india's most celebrated design festival returns to hyderabad

Hyderabad, September 18, 2026: Design Democracy, India’s celebrated design festival, announced the fourth edition of its flagship event, being held from September 18 to 20, 2026, at the HITEX Exhibition Center, Hyderabad.

Over the past three years, Design Democracy has emerged as a platform for architecture, interiors, furniture, product design, lighting, furnishings, accessories, art and craftsmanship. The 2026 edition is set to bring together more than 200 leading design brands, 150+ speakers and an expected 30,000+ visitors from across the country.

Spread across four distinctive halls — Canvas, Muse, Atelier and Alchemy — the festival showcases design through exhibitions, installations, conversations and curated experiences.

The 2026 edition features a series of curated exhibitions, including the Museum of Telangana, curated by Supraja Rao of Design House; Gallery of Sustainability, curated by Jasem Pirani and Huzefa Rangwala of MuseLab; Precious Objects, curated by Monika and Sarah Choudhary of Habitat Architects; and The Art Edit, curated by Anish Gawande in collaboration with Sakshi Art Gallery.

A new immersive textile showcase, The Fabric of Design, features celebrated names including Gaurang Shah, Divani and Yavi, exploring the intersection of heritage, craftsmanship and innovation.

The festival will also host DD Talks and DD Focus, bringing together more than 150 architects, designers, artists, entrepreneurs and thought leaders for keynote sessions and panel discussions. Key speakers include Alfaz Miller, Ravinder Reddy, Sandeep Khosla, Ankon Mitra and Sussanne Khan.

Large-scale outdoor installations, experiential showcases, networking events and The Gourmet Zone, featuring cafés, concept kitchens and craft bars, will further add to the festival experience.

Speaking on the occasion, Pallika Sreewastav, Co-Founder, Design Democracy, said that the festival was founded on the belief that great design can inspire, connect and bring people together, while creating a platform for ideas, collaborations and creativity.

Shailja Patwari, Co-Founder, Design Democracy, said the festival aims to provide a strong platform for India’s design story and nurture a community that thinks, questions and creates together.

Arjun Rathi, Co-Founder, Design Democracy, said Design Democracy focuses on creating experiences that encourage curiosity and meaningful dialogue while celebrating the richness, diversity and future of Indian design.

Design Democracy 2026 is supported by leading industry partners, with The Charcoal Project as Title Sponsor, Asian Paints as Platinum Sponsor, Bondtite and Pentaspace as Gold Sponsors and Technogym as Silver Sponsor. Specta, Dimore, Sunrooof and Magppie are Associate Sponsors. Keus powers the Satellite Party, DD Talks is powered by Alekhya Homes, VOX is the Launch Party Partner, Brown Profiles is the MOT Sponsor and MG is the GOS Sponsor.