Antwerp Design Week is a citywide design event that offers a curated network of showrooms, flagship stores, and creative hubs — each with its own story The result: a format that is compact, surprising, and highly effective.
With five compact districts and a focus on quality over quantity, ADW offers a fresh alternative in Belgium.
Why here?
Because Antwerp surprises at every turn and lets your brand shine in a setting you choose yourself.
Why now?
Because the design world is shifting. People no longer want to just look. They want to feel, connect and be inspired. Hospitality, not hierarchy.
Where do you fit in?
Whether you exhibit solo or within a shared hub — we help you find your space, tell your story, and make visitors feel truly welcome.
About the event
Where does it take place?
Across five districts:
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Downtown (walkable and bikeable)
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North, East, South and West (accessible via shuttle or car).
Who participates?
A mix of established Belgian companies, international labels, and emerging talents — all curated to align with our values.
Who visits ADW?
Antwerp Design Week attracts a carefully curated mix of design professionals and design lovers.
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Professionals from sectors like retail, architecture and interior design travel to Antwerp. They come to discover new brands, gain fresh inspiration, and build meaningful connections — all in a warm, compact and thoughtfully curated setting. They can explore all five districts of Antwerp Design Week, attend events across the city, use the shuttle system, and follow the Design Lover Walks — experiencing the event entirely at their own pace.
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Design lovers explore the city through the Design Lover Walks: curious visitors with an eye for aesthetics and stories, drawn to creative installations, hidden gems, and the atmosphere of Belgian design in its natural habitat.
Participation fees and packages
As we continue to grow, we’re currently reshaping our participation fees, packages, and offering. More details coming soon.
How to become an exhibitor?
(registrations for edition 2026 will open soon)
1. Register your interest
Complete the online form to introduce your brand and vision. You don’t need to have a location confirmed at this stage — if selected, we’ll help you find the right setting or connect you to one through our matchmaking service.
2. Curation process
Our team carefully reviews each application to ensure it aligns with the ADW values of experience, hospitality, and quality. Only brands that fit our curated vision are invited to participate.
3. Confirmation
You’ll receive a formal confirmation or feedback within two weeks of your application. Once confirmed, you officially join the ADW 2026 exhibitor line-up.
4. Onboarding session
Take part in a required online onboarding session, where you’ll meet the ADW team and receive a full briefing. Still looking for a space? We’ll guide you toward the best available options and walk you through the next practical steps.
5. Secure your space
Once your location is confirmed — whether it’s a showroom, pop-up or shared hub — we’ll finalise the exhibitor agreement. You’ll then receive your full exhibitor kit, including signage, stickers, and access passes.
Stay tuned
Want to know when registrations open? Enter your mailaddress!
FAQ
Fifteen years ago, the idea for Antwerp Design and Decovalley (ADDV) was born during a train ride.
Antwerp Design Week is the result of a simple but powerful idea: what if Antwerp’s design world could unite, not just in spirit, but in place?
This vision took shape when Geert-Jan Van Cauwelaert, co-founder of XLBoom, and his close friend Philippe Delaisse, co-founder of Ethnicraft, began to imagine a stronger, more visible design presence in their own city. Their first step? A curated guide that brought like-minded Antwerp-based brands together — not just to showcase their collections, but to highlight the city as a design destination in its own right.
Over the following 15 years, that guide evolved. A collective of 15 permanent members published it annually, building the foundation for what would later become Antwerp Design Week. When international fairs were paused during the pandemic, Belgian brands leaned on their years of collaboration — and turned a shared dream into a new kind of design event.
Antwerp Design Week 2023 – Edition 0
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
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 2025 - Edition 2
Edition 2025 marked a new milestone for Antwerp Design Week. With 85 participating brands, over 30 locations, and more than 5,000 visitors, the event grew in scale, depth, and ambition — while staying true to its intimate and curated character.
New highlights included guided press tours, curated dinners, stronger international presence, and deeper collaboration with the city, media and design schools. The Club evolved into a true anchor point, while the Design Lover Walks brought design closer to the public than ever before.
Antwerp Design Week 2025 confirmed its role as a meaningful alternative to the traditional fair — rooted in Belgian design, powered by connection, and shaped by those who believe design is best experienced up close.
Antwerp Design Week’s mission is to establish Belgian design as a globally recognized concept.
Both now and in the future, we stand for authenticity, surprising experiences, quality, sustainability, and interaction.
The event primarily targets professionals but also welcomes design enthusiasts. By placing hospitality at its core, we create an environment where strong connections are fostered between designers, suppliers, buyers, and passionate visitors.
Our goal is to attract engaged visitors and enable business growth. At the same time, we do not rule out developing an "awareness" initiative in the dynamic District Downtown, aiming to inspire a broader audience.
Our core values are our compass: to continue surprising exclusively, to highlight the beauty and unique character of Antwerp, and to transform Belgian design into a strong and recognizable global concept.
Beyond hosting the event, ADW serves as a unifying force for the Belgian design community, fostering collaboration and growth among its members.
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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 executing the whole event with passion (info@adw.life)
As ADW grows, partnerships play a crucial role. Collaborations with major organizations such as
Stad Antwerpen, Fedustria, and FlandersDC help realize our mission. Additionally, many other partners contribute to the event’s success and ongoing development.
Antwerp Design Week is managed by a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Belgian and high-quality design.
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ADW is more than an event; it’s a network fostering connections through Get Togethers, enabling exhibitors and designers to share ideas and collaborate.
Every euro invested goes directly back into the event — supporting marketing, visibility, networking opportunities, and long-term value for participating brands.
Your participation fee enables:
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professional event production
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curated partnerships with sponsors, hotels, and venues
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targeted communication to over 50,000 B2B contacts
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a smooth onboarding process
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a visitor scanning platform
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city-wide visibility through signage, print, and digital presence
Visitors benefit from free shuttles, guided tours, and staffed info points — all designed to ensure a seamless and inspiring experience.
We focus on thoughtful, curated growth by selecting quality brands and building lasting connections.
Antwerp Design Week is a non-profit organization.
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Yes.
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Participating brands are expected to provide light catering to ensure visitors feel genuinely welcomed with drinks and small bites.
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Please note that some venues may charge a rental fee for use of their space.
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ADW acts as a matchmaker, offering a curated database of venues across Antwerp. If you already have a location in mind, you can directly share details with the team. ADW provides guidance throughout the planning process.