Fuorisalone Award 2026 returns

After the success of previous editions, Fuorisalone Award returns for Milano Design Week 2026. Conceived by Studiolabo and Fuorisalone.it, the award is dedicated to the most memorable projects of the week. Now in its fifth edition, it continues to highlight the creative vision of Italian and international brands and designers, celebrating installations and events that stand out not only for their visual impact, but for the quality of their content, research, and their ability to interpret design as a contemporary process.

By registering and uploading their event on Fuorisalone.it, companies and individual designers can apply for the Special Mentions included in the award. Meanwhile, a selection of twelve installations chosen by the editorial team of Fuorisalone.it will compete for the Fuorisalone Award, decided by the public. Voting will be open from April 22 to April 25, 2026, at 12:00 PM and will be accessible through a dedicated section of the official platform, where users can explore the shortlisted projects and vote upon registration. The award thus maintains its strong democratic vocation, entrusting the public with the task of selecting the most significant installation of the week.


Fuorisalone Award 2025 Winner - Marc-Antoine Barrois - Mission Aldebaran © Riccardo Bertani

Alongside the public vote, a jury composed of nine internationally renowned figures will assign the Special Mentions to projects distinguished by content, innovation, and their ability to generate new scenarios. The 2026 categories include Sustainability & Research, dedicated to practices that place material experimentation and sustainability as an evolving process at the center; Technology & Innovation, recognizing the conscious integration of technology and artificial intelligence within the design process; and Engagement & Interaction, dedicated to installations capable of activating an authentic dialogue with the audience and the context. The Media Partners Special Mention, awarded by the media partners involved with Fuorisalone.it, is also confirmed. Among the new features of the 2026 edition is the Special Mention “Be the Project”, created to reward the installation that most meaningfully interprets the theme of Fuorisalone 2026, enhancing process, research, and responsibility as integral parts of the final outcome.


Fuorisalone Award 2025 Winner - Marc-Antoine Barrois - Mission Aldebaran © Riccardo Bertani

The jury brings together professionals from different fields of design and contemporary culture: Francesco Mainardi, design strategist; Judith van Vliet, color designer; Ed Stocker, Europe editor at large at Monocle; Paolo Ferrarini, journalist and curator; Valentina Ventrelli, expert in contemporary aesthetics; Isabelle Valembras Dahirel, design & art consultant; Massimiliano Monteverdi, communication and marketing partner; Anniina Koivu, design writer and curator; and Signe Byrdal Terenziani, CEO and Managing Director of 3daysofdesign. Starting this year, jurors will also contribute to the public award, with a voting system that assigns each member a weight of 100 points.

Discover more on the dedicated page:
https://www.fuorisalone.it/en/2026/award