Press releases

Press photos can be downloaded here:

8. September 2026

Design Policy Days 2026: How design can shape politics, public administration and democracy

As the highlight and finale of the World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026, the Design Policy Days, taking place from 11 to 14 November 2026, invite participants to rethink design as a political and social force for change and to put it to the test in practice. Over four days in Wiesbaden, Offenbach and Frankfurt, stakeholders from politics, public administration, academia, design, business and civil society will discuss what citizen-centred public administration and sustainable cities might look like and how they might function. On the fourth day, the Design Assembly at Frankfurt’s Paulskirche will bring together the international WDC network, regional stakeholders and politicians.

27. August 2026

WDC Pavilion in Darmstadt: Lord Mayor Hanno Benz opens the final leg of the tour through the region

To mark the end of its journey through the region, the mobile WDC Pavilion is stopping off in the heart of Darmstadt city centre: from 2 to 20 September 2026, the Carree in front of Centralstation will become an open space for meeting, exchanging ideas and collaborative creation. Mayor Hanno Benz will open the WDC Pavilion on Wednesday, 2 September, at 4.30 pm. Visitors and members of the press are warmly invited to explore the pavilion and get a first glimpse of the programme.

12 August 2026

A successful premiere: ‘A Sky Full of Hope’ casts the Konstablerwache in a new light

Yesterday evening, Frankfurt’s city centre underwent an extraordinary transformation. As part of World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026 (WDC), the net sculpture “A Sky Full of Hope – Earthtime 1.78 Frankfurt” by the American artist Janet Echelman, spanning over 200 square metres, was officially unveiled.

11 August 2026

A glowing net: The sculpture “A Sky Full of Hope” is being officially unveiled today at the Konstablerwache

This Tuesday evening, Janet Echelman’s net sculpture “A Sky Full of Hope – Earthtime 1.78 Frankfurt” will be officially unveiled above the Konstablerwache. Ahead of the event, Dr Ina Hartwig, Head of the Cultural Affairs Department, and Janet Echelman held a press conference to provide details about the work, the Earthtime series, the installation and the programme for the opening.

31 July 2026

The net floats: Monumental sculpture ‘A Sky Full of Hope’ successfully installed above the Konstablerwache – Invitation to the press conference and opening

The monumental net sculpture “A Sky Full of Hope – Earthtime 1.78 Frankfurt” by US artist Janet Echelman has been successfully installed above Frankfurt’s Konstablerwache, where it is set to enrich the public space as a venue for social interaction, culture and city life for three years. The official opening, featuring a light and sound show, will take place on 11 August 2026 at 9 pm. The project will be presented at a press conference at 11 am at the WDC-HUB.

22 July 2026

The Module Festival Transforms Kulturcampus Frankfurt into a Vibrant Pop Culture Hotspot

From 13 to 16 August 2026, the four-day Module Festival will feature concerts, DJ sets, talks and a wide range of workshops. 

29 June 2026

More shade, more greenery, more community spirit: CARLO launches at Carlo-Schmid-Platz

This summer, the CARLO project will bring a large area of vibrant nature to Carlo-Schmid-Platz at the Bockenheimer Depot. In one of Frankfurt’s hottest and most heavily paved areas, a temporary greening installation is being created that combines forward-looking climate architecture with community use.

25 June 2026

Work begins on the monumental net sculpture ‘A Sky Full of Hope’ at the Konstablerwache in Frankfurt

Temporary relocation of the farmers’ market and a grand opening in August.

22 June 2026

The future in prototype form: Major exhibition on the WDC campus ‘dreams, ideas & prototypes’

From 3 July to 9 August, the exhibition entitled “dreams, ideas & prototypes: young talents at work” at the Museum of Applied Arts in Frankfurt will showcase around 120 projects by students, lecturers and start-ups from the fields of design, art and science. The exhibition will be opened on 3 July as part of the Campus Festival by Timon Gremmels, Hessian Minister for Science and Research, Art and Culture.

19 June 2026

A strong signal for the region’s future: Open – Design Week delights thousands of visitors and paves the way for future editions

The initial assessment is very positive, as the programme’s enormous diversity was overwhelmingly well received by the public, industry professionals and international guests alike: around 35,000 guests attended more than 200 events during the festival, which took place at over 150 venues under the umbrella of Open – Design Week.

02.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.

02.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.

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.

21 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.

27. April 2026

WDC 2026 diskutiert: Wie sichern Medien die Demokratie in Zeiten von Polarisierung?

Hochkarätige Podiumsrunde zur Woche der Meinungsfreiheit

22 April 2026

The WDC Drink: The Companion

Part of the Drinks for Democracy series

21 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.

27 March 2026

Living Laboratory for Design

Mobile WDC Pavilion begins tour of the Rhine-Main region.

03 March 2026

WDC 2026 in April:

Selected programme highlights

3 March 2026

Press release: Frankfurt City of WOW!

Frankfurt’s city history as an immersive experience at Gutleutstraße 324

27 February 2026

WDC2026 – A Sky Full of Hope Janet Echelman

Janet Echelman transforms Konstablerwache in central Frankfurt with poetic net sculpture.

24 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

16 December 2025

Press release WDC Campus

The WDC Campus explores important questions about the future raised by students.

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.

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