sofia
11 – 14 June 2026
Set in one of Europe’s oldest and most layered capitals, the European Design Festival 2026, produced and curated by Studio Komplekt and Melba Foundation for Design and Visual Culture, brings designers together for four days of dialogue and exchange.
Through talks, exhibitions, workshops and celebrations, the festival explores contemporary communication design and connects the European design community.
June 4-17
20 years communication design / Selection of winning projects
2007-2026
Open 24 Hours
@Lover’s Bridge
Tuesday June 9
Meeting of the Executive Board of the International Council of Design (ICoD)
9am – 4pm (closed event)
@Soho
PS Collection
11am – 1.30pm
@IKEA Sofia
The Journey of Bulgarian Children’s Book Illustration
Exhibition opening
5pm – 6pm
@Ministry of Culture Gallery
Wednesday June 10
Meeting of the Executive Board of the International Council of Design (ICoD)
9am – 4pm (closed event)
@Soho
Workshop Designers and AI
1pm – 5:30pm
@SiteGround Mega Hall
Reform by IKEA & NAA
Exhibition opening
6pm – 8pm
@Gallery Rare
GAETANO PESCE
Exhibition opening
6:30pm – 8pm
@Gallery MNMNT
Thursday June 11
ICoD REGIONAL Meeting
9am – 5pm (closed event)
@Soho
Workshop by Fontfabric
Building a brand through
custom typography
10am – 4:30pm
@tbc
AND NOW EAST
Exhibition & Official Opening of the Festival
6pm – 8pm
@Gallery Cube Toplocentrala
Friday June 12
Sofia City Walking Tour
10am – 12pm
by Visit Sofia
ED-Conference | talks day 1
11am to 5pm
@Toplocentrala, hall 1
Open Studio Visits
4pm – 6pm
@Various Locations
National Palace of Culture Art Walking Tour
4pm – 6pm
@NDK
Book’n’Space
Opening
6pm – 7pm
@Gallery National Fine Art School
Sebastian Curi Exhibition
Opening in the presence of the artist
7pm – 8pm
@L44 Design Space
Saturday June 13
CITY WALK | GRAFFITI AND STREET ART TOUR
10am – 12 pm
by Visit Sofia
ED-Conference | talks day 2
11am to 5pm
@Toplocentrala, hall 1
ED-Awards 2026 Ceremony
7pm – 9.30pm
@Lumiere Cinema
EDA Winners Party
10pm –
@Mixtape 5
Sunday June 14
CITY WALK | GRAFFITI AND STREET ART TOUR
12pm – 2pm
by Visit Sofia
SOFIA CITY WALKING TOUR
12pm – 2pm
by Visit Sofia
Curatorial tour IKEA & NAA
Finissage
4pm – 5pm
@RARE Gallery
Ceremony and Party

European Design Awards 2026 ceremony
The ED-Awards crowning event at Lumiere Hall, National Palace of Culture

OFFICIAL ED-AWARDS AFTERPARTY
Continue the evening in a setting shaped by Sofia’s contemporary creative scene
Talks & Conferences
Exhibitions

10 Years of European Communication Design
Blending digital innovation with critical thinking, students present diverse interpretations of ex-centric design that reflect pressing societal themes

AndNowEast
The 2026 edition of the poster initiative AndNowEast premieres in Sofia as a central exhibition of the European Design Festival, continuing its focus on contemporary visual culture in Eastern Europe.

Book’n’Space
Projects for original spatial publications for children by graduating bachelor students from the Book, Illustration, and Print Graphics department at the National Academy of Art in Sofia.

Magic Between the Pages: The Journey of Bulgarian Children’s Book Illustration
The exhibition traces the development of Bulgarian children’s illustrated books – from their early forms to contemporary authors – through a carefully curated selection of editions.

Sebastian Curi at L44
Argentinian-born, Los Angeles–based artist Sebastian Curi presents a newly commissioned site-specific exhibition at L44 for the European Design Festival 2026.

Reforms: Student Exhibition
Exhibition by the students of the National Academy of Art rethinking everyday products.
Workshops

More design, less busywork: AI tools for designers
Designers spend too much time on the work around the real design work. In this hands-on workshop we will explore how AI can take on the technical heavy lifting and help you streamline processes, so you can make more time and space for the actual creative work.
Parallel Events

Open Studio Visits
Open Studio Visits offer a unique opportunity to step inside some of Sofia’s most prominent design and creative studios during the European Design Festival. Guests are welcomed by the teams, gaining first-hand insight into their processes, environments, and ways of thinking.

Sofia City Walking Tour
Discover the essential highlights of Sofia on a curated walk through its most emblematic landmarks. This tour offers a balanced introduction to the city’s ancient heritage, cultural layers and modern atmosphere – featuring key sites, lively squares and beautifully preserved architecture.

Sofia Graffiti & Street Art Tour
Explore Sofia’s vibrant urban art scene and uncover striking murals, creative street pieces and iconic graffiti. Led by experts from the cultural organization behind many of the city’s most notable street art projects, this tour offers an insider’s look at the artists and stories shaping Sofia’s creative landscape.

NDK Art Walking Tour
Dive into Bulgaria’s communist era through its most significant historical site – The National Palace of Culture. During the 2-hour-long tour inside The National Palace of Culture, find out about the history of socialism in Bulgaria, the pros and cons of the period, and the relation between the communist government and art, culture, religion, industry, and everyday life of the people.
Travel Information

Accommodation in Sofia
European Design Awards 2026


Discounted travel with Bulgaria Air
Get to Sofia with a special 10% discount
TICKETS
FULL PASS
Full Pass 378,20€ / Last-Minute until 5.6 — 25% off — €283.65 (code: LASTMINUTE)
Includes access to all sessions and networking events on Friday and Saturday, awards ceremony, after party with a welcome drink, 2x lunch, main exhibition, goodie bag and Friday welcome reception, 4 student exhibitions.
*The registration fee does not include Design walk, Type walk and Workshops TipoRenesansa.
Early Bird Full Pass (up to 15.5) 341,60€ / Student Full Pass 85,40€/ Last-Minute until 5.6 — 25% off — €283.65 (code: LASTMINUTE)
Includes access to all sessions and networking events on Friday and Saturday, awards ceremony, after party with a welcome drink, 2x lunch, main exhibition, goodie bag and Friday welcome reception, 4 student exhibitions.
*The registration fee does not include Design walk, Type Walk and Workshops TipoRenesansa.
*A proof of valid student status is required at the time of registration.
DAY PASS(ES)
Friday Pass 122,00€
Includes access to all Friday sessions and networking events, main exhibition, goodie bag and Friday welcome reception, 4 student exhibitions, 1x lunch (Friday).
*The registration fee does not include Design walk, Type Walk and Workshops TipoRenesansa.
2 Day Pass 244,00€ / Last-Minute until 5.6 — 25% off — €183,00 (code: LASTMINUTE)
Saturday Pass 122,00€ / Last-Minute until 5.6 — 25% off — €91,50 (code: LASTMINUTE)
Includes access to all sessions and networking events on Friday and Saturday, 2x lunch, main exhibition, goodie bag and welcome reception, 4 student exhibitions.
*The registration fee does not include Design Walk, Type Walk and Workshops TipoRenesansa, awards ceremony, after party with a welcome drink.
Award Ceremony €183,00 / Last-Minute until 5.6 — 25% off — €137,25 (code: LASTMINUTE)
Includes access to awards ceremony, after party with a welcome drink and a goodie bag.
LUNCH
Friday Lunch 18,30€
Drinks are not included.
Lunch is already included in all Full Passes, Friday Pass, and 2-day Pass.
Saturday Lunch 18,30€
Drinks are not included.
Lunch is already included in all Full Passes, Friday Pass, and 2-day Pass.
SPECIAL OFFERS
Quantity Discount
Companies, agencies, studios, university and high school lecturers interested in registering in groups of more than 5 people can contact edf2025@paideia-events.com for a special quantity discount.
Student Quantity Discount
If you would like to register a larger group of students, we can offer you a better price, please contact us at edf2025@paideia-events.com. *A proof of valid student status is required at the time of registration.
WORKSHOP & WALKS
Workshop Tiporenesansa Friday 73,20€
TipoRenesansa is the last place in Slovenia where one can experience how printing was done before contemporary technology took over the process.
*Duration: 2h. Limited number of places.
Workshop Tiporenesansa Saturday 73,20€
TipoRenesansa is the last place in Slovenia where one can experience how printing was done before contemporary technology took over the process. Print your own poster in a letterpress workshop!
*Duration: 2h. Limited number of places.
Studio Walk 12,20€
A Studio Walk is a guided tour to local design agencies who have taken upon them to welcome you into their offices, answer your questions and showcase some of their work. Duration: 3 hours. Limited number of places.
Type Walk 12,20€
A type walk will take us through the material, historical, cultural and linguistic diversity of letterforms in the heart of Ljubljana. The concept of a walk addresses a very important skill that is crucial to typographic education. How to observe type? How to understand what you are looking at? Duration: 2h. Limited number of places.