participants edition 2026
Stay tuned here for the latest updates on the participants of the 2026 edition.
overall overview
understand the event
Fifteen years ago, the idea for Antwerp Design and Decovalley (ADDV) was born during a train ride.
Geert-Jan Van Cauwelaert, co-founder of XLBoom, and his close friend Philippe Delaisse, co-founder of Ethnicraft, brainstormed about uniting Antwerp’s design world in one place. This vision quickly took shape, leading to the launch of the first ADW guide., showcasing like-minded Antwerp companies as a collective and highlighting the city itself.
Over 15 years, the group grew to 15 permanent members, publishing annual guides that laid the foundation for Antwerp Design Week. When international design fairs were canceled during the pandemic, Belgian companies joined forces to create their own event, leveraging their years of collaboration.
Antwerp Design Week 2023
The inaugural Edition 0 in 2023 was a modest start with 31 companies but set the stage for growth.
Antwerp Design Week 2024
Edition 1 in 2024 was a breakthrough: visitors tripled, and participating brands doubled to over 50. Praised by both visitors and brands, it solidified Antwerp Design Week as a growing international platform.Antwerp Design Week remains committed to fostering collaboration, strengthening connections, and spotlighting Belgian design on the global stage.
Antwerp Design Week 2025
We see the 2025 edition as a true breakthrough. Visitor numbers doubled once again, and we proudly closed with over 85 exhibiting brands. The overall feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with exhibitors showing full confidence in this format. We are more than ready to put Belgian design firmly on the map!
Antwerp Design Week stands, now and in the future, for authenticity, quality, sustainability, interaction, and surprising experiences.
We primarily welcome professionals, while also opening our doors to curious design lovers. With hospitality at the core, ADW creates a setting where designers, suppliers, buyers, and enthusiasts connect in a meaningful way.
Our compass: to keep surprising, to highlight Antwerp’s beauty and character, and to position Belgian design as a strong and recognizable global voice.
ADW is more than an event. It’s a network, a community, a force that unites and strengthens Belgian design.
Antwerp Design Week’s mission is to establish Belgian design as a globally recognized concept.
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Founder: Geert-Jan Van Cauwelaert, who dreams of uniting the design world into a strong and cohesive entity (gj@xlboom.com )
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Project Lead: Emma Vanbeckevoort, overseeing and excecuting the whole event (info@adw.life)
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Board of Directors: Geert-Jan Van Cauwelaert, Stefan Dusart (Ethnicraft), and Johan Van Maercke (Goodwill).
Antwerp Design Week is managed by a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Belgian and high-quality design.
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Districts
Antwerp Design Week unfolds across five districts:
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Downtown – the creative heart of the city, walkable and buzzing with showrooms, flagship stores, and cultural hotspots.
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North, East, South & West – the outer districts, home to impressive HQs, production sites, and large-scale showrooms, all within 30 minutes of the city center.
Together, they create a citywide stage where Belgian and international brands open their doors in their own habitat.
Transport
Getting around during ADW is designed to be smooth, convenient, and inspiring:
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Downtown – explore on foot or pick up a free ADW city bike at The Club.
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Outer districts – travel by car, rent one via ADW’s partner Hertz with a discount code, or book an ADW shuttle powered by BMW, in advance or on the spot.
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All routes, times and options are available in the ADW app and guide, your personal travel companion.
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Business Points
Business Points are the core showrooms, HQs, and flagship stores of participating brands. This is where professionals meet brands in their natural environment, see new collections, and connect with the people behind them.
Discover Points are curated touchpoints in District Downtown. They are open to everyone — professionals, design lovers, and curious visitors. Expect hidden gems, temporary installations, pop-ups, and creative encounters that blend design with the city’s energy. They form the backbone of the Design Lover Walk, turning Antwerp itself into a design experience.
Discover Points
If your business point is located in District Downtown, you can also host your discover point there.
As a professional visitor you can:
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Explore all five districts, Downtown, North, East, South and West, and visit the Business Points.
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Join inspiring events across the city.
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Use the free ADW shuttles to move around easily.
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Experience the discover points on the Design Lover Walks in District Downtown.
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Enjoy a complimentary drink at The Club, your central hub.
Professional visitor
As a design lover you can:
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Follow one of the three curated Design Lover Walk routes in District Downtown and visit the discover points.
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Join inspiring events throughout the city.
Design Lover
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shuttle system
During ADW, a dedicated transport dispatch will be available, with the contact number available in the ADW mobile application.
hospitality
Hospitality is all about creating memorable experiences that go beyond the ordinary. By prioritizing great hospitality, you ensure visitors feel valued while building lasting connections with your brand.
Every interaction counts. Show appreciation, make it personal, and leave a lasting impression. Find a inspiration talk about hospitality from Jasmijn Verlinden here.
visibility
In addition to the communication efforts by Antwerp Design Week, we encourage each participating brand to actively inform their own customers through mailings and social media. This will enhance the visibility of your presence at the event. Use our convenient mailing templates (available in the download kit on the ADW-onboarding-platform) to streamline your communication and ensure a professional touch.
Make sure to complete all documents and answer all questions in the 'upload' section of the onboarding platform. The more high-quality information you provide, the better quality content the organization can create.
