Irish Design Week 2026

Ireland is rolling out the welcome mat for Europe’s design crowd this November. Irish Design Week 2026, now in its fifth year, takes over the country from November 7 to 14 under the theme Fáilte Future Europe (fáilte is Irish for “welcome”). And the timing is no accident: it lands right in the middle of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Key Highlights

• The European Creative Industries Summit. The week’s centerpiece, hosted with the Federation of European Creative Industries on November 12 at Dublin’s Royal Irish Academy of Music, with tickets listed from €0 to €25.
• Architecture on the agenda. One summit theme asks how design, architecture and placemaking can strengthen civic life, alongside tracks on the green transition, AI and future skills.
• The Dublin Communiqué. The summit aims to produce a shared statement on the role of creativity and design in Europe, meant to steer future policy, investment and cooperation.
• Heritage meets AI. The program stretches from Carrickmacross lace, Donegal tweed and Connemara marble to artificial intelligence, with Dublin talks tracing Irish design from Arts and Crafts to AI.
• Craft in an artificial world. The Design & Craft Conference in Dublin on November 9 digs into authenticity, craftsmanship and human creativity as machines take on more of the making.
• Awards and exhibitions. The week opens November 7 with the Irish Design Excellence Award Exhibition in Kilkenny, and the Irish Business Design Challenge Awards honor companies using design to sharpen products and services.
• 38 events, many formats. Workshops, open studios, conferences and talks run nationwide, backed by partners including the National College of Art and Design and the Land Development Authority.

Why Irish Design Week 2026 Matters

This is the edition where Irish design steps onto a European stage. Pairing the festival with the EU Presidency turns it into a meeting point for policymakers and creative leaders, and the summit’s focus on placemaking and the green transition puts architects right in the conversation. For interior designers, the heritage-craft thread shows how traditional materials are being rethought for today. It’s also part of the World Design Weeks network, which keeps it connected to design festivals worldwide.

If you can make only one day, make it the summit. If you can make the whole week, start in Kilkenny and work your way to Dublin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who organizes Irish Design Week?

Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI), the national agency for design and craft in Ireland, runs the festival.

How much does the summit cost?

European Creative Industries Summit tickets are listed at €0 to €25. Booking details for other events are on each event’s page in the program linked above.

Is the summit venue accessible?

Yes, the summit is listed as wheelchair accessible and suitable for all ages.