İstanbul supported by a vast infrastructure that includes 41 congress centres, 225 art galleries, and a wide range of design programmes across 27 universities, stands as a true cultural and artistic hub. This rich ecosystem has enabled the city to host an average of over 20 international arts and design events each year, bringing together diverse creative voices from around the world.
Building on this strong foundation, the city continues to expand its global cultural presence. One of the latest highlights is the Global Design Forum İstanbul, which took place for the first time on May 13–16, 2026. As it joins the city’s dynamic programme of international events, the forum further reinforces İstanbul’s role as a meeting point for the global design community within its uniquely layered cultural landscape.
Four-Layered Experiences Across Four Days
The Global Design Forum, hosted by the Victoria & Albert Museum as part of the London Design Festival for over 15 years, stands as a leading international thought-leadership platform in the design world. The İstanbul edition of the event, supported by Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency, among other international stakeholders, aims to spotlight Türkiye’s creative-industry potential globally and position İstanbul as a dynamic hub on the design stage.
Curatorial approach shaped by Melek Zeynep Bulut, grounded in “site-specificity”, the Global Design Forum İstanbul is conceived not merely as an event programme but as “a performance within the city.” This performance unfolds through four distinct layers of experience.
In “Placemaking,” the first leg of the programme, a series of temporary design installations will be placed across the Topkapı Palaces Complex and unique corners of the Historic Peninsula. Produced through collaborations between universities and both local and international design studios, these installations will transform the city into an open-air laboratory for design research. Under the theme “Rethinking”, an international design competition will be held to reimagine İstanbul’s garden culture.
On the other hand, the “İstanbullar” programme, implemented through a narrative approach, builds an interactive network in which the city’s creatives can contribute visually, audibly and editorially. At the heart of the program, the forum is framed around the theme “Worlds in Contact”. Exploring what design means in an era of interconnected crises, the forum features a two-day lineup of sessions, presentations, and discussions bringing together international and local designers, thinkers, and artists.
İstanbul: Sui Generis City of Arts, Culture and Design
İstanbul has long inspired artists and designers with its unique energy, shaped by the many civilisations and cultures it has hosted throughout history. The city stands as a compelling place where history, craftsmanship and contemporary design converge. Renowned for its breathtaking historic architecture, İstanbul is also home to a new generation of talented designers and artists, as well as well-established cultural institutions. Its vibrant creative scene is further enriched by a wide range of international events, from large-scale festivals to independent art initiatives, including the İstanbul Biennial, Contemporary İstanbul, İstanbul Music Festival, CI Bloom, and İstanbul Film Festival.
The city’s creative landscape requires slow discovery, revealing a rewarding experience with a wide range of things to explore, from architectural landmarks that shape İstanbul’s creative rhythm to cool neighbourhoods where tradition and innovation meet. Moreover, the lively metropolis’s dynamic arts scene unfolds this year with many planned events, ensuring unparalleled cultural experiences.
