Milan Furniture Fair
This year’s 64th edition of Salone del Mobile.Milano will take place from 21 to 26 April at Rho Fiera Milano, bringing together over 1,900 exhibitors from 32 countries across an area exceeding 169,000 square metres. The programme will feature four permanent sections: Salone Internazionale del Mobile, International Bathroom Furnishing Exhibition, Workplace3.0 and S.Project, which this year will bring together a total of 915 brands, including 139 newcomers and returning exhibitors. Two biennial sections will be presented in parallel – EuroCucina / FTK – Technology For the Kitchen, featuring 106 brands from 17 countries, and the International Bathroom Exhibition, which will host 163 exhibitors from 14 countries. Among the exhibitors in Milan, visitors will be able to see Polish brands such as Ciarko and Artu.
SaloneSatellite, aimed at designers under the age of 35, remains a key element of the programme. This section will feature 700 designers and 22 schools and universities from various regions of the world. The organisers emphasise that the figures reflect both the international nature of the event and the growing interest among young designers in participating in the fair.
The 2026 edition also introduces two new initiatives that expand the existing structure of the Salone. The first of these is Salone Contract – a project focused on the large-scale projects sector, covering areas such as hospitality, real estate, public spaces and the maritime industry. This section will feature an international forum with a lecture by Rem Koolhaas and a presentation of the Masterplan 2027, prepared in collaboration with David Gianotten of OMA. The pavilions will also host the first themed trail showcasing companies already active in the contract segment, and a matchmaking platform for key market players will be launched.
The second new feature is Salone Raritas – a space in Pavilion 9 dedicated to unique, collectable and rare examples of contemporary craftsmanship and design. Curated by Annalisa Rosso with design by Formafantasma, the section will bring together 28 exhibitors, including internationally renowned galleries and studios such as NILUFAR, Salviati x Draga & Aurel, Mouromtsev Design Editions, Mercado Moderno, PARASITE 2.0 x BIANCO67 and Brun Fine Art. Its aim is to create a space for dialogue among architects, interior designers and specialists working in the premium segment, where the importance of experimentation and individual design exploration is growing.
Also noteworthy in this year’s programme is the presentation of Aurea, an Architectural Fiction, prepared by the Paris-based studio Maison Numéro 20 under the direction of Oscar Lucien Ono. The project takes the form of a fictional hotel constructed from a sequence of spaces interpreting the contemporary understanding of luxury as a conscious approach to materials, proportions and ways of using interiors. The installation fits into the broader context of the fair, which focuses on observing changes in the ways we design and live.
The EuroCucina / FTK – Technology For the Kitchen section will showcase solutions combining technology, a sustainable approach, smart systems, artificial intelligence and elements of biophilic design. The organisers emphasise that the kitchen is becoming a space that integrates functionality with a personalised user experience. Meanwhile, the International Bathroom Exhibition will focus on the home spa trend, where well-being, hygiene, material durability and energy efficiency are priorities. In both sections, the theme of product longevity returns, understood as the ability to adapt to users’ changing needs.
SaloneSatellite, in its 27th edition, will once again serve as a showcase for young designers. This year’s theme, Skilled Craftsmanship Innovation, highlights the relationship between craftsmanship and new technologies. The organisers point out that the combination of traditional skills with innovative tools is becoming one of the key directions in design development, particularly among designers under the age of 35.
The cultural component remains a key part of the programme. April will see the fourth edition of the Public Programme Drafting Futures. Conversations about Next Perspectives, curated by Annalisa Rosso. A series of talks in a space designed by Formafantasma will address issues related to innovation, sustainable development and changes in design markets. Running in parallel will be the ABITO exhibition, prepared by Palomba Serafini Associati in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The exhibition brings together fashion and design, analysing how objects and clothing reflect social change and the evolution of everyday practices.
The Italian Ministry of Culture will present the MADE IN MiC exhibition, the central element of which will be the Archetipi section. The exhibition will feature examples of applied art and proto-design from 1900–1945, highlighting the moment when art began to permeate interiors and craftsmanship evolved towards more organised production. The programme will be complemented by The Chain of Wonders. Italian Excellence FederlegnoArredo, curated by Beppe Finessi, presenting the history of the Italian wood and furniture sector and its significance for the country’s cultural identity.
Salone del Mobile.Milano will once again extend its presence into the urban space. The traditional opening concert at the Teatro alla Scala will take place for the sixth time, with the orchestra conducted by Michele Mariotti. On 24 April, Common Archive – The White Night of Design, an initiative by the Salone del Mobile.Milano Observatory, is scheduled, during which Milan’s design and architectural archives will open to the public, offering over 50 guided tours and events. Two information points will also appear across the city: the Design Kiosk in Piazza della Scala, featuring a programme of talks dedicated to independent publishing, and a kiosk in Piazza Sant’Eustorgio, marking the start of a tour of five modernist buildings selected by Bianca Felicori.