Press releases
Press photos can be downloaded here:
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©WDC02.June 2026
Open – Design Week kicks off on 5 June with more than 200 events across the region
Open – Design Week Frankfurt RheinMain, the flagship festival of World Design Capital 2026, will take place from 5 to 14 June 2026.
©© AS+P Albert Speer + Partner GmbH02.June 2026
A glimpse of the city of tomorrow: Frankfurt’s planned cultural mile
As part of Open Design Week, World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026 invites you to a special event at Rooftop Day Frankfurt on 6 June 2026 at 6.00 pm: at the Jewish Museum Frankfurt, representatives from the worlds of politics, culture and urban development will discuss the future of Frankfurt’s city centre.
©@ dylanfchandler 01.June 2026
World premiere of a film about design pioneer Patrick Whitney at Open – Design Week Frankfurt RheinMain
World premiere as part of World Design Capital 2026: on 6 June, director Gary Hustwit will present “What Are People For”, a film about design theorist Patrick Whitney.
©WDC21 May 2026
The programme is set: Open – Design Week kicks off on 5 June with 150 events across the region
10 days, 4 cities, over 150 venues: Open – Design Week Frankfurt RheinMain, the flagship festival of World Design Capital 2026, will take place from 5 to 14 June 2026.
©Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels27. April 2026
WDC 2026 diskutiert: Wie sichern Medien die Demokratie in Zeiten von Polarisierung?
Hochkarätige Podiumsrunde zur Woche der Meinungsfreiheit
©Ben Kuhlmann22 April 2026
The WDC Drink: The Companion
Part of the Drinks for Democracy series
©Stefanie Lindinger / Luxfeld Digital Art / POINT. Architektur21 April 2026
WDC 2026 in May
Selected programme highlights
16 April 2026
Open – Design Week Frankfurt
RheinMain transforms the region into a space for creative expression
10 April 2026
WDC-Campus – Young Talents at Work
The WDC Campus is turning Frankfurt into a real-world laboratory for the world of tomorrow.
©Construclab27 March 2026
Living Laboratory for Design
Mobile WDC Pavilion begins tour of the Rhine-Main region.
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©Jan Zappner03 March 2026
WDC 2026 in April:
Selected programme highlights
©Nordisk3 March 2026
Press release: Frankfurt City of WOW!
Frankfurt’s city history as an immersive experience at Gutleutstraße 324
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©Atelier Markgraph27 February 2026
WDC2026 – A Sky Full of Hope Janet Echelman
Janet Echelman transforms Konstablerwache in central Frankfurt with poetic net sculpture.
©Ben Kuhlmann24 January 2026
Press release WDC Hub
The central information point for World Design Capital 2026, a free-to-use space for information, workshops, reading, and working
©Ben Kuhlmann16 December 2025
Press release WDC Campus
The WDC Campus explores important questions about the future raised by students.
©Ben Kuhlmann November 2025
General press release
From January to December 2026, the Frankfurt RheinMain region will be the official World Design Capital 2026, inviting you to experience design in all its facets.
Press kit for the opening press conference
January 2026
Frankfurt RheinMain kicks off as World Design Capital 2026
In 2026, Frankfurt RheinMain will be the first region in Germany to hold the title of World Design Capital. Under the theme “Let's design Frankfurt RheinMain together”, the region is focusing on design as a tool for a livable, democratic, and economically sustainable future.
January 2026
Frankfurt RheinMain Officially Starts as World Design Capital 2026
In 2026, Frankfurt RheinMain will be the first region in Germany to hold the title of World Design Capital, awarded by the World Design Organization.
January
List of all Project and Cooperation Partners
Project and Cooperation Partners
January
Five Key Themes, One Goal: Design for the Future of the Region
World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026 structures its annual programme around five key themes, each highlighted during specific months, creating a clear narrative thread throughout the WDC 2026 year.
January 2026
WDC Signature Formats – Ambitious and Fostering Connections
The WDC signature formats are flagship events of the WDC annual programme, creating diverse platforms for citizens, culture, and business alike.
January 2026
The Cooperation Partners of WDC2026 – Shaping the Future Together
World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026 connects culture, education, business, and science through a unique network of partners.
January 2026
The Programme: Selection of Additional Highlight Projects
A selection of highlight projects from all five key themes
January 2026
Comments on WDC 2026 – Collection of Quotes
Quotes from the WDO, the WDC and the funders
