Creative catalysts at IMEX

Where design takes you

Art fairs and design festivals have become powerful travel magnets. They invite visitors to experience a destination through ideas, materials and people, transforming cities into open air studios and cultural meeting points. 

A recent Condé Nast Traveller roundup of art fairs and design festivals worth traveling for in 2026 points to that power.

Destinations synonymous with world class design are not just hosting events. They’re actively shaping how creative communities connect.

In Milan, design has always been a language spoken fluently. Anchored by Salone del Mobile, the dominant event on the global design calendar, the city becomes a living design lab each spring, with historic buildings, industrial spaces and secluded courtyards hosting countless events and design installations. 

London’s Design Festival reflects the city’s design heritage with the events, installations and talks hosted in London institutions including the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Southbank Centre and the Design Museum. 

Across the Atlantic, New York delivers scale and ambition. NYCxDesign Festival mirrors the city’s creative density, hosting 200-plus events and welcoming 150,000-plus visitors across its boroughs. This year’s event, happening during IMEX week, promises to trace the origins of the universe’s first light.

In Paris, design pedigree meets modernity during Maison&Objet. The fair’s long-held reputation is paired with contemporary voices redefining luxury and craft. Design here is immersive, unfolding through studios, stores and workshops as well as exhibition centers.

Madrid’s FORMA Design Fair places creativity front and center, supported by the Department of Culture, Tourism and Sport of Madrid City Council, and encouraging interaction and exchange as it brings designers, brands, galleries and studios together at Matadero Madrid.

Fotografiska x Nusfjord in Norway and Design March Reykjavik show how design responds to the landscape and the local community. Fotografiska spotlights the majestic fjords with a dramatic open-air installation, while Design March allows visitors to connect with Iceland’s creative community.

Art Basel Hong Kong links East and West together through art. Bringing major art fairs, like Art Basel here, reflects the city’s role as a cultural connector, with global perspectives meeting regional creativity. Launched in 2013, it’s the most recent addition to the Art Basel trio, joining Miami and Basel.

Together, these destinations illustrate a broader shift highlighted by Condé Nast Traveller: design festivals are no longer niche events. They’re catalysts for travel, collaboration and economic impact. For the global meetings community, they also offer a blueprint—showing how creativity, community and commerce can coexist with purpose.

At IMEX, these cities share a mindset: that design has the power to bring people together, spark conversation and create experiences worth traveling for.

Let design take you to Hong Kong (booth G320), London (booth B440), Madrid (booth D350), Milan (booth E440), New York (booth E160), Norway (booth B210), Paris (booth D230) and Reykjavik (booth B220).

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