Zlín, May 6, 2026 – Starting today, Zlín becomes the center of contemporary design for a whole week. The twelfth edition of Zlin Design Week, held under the auspices of the First Lady of the Czech Republic, will transform the city into an open platform for creativity. This year’s edition connects the theme of LOVE across the entire programme. The programme traditionally includes a Fashion Show, the main festival exhibition All you need is design, but also a rich offering of workshops, discussions and accompanying activities, including a sports morning.
The 12th annual Zlin Design Week will take place in Zlín from May 6 to 12, organized by the Faculty of Multimedia Communications of Tomas Bata University. The festival will transform the city into an open platform for meeting creators, students and the general public. This year’s edition is based on the theme of LOVE, which connects creative work and an approach to design. The festival will open at the Zlín Castle, one of the main festival locations, with the Opening Ceremony and opening of the main festival exhibition All you need is design. It will present a selection of contemporary design work and offer visitors a look at how design responds to current social issues and the personal experiences of the authors. The opening will also be complemented by a Fashion performance in cooperation with the Slovak Fashion Council and the LUMó (Laboratory of Sustainable Fashion) project, which is being created in the context of Trenčín 2026.
What can you look forward to?
The biggest attraction of Zlin Design Week is the Fashion Show, which will take place on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the garages of the Faculty of Technology of Tomas Bata University. The organizing team promises that visitors will experience a strongly emotional experience that will go beyond the boundaries of a classic fashion show. The Fashion Show will present collections by young, promising designers who work with personal stories, relationships and inner experiences. Viewers can look forward to the connection of fashion and music, which will create a complex audiovisual performance.
Saturday, May 9, 2026 will be dedicated primarily to the international Best in Design competition. This year, more than 600 young talents participated with their original projects in the categories Fashion Design, Product & Industrial Design, Communication Design and Service Design. The big news this year is that the Best in Design Awards Ceremony at the Zlín Congress Center will be open to the public for the first time, completely free of charge. Visitors will have a unique opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of this prestigious competition and become part of an exceptional evening full of design.
On Sunday, the festival will move to Tržiště Pod Kaštany, where the Design Market will take place. It will offer a diverse selection of original products, from original accessories and fashion to interior design pieces. Visitors can not only take home a unique product, but also support local and emerging creators. The programme will also include two creative workshops, where participants will create their own wreath or original jewelry. Registration is required for both workshops via registration forms. The evening will end with inspiring Flash Talks, powered by PechaKucha, dynamic presentations full of interesting stories, ideas and personal experiences from the design and creative industries. The short and brisk format of the presentations promises an intense and unique experience.
What else awaits us?
The Zlin Design Week programme will also offer morning sports activities in the form of ZDW Yoga and ZDW Pilates, as well as a number of creative and educational workshops. “This year, we are expanding the programme with new features that connect visitors with Zlín companies and creative studios. Our goal was to ensure that everyone could enjoy the event, whether with friends or family,” adds the festival’s press spokesperson Eva Ševčíková.
Newly, on Sunday, thanks to the Open Creative Studios in Zlín, you will be able to take a look behind the scenes of the work of local designers and creators, who will open their ateliers and studios to the public (e.g., the Václav Chad Gallery, the School of Jewelry, Robota, and others). On Monday, visitors can look forward to guided tours of the All you need is design and Best of ‘26: Made with Passion exhibitions, which will offer a deeper insight into the projects. The evening programme will be enriched by concerts in Komenského Park in cooperation with Proud beer, which will bring a relaxed atmosphere and a space for meetings.
Zlin Design Week will culminate at Platform 14|15 with the Maska video mapping festival, which will light up the public space.
Most of the programme is free to attend, selected events may require registration or a ticket. Visitors can find the complete programme, current information and any changes on the official festival website and social networks.
