en