This spring, the city of Zlín will transform into a place full of creativity, inspiration and meetings. The 12th annual Zlin Design Week festival, organized by the Faculty of Multimedia Communications of Tomas Bata University in Zlín, will take place from 6 to 12 May 2026. Every year, the festival connects designers, students and the general public and offers an open space for sharing ideas, discussion and inspiration. This year’s theme is LOVE, which focuses on motivation for creation, empathy and cooperation in design. Visitors can look forward to exhibitions, workshops, fashion shows, the Design Market and other accompanying programs that will take place at various locations across Zlín.
The theme of the 12th edition of Zlin Design Week is LOVE. “We wanted a theme that would surprise the public, make them think and at the same time evoke emotions,” says Bára Kolondrová, festival director. The love for design, creation and experimentation is at the very core of this year’s theme. It raises questions about how design can arise from enthusiasm and empathy while also bringing solutions that are useful, accessible and beneficial to those around them. At a time when the world often seems divided and focused primarily on individual success, Zlin Design Week wants to open a discussion about how design can support cooperation and care for others. This year’s edition therefore focuses not only on the designers themselves and their motivation to create, but also on how design can contribute to positive changes in society.
Festival opening ceremony
The festival will kick off on Wednesday, May 6th with a ceremonial opening in the courtyard of the Zlín Castle, which will begin at 6:00 p.m. The evening will include the opening of the main festival exhibition All you need is design. It will be open to the public from May 7th to 12th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and admission is free. Visitors can also look forward to a performative fashion show that will take the audience through the main exhibition to the castle courtyard, where a musical program with a DJ set will then start.
Workshops, education and accompanying program
During the festival week, Zlin Design Week will offer a number of workshops, educational activities and creative meetings. The program includes open workshops for the public, a program for schools and discussions with designers.
The program will also include the Design KANTÝNA, which will offer a space for meetings, sharing inspiration, and discussing contemporary design throughout the festival week.
The event will bring together creatives, experts, and members of the public interested in design, creating a space for new ideas and networking.
The supporting program will include a guided walking tour of the city focusing on Zlín’s design and architecture, as well as the ZDW Swap & Morning Disco, which will provide a space for clothing swaps and promote a more sustainable approach to fashion. The program will also feature a new concept, Wine, Dine & Design, an intimate gathering combining design, gastronomy, and networking, offering a space for experts in the field, students, and emerging designers to share their experiences.
Fashion Show and ZDW Party
One of the highlights of the festival program will be the Fashion Show, which will showcase the current work of young fashion designers. The show will take place on Friday, May 8, at 7:00 p.m. in the garages of the UTB Faculty of Technology. It will offer not only a presentation of collections but also a visual experience combining fashion, scenography, and music. On Friday evening, visitors can look forward to the ZDW Party, featuring three Slovak performers—FVLCRVM, DJ Lipi, and Kristie Kardio. Tickets for both the Fashion Show and the ZDW Party will be available for purchase starting April 2 on the smsticket.cz portal.
Best in Design and Creative Community Gatherings
The festival is traditionally linked to the international Best in Design competition, which supports young designers from around the world. The program kicks off on Saturday, May 9, at 6:00 p.m. with the opening of the exhibition “Best of ’26: Made with Passion” at the G18 Gallery, which will showcase the work of the competition finalists and offer a glimpse into the work of designers from various countries. This will be followed by the Best in Design Awards Ceremony, which will be open to the public for the first time this year and will take place at the Zlín Congress Center starting at 8:00 PM. Karel Semotam will guide the audience through the evening, accompanied by the Fashion Strings quartet. The ceremony will conclude with an afterparty, which, like the rest of this program segment, will be free for visitors.
Design Market, Flash Talks powered by PechaKucha, and the city program
The next weekend segment of the festival will feature the Design Market at Tržiště pod Kaštany, where visitors will be able to purchase fashion accessories, jewelry, cosmetics, stationery, flowers from the Chvíle florist, and other original products from designers and creators. The Design Market will take place on Sunday, May 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the program will also include workshops and live music. The Sunday program will be enriched by Flash Talks, powered by PechaKucha, which will take place at the Malá scéna Theater starting at 6:00 p.m. This dynamic format of short presentations will give ten speakers the opportunity to share inspiring projects and ideas from the fields of design and the creative industries. Admission to this event is subject to a fee, and tickets will be available for purchase on the smsticket.cz portal.
The festival will also expand to other locations in Zlín through Open Creative Studios and community activities that will connect design with the city’s everyday life.
Festival Finale: Design Conference and Video Mapping Festival
The final day of the festival, Tuesday, May 12, will feature a workshop and an informal conference titled “Design on the Edge x Catacombs” at Zlín Castle. The evening program will culminate with the Maska video mapping festival, which, after dark, will transform the Baťa Institute building into a large-scale audiovisual projection and symbolically close this year’s edition of Zlin Design Week.
Tickets for the paid parts of the program are available starting April 2, 2026, at smsticket.cz.
The complete program and further information can be found at www.zlindesignweek.com.
