SaloneSatellite 2026: craftsmanship at the heart of the 27th edition

In 2026, SaloneSatellite will again be a buzzing nucleus of vision and anticipation, a forge of ideas and a strategic hub for seeing where global design is heading. As part of the Salone del Mobile.Milano platform, the most eagerly awaited event for scoping new talent under 35, the 27th edition of SaloneSatellite will be back in Pavilions 5 and 7 at Rho Fiera Milano, curated by Marva Griffin Wilshire, founder of the event in 1998, and godmother and mentor of generations of young designers since then.  

New crafts for new worlds: the 2026 theme  

Maestria artigiana + Innovazione – Skilled Craftsmanship + Innovation is the theme shaping the 2026 edition of SaloneSatellite. Not just a title, but a very specific cultural and design stance: one that recognises craftsmanship not as a nostalgic refuge of the past, but as a creative device capable of redefining the future.  

The proposals of over 700 young designers under 35, along with more than 23 international Design Schools and Universities, evidence a different, hybrid craftsmanship, capable of dialoguing with technology and slotting into high-end production contexts, without losing its expressive power.  

The selected projects map out a new geography of values, combining circular economy, creative autonomy, cultural identity, and the affectivity of objects. The 27th edition of SaloneSatellite thus invites us to rethink the role of the craftsman: no longer hostile to innovation, but its catalyst. In an accelerating world, the slowness of the artisan gesture becomes a radical one, a political act, a sign of resistance and rebirth.  

The SaloneSatellite Award: sensor of excellence and detector of the future  

Now in its 15th edition, the SaloneSatellite Award continues to stand out as one of the most forwardlooking platforms on the international design scene. Over the years, over 130 jurors have taken turns to sanction its authority, including curators, museum directors, designers, journalists and prominent entrepreneurs.  

Since 2010, SaloneSatellite Award has honoured 45 main prize-winners, from 24 countries ranged across Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, testifying to young design that is truly global.  

The 2026 edition will see the Jury meet to select the three winning projects – 3pm on Wednesday 22nd April 2026, in the SaloneSatellite Arena – from among entries from exhibitors under 35, evaluating the innovation, sustainability, production feasibility and narrative value of each project. An opportunity to trace a possible trajectory of design to come, year after year.