The abundance of global design fairs can make for some serious FOMO. Which ones should you attend?
Trade show season is upon us, but there are only so many you can attend—and afford—in a calendar year. That’s why we’re offering this cheat sheet to some of the major architecture and design shows. Take a read and decide what to plug into your schedule and what to skip.
Architectural Digest Design Show
New York, Dates: March 19–22
What to expect: Think of this fair as AD, the magazine, but IRL. Now in its 19th year—and in time for the magazine’s 100th birthday—the Architectural Digest Design Show draws New York–area designers to Manhattan’s Pier 94 to peruse nearly 400 exhibitors across furniture, accessories, art, kitchens, lighting, and more. Unlike other fairs on this list, this one is more intimate and attracts a more diverse cross-section of the design community—from professionals to aficionados to homeowners. Because this is AD, after all, expect a variety of cocktail parties and networking events at the AD Penthouse (an apartment space designed by a rising design star), as well as special programming in celebration of the magazine’s centennial.
Who you will see: New York–area designers like Sasha Bikoff and Chiara de Rege, who was selected to design this year’s AD Penthouse. Plus, of course, you will spot AD editors hosting expert panels or milling around the exhibitor aisles.
Estimated costs: If you register early, this show is free to the trade (early bird general admission is $32, plus tax). Coming in from out of town? Be sure to book your lodging well in advance. Hotels start at $150 per night and skyrocket from there.
You should go if: You have residential clientele. The fair’s manageable size and mass appeal makes it the ideal venue for design inspiration, face time with AD editors, and (fingers crossed!) new clients, so be sure to have your business cards at the ready.
Pro tips: Try to go on the first day, March 19, which is restricted to the design trade and press—the fair gets pretty packed throughout the general admission days (last year, 40,000 people showed up). Also keep in mind that the show, located at 55th Street and 12th Avenue, is located on Manhattan’s westernmost edge. A cab, Uber, or Lyft is likely your best bet, but if you opt for public transit, account for a 20-minute walk from the Columbus Circle subway station. In town for a few extra days? Swing by DIFFA by Design March 26–28 to peruse fantastical tablescapes designed by the area’s top designers—all to benefit HIV/AIDS research. Better still? Admission is complimentary if you have a trade or VIP ticket to the AD show.
Salone del Mobile
Milan, Dates: April 21–26
What to expect: The granddaddy of all design fairs, Salone literally takes over the city to show the newest furnishings and lighting. Read more, ‘Holding Out for a Hero? discover Milan Design Week’s Hotlist.’ It can be the stuff of nightmares for agoraphobes, though: The fairgrounds alone encompass 24 buildings holding exhibitor “booths” that read more like permanent showrooms, while other venues throughout central Milan—from centuries-old palazzos to institutions—transform into satellite exhibits and site-specific installations. Not to mention the gazillions of showrooms around the city holding their own events and parties. Read more on ‘Milan Report: What’s New And Exciting for 2018’
Who you will see: The bigwigs in the A&D world, like Marcel Wanders and Daniel Libeskind. There’s always a slim chance you’ll see Lenny Kravitz—if he’s attending, that is. (Did you know he’s an interior designer now?)
Estimated costs: You should sit down for this. Milan hotel rooms triple in price during the design week, and can command up to $1,400 per night for a reputable, centrally located hotel. Likewise, apartment rentals skyrocket (about $1,300 to $4,000 per night, but at least these are shareable), as do flights from the U.S. Last year, ticket prices started at 29 euros (about $32).
You should go if: You’re an interior designer or decorator—newbie and veterans alike—as should residential- and hospitality-product buyers and distributors looking to stay on top of the furniture market trends.
Don’t bother if you can’t spend a minimum of three days in Milan, because you’ll cover hardly any ground.
Pro tips: Book both your flight and accommodation ASAP, as airlines and hotels sell out several months before the fair. Map out the exhibits and showroom events you want to attend, to avoid zigzagging across town too much. Also, since you’re here already, consider a side trip before or after the show to somewhere in nearby Tuscany.
Cos Installation at Milan Furniture Fair 2019
High Point Market
High Point, North Carolina, Dates: April 25–29
What to expect: This twice-yearly fair in the furniture capital of the U.S. doesn’t take place in a single exhibition hall, but rather a whopping eight adjacent neighborhoods connected and serviced by free shuttles. Visitors will encounter both modern and traditional residential and contract furniture, lighting, accessories, and more in venues ranging from multi-tenant design centers to standalone storefronts.
Who you will see: The occasional celebrity designer or reality TV personality.
Think HGTV’s Property Brothers, Jonathan and Drew Scott, and interior designer Nate Berkus.
Estimated costs: Hotels and B&Bs are quite affordable here, but book early, as the rooms do sell out. Lodging can range between $40 and $460 a night, and round-trip flights start at $220 from New York. Entry passes for 2019 were around $55, depending on whether you’re a buyer, a designer, or a student.
You should go if: Young designers will benefit the most from the seminars and talks tailored to growing one’s business. However, veterans will also enjoy seeing the trends and new products, as well as reuniting with their longtime industry friends.
Pro tips: The best aspect of this show is the free shuttle buses from hotel to central hub, and in turn hub to showroom neighborhood, so take advantage of this. If you’re so inclined to travel about two hours outside of High Point, visit and tour the Biltmore House just outside of Asheville. This stunning estate—built for George Vanderbilt in 1895—is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and boasts a winery and gardens in addition to the home.
HD Expo
Las Vegas, Dates: May 5–7
What to expect: Just one component of a larger conference on all things hospitality, this is a great resource for discovering hospitality products ranging from lighting and furniture to spa fixtures and bedding. The conference portion, meanwhile, offers insight into emerging trends in the hospitality sector, project spending, what hotel brands want today, designing for wellness, and marketing and strategy. Networking opportunities include an opening meditation session and a pool party.
Who you will see: The expo will be full of hotel execs and fellow designers and architects—perfect for networking. If you seek celebrity sightings, head to any of the city’s celebrity chef-run restaurants, or catch Lady Gaga during her Park MGM residency.
Estimated costs: Hotels on the Strip are always affordable, even when there’s a trade show in town. For a midrange hotel, expect to pay $140 per night. Ticket fees are reasonable and broken down for expo entrance only or the entire conference. Flights vary but are typically around $300 and up from New York. Early online booking costs $109 for the expo only and $279 for the full conference. These prices are good through April 17, after which they jump to $129 and $299. Note that neither of these provide entry to the “Party by the Pool.” The Experience Pass starts at $349 and includes one ticket to the party.
You should go if: You really want to get some industry insight to break into hospitality design.
The opportunity to rub shoulders with leading hotel brand bigwigs is also possible.
Pro tips: Bring a power bank. While there are places you can plug in, sometimes you need juice right then and can’t find an outlet or station. And don’t forget to recharge it and take your smartphone- or tablet charging cable!
Lightfair International
Las Vegas, Dates: May 5–7
What to expect: Get ready to see lighting that outshines the Vegas strip—in technology and functionality, that is. Here, there are both decorative and utilitarian luminaires, from pendants and sconces to commercial and architectural systems, plus related categories such as dimmers and controls and lamping. There’s an emphasis on LED technology and innovation that will truly be illuminating (sorry…) for many a showgoer.
Who you will see: Lightfair may not attract A-list entertainers and the like, but it does feature notable industry speakers such as Sir David Adjaye and Karim Rashid. Plus, the city is a playground for numerous celebrities—and anything can happen in Vegas.
Estimated costs: Like most other shows in this city, this is affordable. Expect to spend upwards of $700 (on the low end) on flight and accommodation and another $100 and up on the Lightfair entrance fee. Early bird pricing starts at $79 for just the exhibit hall and ends March 2. Regular pricing online starts at $99, and on-site passes start at $129.
You should go if: You’re a lighting designer, consultant, or specifier; a commercial architect or an interior designer; a contractor or an electrician; or a facilities manager.
This show is also a must-see for anyone who wants to stay on top of new developments and technologies in lighting.
Pro tips: Brush up on your lighting and technology jargon. Exhibitors can get pretty technical and use terms like “tunable white,” “beam spread,” “kelvin,” “housing,” and “lumens.” Since Lightfair changes locations annually (Philadelphia in 2019; New York City next year), consider making the most of this Nevada trip and driving out to nearby national and state parks like Death Valley or Red Rock Canyon.
ICFF
New York City, Dates: May 17–20
What to expect: Considered the international furniture fair in the U.S., ICFF presents aisles and aisles of furniture, lighting, materials, home and office accessories, decorative objects, bath fixtures, and more at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. There are also designated zones for students from select universities and exhibitors hailing from countries like Spain, Brazil, and Japan. Concurrently with ICFF, various showrooms and stores in the SoHo design district host events too.
Who you will see: A handful of big-name A&D professionals, and occasionally a celebrity. One year, Kanye West purportedly showed up in support of his friend, Swiss product designer Yves Béhar. And last year, actor and former NFL player Terry Crews was on-site to introduce his furniture collection for Bernhardt Design.
Estimated costs: Fortunately, New York City hosts major events all year round, so hotel and flight prices don’t shoot up drastically as they do in some other fair locations. Depending on location and class, hotel rooms range from $50 to $1,200 per night. Airbnb apartment rentals go for $50 to $500 per night. Air travel is also reasonable. As an example, flights out of the Midwest to New York in May range from $150 to $400 round-trip. What might shock non–New Yorkers is pricing on food and drink, considering that this metropolis has one of the highest costs of living. Buyers, students, and faculty can enter free, but only if they order comp tickets by April 30. After that, tickets start at $60 when booking online and $75 onsite. Public tickets start at $60 and will only allow entry on May 20. Non-exhibiting manufacturers pay $150 online and $250 on-site.
You should go if: You’re an interior designer or decorator, an architect, a specifier, or a merchandiser specializing in residential or hospitality design.
It’s also a good inspirational and networking opportunity for industrial-design students.
Pro tips: Take the subway, as traffic in Manhattan can be brutal and taxis can get expensive. The 7 train line extension conveniently has a stop just across the street from the Javits. And get outside of Manhattan to one of the other city boroughs: ICFF is part of the larger NYCxDesign, which features design-related events and tours in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Lastly, pack multi-season clothes, because New York City weather is so unpredictable—it can reach nearly 80 degrees Fahrenheit in February and 50 degrees in June.
Neocon
Chicago, Dates: June 8–10
What to expect: Contract furnishings galore in the gigantic Merchandise Mart, which spans two whole city blocks and houses permanent showrooms as well as temporary exhibitor floors. The goods include furniture—many of which cater to offices, such as workstations and task chairs—and lighting, along with a sprinkling of office accessories.
Who you will see: It’s not popular with the stars, but NeoCon at the very least has interesting keynote speakers such as architect Jeanne Gang and visual artist Amanda Williams. Some NeoCon exhibitors host invitation-only bashes where you might encounter a familiar performer. (One year, singer Sara Bareilles performed live at Mohawk Group’s party.)
Estimated costs: If you book tickets soon, airfare can be as cheap as $150 round-trip from New York. Closer to the show, it can go as high as $600. Hotel rooms and Airbnbs sell out months before, so it’s best to reserve lodging ASAP as well. Online registration by June 5 gets you in free only for the expo; on-site it’s $65. Programming such as CEU seminars costs $65 online and $75 on-site.
You should go if: You’re a young or veteran contract designer or architect, a facilities manager, or any other specifying consultant.
Those focused on workplace design will benefit the most.
Pro tips: Skip the Mart elevators, as the wait time can be up to 15 minutes. Instead, start at the highest floor and work your way down via the staircases. Explore the Windy City’s dining scene—it’s a culinary gold mine. NPR fan? Try to snag a ticket to a live recording on June 11 of ‘Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!’
Maison et Objet
Paris, Dates: September 4–8
What to expect: This biannual fair marries home decor with interior design. Think bed linens and glassware, seating and lighting, and lots of other bits of eye candy. Many of the exhibitors are organized by theme, allowing you to skip a hall that is not up your alley.
Who you will see: Rising-star and established designers and artisans at the Paris-Nord Villepinte expo center; head into central Paris and your path may cross with Johnny Depp or a Fashion Week model.
Estimated costs: Round-trip airfare from the U.S. to France is never really cheap—especially in early fall—but fairgoers are eligible for a 15% discount on Air France and its code-share partners if booking via the show website. Expect economy-class flights to cost $500-plus and hotel rooms ranging from $55 (budget hotels) to $1,000 per night.
You should go if: You design or decorate for residential and hospitality markets or are a merchandiser or buyer.
Pro tips: Look for pictograms of a phone sporting an electric bolt, a person in a recliner, a hanger, and a teddy bear. These indicate places where visitors can recharge a device, take a break to give convention-center feet some respite, check in coats or baggage, or drop off one’s child to peruse the floor stroller-free. Still haven’t had enough design? If you’re in town for the winter edition of Maison et Objet, be sure to allow time for Paris Déco Off, one of the world’s premier fabric expos, or, as we’ve noted, “fashion week for the interiors industry.”
Paris Maison et Objet, September 4–8 2020
London Design Festival
London, Dates: September 12–20
What to expect: LDF takes over much of the city with interior design trade shows (such as 100% Design and designjunction), events throughout 11 design districts, commissioned large-scale projects, and site-specific installations presented by the V&A. Design on every scale is represented: lighting, seating, tabletop, home accessories and decorative objects, textiles, wallpaper, surfaces, and so forth. While most of the festival revolves around furnishings, it also showcases other disciplines, such as fashion and jewelry design.
Who you will see: Local design luminaries like Tom Dixon and both world-renowned and rising-star architects. (Kengo Kuma, for instance, created an installation in a Victoria & Albert Museum plaza last year.) But this is London, so who knows?
Maybe you’ll spot the Beckhams or the Queen.
Estimated costs: Expect between $100 (near the airport or budget class) and $1,000 per night at a hotel, or $35 and up for a flat rental, hostel, or university housing (yes, rentable dorms). Round-trip flights run upwards of $400. Everything fills up months before the festival, so book early. Watch out as London can get you with tourist activity, dining, and taxi fees. The prices differ by event. Last year’s entry fee to 100% Design, which is the major trade show, was 15 GBP for the public, free for trade (but 15 GBP at the door), and 10 GBP for students.
You should go if: You’re an architect or designer focusing on residential or hospitality, a design arts aficionado, a buyer, or a contemporary art buff.
Pro tips: Since the festivities are located all over the city, get an Oyster card when navigating the underground, rather than individual tickets—it will save you time and some cash. It’s also a good idea to note the places you want to go on Google Maps, and then download the app…data and wifi can be spotty abroad.
Cersaie
Bologna, Dates: September 28–October 2
What to expect: The biggest ceramic tile fair in the world, Cersaie exhibits tiles and slabs for every style—traditional, transitional, and contemporary—in a massive multibuilding complex. Trends spotted here often indicate what’s coming down the pike for the U.S., and manufacturing processes in Italy are so high-tech now that faux stone and wood products look and feel like the real thing. (The North American equivalent, Coverings, is a smaller alternative if you’re looking to cut travel time and cost. This year it’s running April 20–23 in New Orleans.)
Who you will see: Mostly other A&D professionals and tile distributors of every age group and from all continents. This is not one of those interior design trade shows where a celebrity keynote speaker is the real draw (although starchitect Norman Foster delivered the 2016 address), but you get to mingle and gorge on gelato with colleagues in a beautiful medieval and Renaissance city.
Estimated costs: While it’s a fraction of the cost of Salone in Milan, this is still a splurge of a trip. Airfare ranges from $450 to $1,400, for example, and depending on hotel class and location, rooms can be $150 to $900 per night. Rentable apartments run between $50 and $1,500 per night.
You should go if: You’re a commercial or residential interior designer or architect, kitchen and bath remodeler, or tile and stone distributor or installer.
Pro tips: Look around for some exhibitors (usually the larger ones) serving free espresso, desserts, cocktails, et al. Many of them also offer free bottled water! And don’t forget to explore the city: This is Italy’s foodie paradise, so mangia e bevi, climb the medieval leaning Torre degli Asinelli (if you don’t suffer from vertigo or fear of heights) for spectacular views and photo opportunities, or visit the numerous historic churches.
Design Miami
Miami, Dates: December 2–6
What to expect: A different kind of fair, Design Miami/ (yes, that forward slash is part of the name) heavily focuses on galleries and collectors of significant architecture- and design-related wares, from furniture and lighting to decorative objects. So, many of the pieces are not just exhibited for the public’s delight, but also for selling and buying with the respective galleries. Don’t expect bargain prices, though: Items can fetch prices up to six figures. (R & Company sold a brass sculpture by Harry Bertoia for $425,000 one year.) Special exhibitions are another major component, and feature both installations and small displays—curated by guest designers, curators, and gallerists—of 20th- and 21st-century objects and furnishings. Satellite exhibits and numerous talks on related subject matters are part of the program as well. If you get the chance, check out sister show Art Basel Miami Beach, which runs concurrently in the same convention center.
Who you will see: Leo DiCaprio, in disguise, is a regular at Art Basel Miami Beach, and during the 2019 fair, Sean Penn and Lenny Kravitz hosted an auction to support hurricane relief in the Bahamas. (Incidentally, Leo donated an original Warhol for that event.)
You’ll also mingle with fellow design and art enthusiasts and A&D practitioners, in addition to gallerists and collectors.
Estimated costs: Economy flights will run you about $300 and up, while hotel rooms range from $60 (for a no-frills property) to $700 per night. These numbers climb the closer the event gets, so book early.
You should go if: You’re an A&D professional, a design aficionado, or a collector. (This isn’t really for specifiers.)
Pro tips: Make sure to take a second lap around the show floor—there is so much to see, and details can be missed during the first pass. Also remember that there is more design inspiration to discover outside the fair tent: check out the Herzog & de Meuron–designed Perez Art Museum Miami, Nina Johnson gallery, or the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens—a gorgeous Gilded Age estate. Other pointers: Pack a sweater, because although Miami is warm year-round, it can still drop to the 50s in December. Lastly, be sure to also pack a chic outfit—Miami is all about the party, and you never know if you’ll wind up dancing the night away at Twist!
Heimtextil
Frankfurt, Germany, Dates: January 12–15, 2021
What to expect: Textile heaven, featuring both home and contract products including bedding fabric, window and wall coverings, furniture-upholstery-grade textiles, fibers and yarns, and textile technology. For the latter, there might even be machines on-site demonstrating digital printing. More than 60 countries participate, offering insight into global, regional, and cultural trends.
Who you will see: Designers, interior architects, hotel specifiers, manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, and furniture and bedding brands. Estimated costs: Lodging is quite reasonable, from $36 to $300 per night in an apartment or hotel. Flights from New York are another story, at $500 to $900 round-trip. One-day tickets cost 33 euros online or 45 euros at the fair.
You should go if: Young, student, and veteran interior designers and architects, as well as decorators, will discover new dimensional textures, innovative weaves and fibers, whimsical prints, and classic solids and patterns.
Specifiers—especially for the hotel industry—and bed and bath brand buyers will also find Heimtextil eye-opening.
Pro tips: Fair admission tickets entitle you to free transportation between the fairgrounds and city center, but only on the RMV (Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund) public transport network. A single-day ticket purchased on-site is valid only for a return trip from the fair using the public transport.
KBIS/IBS
Orlando, Dates: February 9–11, 2021
What to expect: These co-located shows have every accoutrement for kitchens and baths—from faucets and countertops to cooking appliances and cabinetry—on the KBIS side, and residential building materials, windows, doors, roofing, heating and cooling units, paint, et al. on the IBS side. There are also special exhibits and tours. In past years there was a tiny house on display in the convention center and a tour of the Property Brothers’ home in Las Vegas.
Who you will see: Some of the kitchen-appliance booths host demos and tastings by celebrity or reality TV chefs such as Marcus Samuelsson and Curtis Stone. TV personalities might show up to promote other product categories. One year, germophobe Howie Mandel greeted visitors at the American Standard booth to talk about a new self-cleaning toilet.
Estimated costs: The 2021 show will be in Orlando, which is pretty affordable in the month of February. Expect hotel rooms and apartment rentals between $50 and $400 per night. These get pricier at about two months to the event, however.
You should go if: You’re a remodeler, designer, architect, or contractor focusing on residential projects. Product distributors and buyers, as well as DIYers, can also benefit from attending.
Pro tips: Comfy walking shoes are a must. The Orlando convention center has a peculiar two-building plan connected via a long outdoor pedestrian bridge that will be full of other show-goers, so expect a 15-minute walk from one building to the other and plan your booth visits accordingly.
Make it a family affair and turn this into a Disney or Universal vacation.
