Young design and the time inside an object
TALENTS, the fair’s platform for designers under 35, will take “About Time” as its 2026 theme. Curated by Frank Chou (周宸宸), it brings together 10 emerging designers. Time can mean the age in which an object is made, the duration of its making or the way it lives with its owner. That gives the display a more precise subject than a general parade of new furniture.
The Jingdezhen-focused Made in JDZ section takes “Craft on the Stage” as its theme. Curated by Ryan Ran, it brings ceramics, metalwork and lacquer into a programme about the meeting of design and traditional making. The section connects craft with contemporary fashion and everyday interiors, reflecting Jingdezhen’s attraction for young makers working beyond porcelain.
The fair reaches into the city
Design in the City will run 5–22 March, beginning two weeks before the main exhibition. The announced network covers more than 100 creative locations, with installations, workshops, talks and other experiences extending beyond the fair’s rooms. Sheen Tao, Roger Qian, Wang Deyang and Zhang Yaotian are the regional ambassadors for Changning, Huangpu, Jing’an and Xuhui respectively.
This is the most useful distinction for a visitor whose interest is broad: the main fair concentrates brands and professional exchange, while the city programme places design among the streets, studios and cultural spaces where it is used.
March dates and the central venue
The main exhibition runs 19–22 March 2026 at Shanghai Exhibition Centre (上海展览中心), 1000 Middle Yan’an Road (静安区延安中路1000号). The city programme runs 5–22 March. Registration and the division between professional and public visiting days are handled through the official fair website; city events have their own admission arrangements.