International design festivals to look out for in 2025

From graphic design conferences to festivals, this year is packed with inspiring design events. Whether you're looking to connect, learn or spark creativity, these gatherings offer fresh ideas and industry insights. Here are some of the top design events to explore!

The DesignThinkers Conference – Toronto & Vancouver, Canada

​DesignThinkers, Canada's largest graphic design conference, is returning in 2025 with in-person events scheduled for:​

• Vancouver: May 13–14, 2025, at the Vancouver Playhouse
• Toronto: October 1–2, 2025, at Meridian Hall

This conference also allows attendees to attend the event virtually through the event platform Pheedloop, which offers live-streamed sessions and networking opportunities with other online participants.​

The 2025 conference theme is—"ShiftShapers"—emphasizing the transformative power of design. This theme encourages attendees to explore how design choices can break barriers, challenge conventions and shift perspectives. It aims to inspire participants to embrace change and make a significant impact across the design industries.

DesignMarch (HönnunuarMars) – Reykjavík, Iceland

DesignMarch (Hönnunarmars) is Iceland's 17th annual festival of Design and Architecture, taking place from April 2–6, 2025, under the theme "Source." This year's festival captures the overwhelming energy of new beginnings, joy and creativity throughout the city. It showcases the diversity of design professions and highlights how design and architecture address various aspects of society through exhibitions, discussions and a range of events. These include urban design projects led by children and the revival of craft traditions, among many others. DesignMarch aims to inspire and engage a broader audience, both in Iceland and internationally, by collaborating with various stakeholders, including Business Iceland. 

The festival kicks off with "DesignTalks" at Harpa on April 2. It features a diverse lineup of designers, architects and creative leaders from local and international backgrounds, all ready to share a wealth of inspiration.

Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) – London, UK

Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) is the UK's leading and award-winning design festival, taking place from May 20–22, 2025. This event features over 600 showroom events, more than 11 curated exhibitions, impressive installations, engaging talks, design destinations, a fringe program, food and drink partners and much more. Clerkenwell boasts the highest concentration of creative businesses and architects per square mile in the world, solidifying its status as a significant design hub globally. To celebrate this vibrant and diverse community, CDW has developed a unique approach to showcasing the world’s top interior brands.

Birmingham Design Festival (BDF) Conference –  Birmingham, UK

The Birmingham Design Festival (BDF) and Conference is returning this year for two exciting days centred around the theme of ‘Play’. This event celebrates design at local, national and international levels, bringing education and inspiration to the city of Birmingham. It will take place from June 12–13, 2025 at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Jointworks and BCU Parkside Atrium. Each year, the festival alternates between hosting a festival and a conference, providing a fresh and engaging experience. Attendees can look forward to a day filled with talks from some of BDF’s favourite designers from around the world, as well as a day of enjoyable workshops for those interested in hands-on activities.

M.A.D. Festival – Montréal, Canada

The 25th edition of the M.A.D. Festival (Fashion, Arts, Design) is an annual event organized by the M.A.D. Collective, celebrating self-expression, creativity and diversity in downtown Montréal. Taking place at the Place de Festivals from August 21–24, 2025, this four-day festival offers a free program featuring a wide array of artistic and cultural activities, including live music, dance, visual arts, urban art, fashion and more. Each year, over 550,000 attendees flock to the M.A.D. Festival, which serves as a platform for emerging artists, Canadian designers, local Quebecois creators, retailers and international icons to share their passions with the public. The festival also includes a pop-up boutique village, where visitors can discover the latest collections and experience the vibrancy of the local fashion scene while engaging in conversations with the creators.

World Expo 2025 – Osaka, Japan

Twenty years after the Aichi Expo 2005, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai will bring the international community back to Japan following the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.”

World Expo is a space where 8 billion people come together from around the world, sharing knowledge and innovations such as cutting-edge technology to create new ideas, which aims to address and resolve issues facing humankind on a global scale. They will not only view exhibits but will co-create the future society. “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” is the motto and theme for the event. The exposition will occur from April 13–October 13, 2025, at a venue in Yumeshima, Osaka. Even before the Expo begins, an online platform for sharing challenges and solutions will be launched.

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We hope these design festivals and events worldwide have sparked your interest in exploring them one day as you travel to experience or seek inspiration for your next project!