Budapest Design Week kicks off

This year, Budapest Design Week will once again offer a diverse range of innovative and craft-based programmes for the design and creative industries. More than 100 venues across Budapest and several cities in the countryside will offer exciting programmes, workshops, temporary exhibitions, guided tours, cocktails and other experiential events.

In addition to the programmes in the capital, Sopron and Pécs will also join the series of events. Sopron Design Week will be held for the 9th time, with the aim of raising awareness of the economic and social role of design. DesignPécs will highlight one of the hidden strengths of Baranya County, the local design and creative industries, through a series of events.

As the opening event of Budapest Design Week, the ELLE DECO International Design Awards (EDIDA) gala will be held on 10 October 2024, where the most outstanding and inspiring designers of the Hungarian design scene will be recognised. EDIDA, also known as the Oscars of the design world, has been honouring the best in the field for 20 years. This year’s sponsor of the Young Talent of the Year category is again the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency.

The central exhibition of the Budapest Design Week, the Red Dot Award-winning 360 Design Budapest 2024, will showcase the best of Hungarian and regional design for the fifth time between 15-20 October. This year, the exhibition will take place in the former waiting room of the historic Western Railway Station. The Red Dot Award-winning event aims to raise the international profile of creative designers from Central Europe and to promote the global market entry of design brands, with a special focus on sustainability. The exhibition will highlight the role of design in everyday life, while opening the door for designers from the region to showcase themselves on the international stage.

A key professional event of Budapest Design Week will be a roundtable discussion and lecture on the creative industry, which will cover topics and issues such as supporting the development of the Hungarian creative industry, supporting its international market entry and increasing its competitiveness. The 17 October programme will take place in the impressive ArtHab building.

Another highlight of the Budapest Design Week is the Art Market Budapest, which will take place between 17-20 October at Millenáris. The largest international contemporary art fair in Central and Eastern Europe, it will showcase the latest contemporary art from over 100 exhibitors from 30 countries.

For those who want to take a special piece of Hungarian design and craftsmanship with them, the Independent Contemporary Crafts Salon (FIKSZ) offers the chance to buy unique pieces directly from the artists.

Budapest Design Week, launched today, showcases a broad spectrum of creative industries, where visitors can explore both traditional craft techniques and the latest innovations. Visitors can gain a deeper insight into different aspects of design, be it design, cultural heritage, jewellery making or interactive installations. Detailed programmes are available on HFDA.hu!