Milan design week is the unofficial name for the world's biggest annual design gathering, featuring the giant Salone del Mobile furniture fair plus hundreds of events around the city collectively known as the fuorisalone.

Dates

Milan design week takes place at venues across Milan from 4 to 10 September 2021.

Salone del Mobile

The key event at Milan design week is Salone del Mobile, the world's largest and most important furniture fair, which takes place at the Fiera Milano exhibition centre from 5 to 10 September. This year's edition, curated by architect Sefano Boeri, has been branded "Supersalone" and aims to address major topics including craftsmanship, furniture, the Italian style, and the future of living.

Find out more about Salone del Mobile ›

Fuorisalone

A host of other exhibitions, installations and events take place across Milan to coincide with the Salone del Mobile fair. These events are known as the fuorisalone and take place across several design districts in Milan.

Design districts

2021 will see a much smaller fuorisalone than previous years, with fewer design districts taking part. Those taking part in Milan design week this year include:

5Vie
The events and programmes at 5Vie comprise exhibitions and installations with guests and partners and also feature a series of lectures, talks, meetings and entertainment events.
4 to 10 September 2021.
5vie.it

Alpha District
​​Milan’s Portello zone district becomes an open-air exhibition space featuring installations created by international designers and artists.
4 to 10 September 2021.
alphadistrict.it/bealpha

Brera Design District
Typically the most-visited district at fuorisalone, the Brera Design District features nearly 100 events, installations and showrooms including an installation by Carlo Ratti Associati and Eni.
4 to 10 September 2021.
breradesigndistrict.it

Isola Design District
The Isola Design District is a platform that provides visibility to local artists, studios and galleries and also emerging international artists and designers. It also forms part of the Dutch Design Week.
4 to 10 September 2021.
isola.design

Tortona Design Week
With a focus on sustainability and innovation in design, Tortona Design Week features exhibitions, pavilions and events across the area of Zona Tortona.
4 to 12 September 2021.
tortonadesignweek.com

Selected events

There are also a host of other events taking place throughout the city. Here is a selection:

Alcova
Developed by Space Caviar and Studio Vedèt, Alcova is a platform that showcases independent design across the city of Milan. It highlights historical and forgotten locations as venues for performance.
4 to 12 September 2021 at Via Simone Saint Bon 1, Milano.
alcova.xyz

Assab One
Founded by Elena Quarestani, Assab One is a non-profit organisation that provides artists with non-conventional environments for research and expression. It is showcasing a number of installations including 1+1+1, which was designed by architects Jan de Vylder and Inge Vinck.
4 September to 16 October 2021 at Assab One, Via Privata Assab, 1, 20132 Milano.
assab-one.org

Carlo Mollino. Hyperformal allusions
The Triennale Milan opens a new exhibition during Milan design week that highlights the work of designer Carlo Mollino and its ties to Futurism and aerodynamics.
4 September to 7 November 2021 at Milan Triennale, Viale Emilio Alemagna, 6, 20121 Milano.
triennale.org/en/events/carlo-mollino-hyperformal-allusions

Design Beyond Design
Design Beyond Design is an event by Milan organisation Superstudio that showcases art, video, photography, architecture and more.
5 to 9 September at Superstudio Maxi, Via Moncucco, 35, 20142 Milano.
superdesignshow.com/en/inauguration-days-design-beyond-design

Green Island
A collection of works by international artists, including Piet Oudolf, are shown at Milan’s Porta Garibaldi Station. The event aims to promote cultural research on contemporary urban landscapes and social ecologies.
4 to 10 September 2021 at Porta Garibaldi Station, Stazione, P.za Sigmund Freud, 1, 20124 Milano.
amaze.it/AMAZE/node/777

Hysteria
Hysteria is an exhibition where sex toys have been used to explore and celebrate the relationship between sex and design.
4 to 10 September at Gino Valle square, 20149 Milano.
eventbrite.com/e/biglietti-hysteria-168750789153

R/evolution
R/evolution is an event by Milan organisation Superstudio that highlights innovation, sustainability and inclusivity in the post-pandemic world through 12 exhibitions.
4 to 10 September 2021 at Superstudio Più, Via Tortona, 27, 20144 Milano.
superdesignshow.com/en/r-evolution-superstudio-piu

SaloneSatellite
This satellite event to the main Salone del Mobile trade show highlights young and emerging designers across design, decoration, interior design and industrial design.
5 to 10 September 2021 at Fiera Milano, Rho.
salonemilano.it/en/exhibitions/salonesatellite

The Salone/the City
The Salone/the City is an exhibition at the Milan Triennale museum that details the previous events of Salone del Mobile throughout its multiple editions across Milan.
4 September to 12 September 2021 at Milan Triennale, Viale Emilio Alemagna, 6, 20121 Milano.
triennale.org/eventi/il-salone-la-citta

Read about past editions of Milan design week on Dezeen.

Milan design week takes place in venues across Milan, Italy from 5 to 10 September 2021.