Design Democracy 2026: Hyderabad to stage India’s leading design festival

Hyderabad is set to become a vibrant meeting point for India’s design community as Design Democracy 2026 returns for its fourth edition from September 18 to 20 at the HITEX Exhibition Center.

The three-day festival is expected to bring together more than 200 design brands, 150-plus speakers and over 30,000 visitors from across the country.

Established over the past three years as a prominent platform for architecture, interiors, furniture, lighting, product design, art and craftsmanship, the festival will spread across four distinct halls--Canvas, Muse, Atelier and Alchemy--which will present exhibitions, installations, conversations and curated experiences.

A major highlight of the 2026 edition will be its specially curated exhibitions, including the Museum of Telangana, curated by Supraja Rao; Gallery of Sustainability, curated by Jasem Pirani and Huzefa Rangwala; Precious Objects, curated by Monika and Sarah Choudhary; and The Art Edit, curated by Anish Gawande in collaboration with Sakshi Art Gallery.

The latest edition of the Fabric of Design exhibition will highlight the confluence of heritage, creativity, and innovation with design heavyweights such as Gaurang Shah, Divani and Yavi, among others.

The festival will also see the DD Talks and DD Focus series, with more than 150 thought leaders, architects, designers, artists, entrepreneurs, and celebrities such as Alfaz Miller, Ravinder Reddy, Sandeep Khosla, Ankon Mitra, and Sussanne Khan.

In addition to the talks, the event will feature large-scale installations, networking events, and showcases, along with the Gourmet Zone, which will have cafes, concept kitchens, and craft bars.

Meanwhile, co-founders Pallika Sreewastav, Shailja Patwari, and Arjun Rathi said the festival seeks to celebrate Indian design and facilitate serious conversations, as well as foster a robust design ecosystem.

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The Hans India