This list features the most important upcoming design conferences happening in 2025 and 2026, covering everything from graphic design & UX/UI to architecture and product design.
New conferences pop up, and details change, so I’ll keep this article updated monthly as fresh info comes in.
Bookmark it to stay tuned, so you will never miss an event worth attending!
Last Updated: May 2, 2025
May 2025
May 1-3, 2025 | Seattle, WA
Creative Works WEST
Creative Works WEST takes place at Seattle’s Cornish Playhouse for designers, artists, and creative professionals for inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities. This year’s theme, United We Create, highlights the strength of collaboration. Speakers include Amos Kennedy Jr., Barry Ament & Coby Shultz, Lauren Hom, and Andy Pearson.
May 5-6, 2025 | Düsseldorf, Germany
Beyond Tellerrand
The full-day workshops at UXLx go deep into practical knowledge with experts in their fields. Small groups mean you can ask questions and get personalized insights. Just remember to bring your laptop, as it’s a “bring your own device” setup. You’ll have snacks, drinks, tea, coffee, and lunch provided, along with paper and pens—any extra equipment needed will be listed in the workshop details.
May 6-8, 2025, May 14, 2025 | San Francisco, CA | London, UK
Config by Figma
Figma’s annual conference is back, with events in San Francisco and London, plus a chance to join virtually for free! This year, Config is all about the future of interface design with over 75 speakers and 50+ sessions, and you’ll hear from people like Jesper Kouthoofd from Teenage Engineering, Saron Yitbarek from BCM/Disco, and Claire Vo from LaunchDarkly.
May 8–10, 2025 | Barcelona, Spain
OFFF Barcelona
It has a lineup of names like Aixsponza, Alex Center, Yuko Shimizu, and Marina Willer, so expect cutting-edge talks, hands-on workshops, and a chance to connect with some of the most innovative minds in design. Claire Blyth will even host a live recording of My Life in Design with Marc Català.
A Full Pass gets you access to all indoor and outdoor areas, plus an OFFF Goodies welcome pack.
May 10-18, 2025 | Munich, Germany
Munich Creative Business Week
MCBW is Germany’s biggest design event, uniting creatives, businesses, and design lovers. It’s organized by Bayern Design, and this year’s theme is How to Design a Vibrant Community, which focuses on overcoming boundaries, sparking curiosity, and using design to create real connections. The event offers nine days of talks, workshops, and networking.
May 12-14, 2025, May 19-21, 2025 | New York, USA | Berlin, Germany
UXDX
UXDX is where UX design and developer experience meet to create better products faster. The event features over 40 speakers, 8 workshops, and 500 attendees, this conference is all about real, actionable insights. Workshops will cover everything from managing product sprawl by mapping user journeys, to aligning team goals and building better relationships across departments. You can also attend talks about improving team processes, integrating accessibility into product development, and adapting to AI-driven design changes.
May 13-14, 2025 | Vancouver, Canada
DesignThinkers Vancouver
DesignThinkers Vancouver is one of Canada’s top conferences for graphic designers, creatives, and innovators. Expect inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, and plenty of networking opportunities. It’s hosted by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), which represents over 4,400 design professionals across Canada.
May 14-16, 2025 | Milton Keynes, UK
All Flows
All Flows is a creative festival in Milton Keynes, UK, taking place from May 14-16, 2025. The event will be three days of inspiring talks, workshops, and discussions around design, technology, and innovation. Some of the speakers are Astrid Stavro, Studio Dumbar, and MURUGIAH, so you can expect fresh perspectives and exciting ideas.
May 15-25, 2025 | Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne Design Week
MDW is one of the leading design events in the Asia-Pacific, attracting over 100,000 visitors each year who want to see inspiring work and engage with the global design community.
May 20-23, 2025 | Lisbon, Portugal
UXLx
The conference kicks off with two full-day workshops, followed by 12 half-day sessions. On the final day, top experts like Scott Jenson, Sarah Tan, and Brad Frost will share their insights.
May 31, 2025 | Paris, France
NOW25 Conference
NOW25 by TypeParis prepares for talks on graphic, web, motion design, visual identity, and type design from top experts in the industry. It’s the perfect chance to get inspired and connect with fellow creatives. If you sign up early you’ll get a chance to attend a free workshop on Friday, May 30! You can also grab discounts for two exciting workshops on Sunday, June 1: My First Three Fonts (with Georg Seifert & Rainer Erich Scheichelbauer) or Letterpress at Salt & Cedar (with Megan O’Connell).
June 2025
June 2–6, 2025 | Phoenix, AZ
Creative Pro Week
CreativePro Week is the go-to conference for professionals in print and digital publishing. Over five days, you’ll master the tools that matter most, like Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, and even Microsoft PowerPoint. The sessions are packed with practical tips and techniques.
June 2-7, 2025 | London, UK
SXSW London
SXSW London is happening from June 2-7 in Shoreditch. It’s a big event bringing together people from tech, business, and creative industries to share ideas and connect. Expect a great lineup with speakers like Idris Elba, Dr. Keyun Ruan from Google, and Twitch’s CEO, Dan Clancy. There’ll be talks, screenings, live performances, and lots of art and fashion. It’s a chance to meet people from over 700 companies and 40 countries, all in one place.
June 11-12, 2025 | Edinburgh, Scotland
UX Scotland
UX Scotland is happening June 11-12, 2025, in Edinburgh for UX professionals to learn and connect. You’ll get hands-on with workshops, hear from people like Joe Macleod (Founder of AndEnd), and dive into real-life case studies. The event is super practical, so you’ll walk away with fresh tools and ideas you can use right away.
June 12-13, 2025 | Birmingham, UK
Birmingham Design Festival
In 2025, the festival is coming back in a smaller, more focused format, but you can still expect a great mix of talented designers and inspiring talks. Day One will have workshops around Birmingham, followed by a casual BDF Social to wrap things up. Day Two features a full day of talks with top designers and creatives.
June 16-17, 2025 | Copenhagen, Denmark
Design Matters
This year’s conference focuses on four key themes: Steps Forward, Design Rehab, Equipping New Craft, and Design in Democracy. These themes come from deep conversations with designers of all backgrounds, driven by the Design Matters Board—a group of talented individuals from past events.
June 16-19, 2025 | Amsterdam, Netherlands
UXPA International Conference
The UXPA International Conference starts in Amsterdam on June 17 with an optional pre-conference day for hands-on courses. It’s four days of workshops, keynotes, and sessions covering the latest in UX research and trends. You’ll hear from global leaders in the field, with past speakers from major companies and innovative firms.
June 18-20, 2025 | Brisbane, Australia
The Design Conference
The Design Conference in Brisbane (June 18-20, 2025) is the perfect spot to refresh your design perspective with talks, workshops, and plenty of chances to connect. The program hasn’t been released yet, but you can check on the ongoing speaker lineup on the conference’s Instagram page.
June 20, 2025 | Bristol, UK
Pixel Pioneers Bristol
Pixel Pioneers Bristol is a one-day event with practical sessions from people who are actually doing the work. You’ll hear from experts like Rachel-Lee Nabors, who’ll talk about the death of the browser. Jack Franklin will show you how to debug your website’s performance, and Ana Rodrigues will share tips on updating legacy CSS.
August 2025
August 7-9, 2025 | Chicago, IL
TypeCon
TypeCon is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Chicago and is cooking something special for typographers, type designers, and graphic designers who love all things type. It’s hosted by the Society of Typographic Aficionados (SOTA) and will feature presentations, workshops, and panels on typography and visual communication. So far, the speaker submissions are still open, but expect the website to announce the lineup soon.
August 27-28, 2025 | Melbourne, Australia (and virtual)
UX Australia
UX Australia is the biggest UX conference in the region for designers, researchers, and product folks from all over the world. The event will feature two days of talks and workshops in Melbourne (or online). It will cover design research, usability testing, content strategy and service design, with speakers from Australia and other countries. The in-person event includes great food, coffee, and a reception to wrap up day one. If you’re tuning in remotely, you’ll have access to live streams, captions, and recordings.
August 28-29, 2025 | Berlin, Germany
Forward Festival Berlin
Forward Festival Berlin is a two-day creative event at HKW Berlin on August 28-29, 2025. There will be over 40 international speakers across three stages. The event offers talks, hands-on workshops, and immersive installations for designers, artists, and creative minds, so expect an inspiring mix of insights, networking, and side events.
September 2025
September 9-10 | Cleveland, OH
Industry Conference
INDUSTRY is celebrating its 10th year in Cleveland, Ohio, and it will be bigger and better than ever. Over two days, you’ll get to explore modern product management methods with a special focus on AI, product strategy, leadership, and more.
September 9–10, 2025 | London, UK
World Design Congress
The World Design Congress is making its long-awaited return to London after more than 50 years, and it’s set to be a big one. This year’s theme, Design for Planet, puts sustainability at the forefront, bringing together designers, business leaders, and thinkers from around the world to tackle the industry’s role in the climate crisis.
September 10-12, 2025 | Berlin, Germany
Hatch Conference
Hatch Conference is an invite-only event for senior UX and design professionals, bringing some of the biggest names in the industry. While it leans toward UX, it regularly features top graphic design voices like Erik Spiekermann and David Carson. This is where experienced designers in Europe meet to exchange ideas. Topics range from AI and accessibility to design systems, strategy, and staying competitive in an evolving industry. Tickets go on sale March 17 at 10 AM CET—if you want in, you can still apply for an invite.
September 11-12, 2025 | Budapest, Hungary
POV Budapest
This year’s theme, Making Sense, is about finding clarity through design and creating visuals that just feel right. Over two days, there will be talks, workshops, and side events that take you beyond the venue, think performances, design walks, and a chance to explore Budapest’s creative scene in a way you wouldn’t usually get to.
September 16-19, 2025 | Detroit, Michigan
International Design Conference
The International Design Conference will offer thought-provoking talks, hands-on workshops, and plenty of chances to connect with like-minded people. Detroit’s creative energy makes it the perfect backdrop for exploring where design is headed next. There’ll be social events, exhibits, and plenty of fun along the way, so stay tuned for more details.
September 24-25, 2025 | Copenhagen, Denmark
UX Nordic
UX Nordic is heading to Copenhagen in 2025, and joins forces with Future Product Days for an even bigger event. Along with the usual UX talks, workshops, and networking, attendees will have access to five stages covering AI, product management, leadership, and e-commerce. Expect a mix of insights from global experts, hands-on learning, and plenty of fun—including a big trance concert and the UX Nordic Party. Everything’s in English, and the event promises a relaxed atmosphere.
September 25–27, 2025 | Antwerp, Belgium
Us By Night
Us By Night is a nighttime experience that mixes inspiring talks with a buzzing night market. Expect a festival-like vibe with world-class creatives in graphic design, illustration, and motion graphics sharing their work and insights. Beyond the talks, there’s plenty to explore like workshops, installations and art performances.
October 2025
October 1-4, 2025 | Alberta, Canada
IRL
The IRL 25 conference is an exclusive event for SaaS execs scaling from millions to billions in revenue. It offers hands-on participation with workshops, expert talks, and collaborative sessions about challenges like product-market fit, go-to-market strategies, and leadership hiring while enjoying outdoor activities and gourmet meals.
This invite-only event brings together a carefully selected group of leaders.
October 2-3, 2025 | Vienna, Austria
Forward Festival Vienna
Forward Festival Vienna is a two-day creative experience featuring over 20 international speakers, inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, and interactive formats. In addition to the main events, you’ll get to explore immersive installations, join exclusive side events, and enjoy some fantastic parties.
October 6-8, 2025 | Vienna, Austria
UXCon
Aside from the main program, you’ll have the chance to explore the city, network with fellow attendees, and take part in fun, relaxing activities.
October 6–9, 2025 | New York
Smashing Conference NY
SmashingConf is a hands-on event for web designers and developers. Over two days, you’ll hear from 12 expert speakers covering topics like CSS, JavaScript, UX, and web performance. There are also 8 workshops to help you apply what you learn. It’s a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere with plenty of chances to connect—morning runs, yoga, photo walks, and a fun party. By the way, there’s also a template to help you get approval from your boss!
October 9–11, 2025 | Los Angeles, CA
AIGA Design Conference
The AIGA Design Conference will be exploring the future of design and its role in society. The event is organized by the American Institute of Graphic Arts and the schedule includes pre-conference workshops on Thursday, with more mainstage presentations and breakouts throughout Friday and Saturday. Partners like Death to Stock, IxDF, and PepsiCo will also be part of it.
October 23 – 24, 2025 | Toronto, Canada
DesignThinkers Toronto
I already included DesignThinkers Vancouver that will be on May 13014. This is the next event, but the info is not yet available. Stay tuned for more details as the event date approaches!
November 2025
November 10-13, 2025 | Lisbon, Portugal
Websummit
Web Summit is recognized as one of the top tech conferences in the world. Politico calls it “the world’s premier tech conference,” while The Atlantic describes it as “where the future goes to be born.” The New York Times even referred to it as a “grand conclave of the tech industry’s high priests.” It’s a place where the tech world meets to shape what’s next.
November 12-13, 2025 | London, UK
Leading Design London
Leading Design London is a two-day event for design leaders from around the world. It’s a great chance to learn from top experts, connect with peers, and explore topics focused on design leadership. You’ll hear about building teams, developing culture, and personal well-being.
December 2025
December 9–12, 2025 | Online
Creative Pro InDesign Conference
The InDesign Conference is back and it’s going digital! From December 9–12, 2025, you can join top InDesign experts, including members of the Adobe team, to share tips on everything from typography and automation to using InDesign with AI. You’ll also get exclusive InDesign templates and time-saving tools. There will also be live Q&As and access to session recordings.
Upcoming Conferences in 2026
February 24-26, 2026 | Santa Clara, Canada
DesignCon
DesignCon is the must-attend event for chip, board, and systems design engineers, happening right in Silicon Valley.
25-27 February 2026 | Rome, Italy
Design Principles & Practices
The 20th International Conference will cover key themes like design education, design in society, designed objects, visual design, design management, and architectural design. It’s an opportunity to join conversations that bridge theory, practice, and real-world insights.
April 9-11, 2026 | Columbus, GA
Creative South
Creative South is shaping up to be a fun, laid-back gathering for designers, illustrators, and creatives of all kinds. This is going to be a big creative hangout with hands-on workshops, inspiring talks, and plenty of time to meet other creatives.
Currently, only the dates have been announced.
18-21 May 2026 | Cavtat, Dubrovnik, Croatia
19th International Design Conference
The DESIGN Conference brings together experts from different fields to explore the future of engineering design. It’s a great opportunity to learn how design can evolve with new technologies, sustainability goals, and AI. So far, there’s only a program with important dates for accepting papers, and others you can check on the website.
And there you have it! No matter what kind of designer you are, there’s a conference out there with your name on it (not literally, unless you’re a speaker—then, congrats!). With new events popping up and details changing, I’ll keep this list fresh, so check back anytime. And hey, if you end up attending one of these design conferences, grab some cool swag for me!