The World Design Congress returns to London in September 2025 for its 34th edition, taking place at the Barbican Centre and hosted by the UK’s Design Council for a multi-day event.
The event will bring together over 1,000 individuals from the international design community and thought leaders from business, research, and education to discuss and debate design issues of global importance.
In partnership with the London Design Festival in September 2025, the event will be supported by regional activations designed to put the UK at the heart of the global design community.
The Design Council is also supporting with Barbican Renewal Programme, a project to reimagine what an arts centre can be while delivering a sustainable revitalisation that brings underused spaces into new creative use, all without adding a square metre of extra building.
Charlie Smith, deputy head of sales at the Barbican, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have won an event that aligns so perfectly with the Barbican’s unique design, cultural offerings and sustainable values. We play an important role in providing a platform for artistic and educational work which discusses and develops solutions for our planet and this event is an example of that.”
Minnie Moll, chief executive of the Design Council added: “Both London and the Barbican represent the height of creativity, inspiration and design, which is why they are the perfect choice for the 2025 Congress, particularly with its focus on sustainability. The Barbican has demonstrated time and again that it is a world leader in event sustainability, and we look forward to developing the themes of the event around its incredible offering.”
