Frankfurt RheinMain launches in 2026 as Germany's first region to become world design capital

Under the motto "Looking forward – shaping tomorrow together", the year positions itself as a collective movement demonstrating how design can concretely contribute to a more livable, democratic, and economically sustainable future. At its core is design as a collaborative tool to improve living spaces, strengthen social participation, and actively shape regional transformation. To achieve this, WDC 2026 brings together stakeholders from civil society, municipalities, universities, culture, and business. Up to 2,000 events from around 450 projects – ranging from major signature formats to diverse collaborations – make the entire region from Darmstadt via Wiesbaden, Offenbach, and Hanau to Frankfurt am Main visible and tangible as a space of collective design and new regional identity.

The 2026 program year is conceived as a structured experiential year following five thematic priorities: collectively designed living spaces, new learning and design research, future-ready cycles in design, craft and industry, sensory approaches, and design in political and social dialogue. Design is understood not merely as form-giving, but as an attitude and tool for democratic processes, sustainable urban development, ecological responsibility, and economic transformation. WDC 2026 extends its impact beyond the year: the goals are higher quality of life, strengthened regional identity, and international visibility. A sustainable legacy emerges through tested practice, permanent structures, and measurable results that anchor design long-term in the region's politics, administration, and civil society.