DESIGNART TOKYO 2026 Ran Until November 8; Its 10th Edition Set Up a Main Venue on the Former Tokyo Expressway

The design and art festival “DESIGNART TOKYO 2026” was held across Tokyo from Friday, October 30 to Sunday, November 8, 2026. Treating the entire city of Tokyo as a museum, about 150 participants from 13 countries exhibited in eight areas from Ginza to Ikejiri. Organized by the DESIGNART TOKYO Executive Committee, the event, which began in 2017, reached its 10th edition this year. From October 30 to Tuesday, November 3 (national holiday), the main venue “AUTOBAHN” opened on the KK Line (former Tokyo Expressway) in Ginza.

“Hibiki” as the theme of the 10th edition

Creators from Japan and abroad in a wide range of fields, including interiors, art, fashion, technology and food, exhibit at locations around Tokyo. The organizers also highlight that many works can be purchased on the spot during the event, and bill it as “one of Japan’s largest design and art festivals.” The six founders are Akio Aoki, Shun Kawakami, Hiroshi Koike, Okisato Nagata, Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham.

The concept is “INTO THE EMOTIONS.” For its 10th edition this year, the festival has adopted “Hibiki” (resonance) and released a message beginning “Unknown resonances gather in Tokyo.” It calls on people to listen for making that keeps resonating in people’s hearts and for creations that will last 100 years into the future.

Highlights of the main venue “AUTOBAHN”

The main venue is set up on the KK Line (former Tokyo Expressway) between the Sukiyabashi intersection and Ginza 1-chome. Its name likens it to Germany’s speed-unlimited highways, positioning it as a place to expand the “NO LIMIT” possibilities of design and art. The space is designed by the architectural design studio ALTEMY.

In addition to exhibitions, the venue hosts the market “AUTOBAHN - The Design Store,” the “PARK & CAFÉ,” where food and drink are available, and talk events on stage every day. The market’s curator is Jean-Luc Colonna d’Istria, who was involved in launching the concept store “Merci” and others. It reportedly presents a careful selection of works not available on the market.

Participants in the market include BALMUDA, nendo (Molten), Jin Kuramoto (ALESSI) and NEW LIGHT POTTERY. In the exhibitions, DAIKAN × 130’s “FLUX TABLE,” presented at Milan Design Week 2026, is shown in Japan. ICOMA inc. exhibits “SHOSA Bonsai Arm,” an installation using a robotic arm. SHOTA SHIMODE’s “CONTEXTS” presents new prototypes of lighting, stools and tableware.

Main exhibitions in Ginza, Roppongi, Omotesando and other areas

Outside the main venue, exhibitions continue in shops and showrooms in each area. The main exhibitions listed in the press release are as follows.

• Andreu World, “Nina Lounge by Patricia Urquiola” (Gaienmae, Ratio Minami-Aoyama 1F): October 30 – November 7, 10:00–18:00 (closed on Sundays)

• RYOTA YOKOZEKI, “From Flat” (Roppongi, Akasaka Pioneer Building 2F): October 24 – November 8, 11:00–18:00

• &MEDICAL, “MALLOW COLLECTION 2026” (Ginza, Hibiya OKUROJI): October 30 – November 8, 10:00–20:00

• Carl Hansen & Søn, “Balanced Principles” (Omotesando, Carl Hansen & Søn Flagship Store Tokyo): October 23 – November 8, 11:00–19:00

Other exhibitions can be found by area or category under “EXHIBITIONS” on the official website.

Tickets, prices and getting around

The main venue “AUTOBAHN” is ticketed, with tickets sold on ArtSticker. Prices (including tax) are 5,000 yen in advance and 6,000 yen on the day for a five-day pass. One-day tickets are 3,000 yen in advance and 3,500 yen on the day for general admission, and 1,000 yen in advance and 1,500 yen on the day for students.

Opening party tickets cost 2,000 yen both in advance and on the day, and this year members of the public can also attend. At the party, New York-based trumpeter Takuya Kuroda gives a mini live performance. The main venue is within a 5-minute walk of Hibiya, Ginza, Ginza-itchome and Yurakucho stations.

Editor’s perspective

For its 10th edition, DESIGNART chose a former expressway as its main venue and named it “AUTOBAHN.” It can be called an edition that showcases DESIGNART’s hallmark of being able to buy works on the spot, in a space that has been used as a road.

The main venue is open only for the first five days, and the second half of the festival overlaps with Art Week Tokyo (November 4–8). Roppongi Art Night 2026 also takes place from October 31 to November 1. If AUTOBAHN is the focus of your visit, plan to visit Ginza by November 3.

Overview

Name: DESIGNART TOKYO 2026
Dates: Friday, October 30 – Sunday, November 8, 2026. Main venue “AUTOBAHN”: Friday, October 30 – Tuesday, November 3 (national holiday)
Hours: Vary by venue
Areas: Ginza, Tokyo, Roppongi, Gaienmae, Omotesando, Harajuku, Daikanyama, Ikejiri
Main venue: AUTOBAHN (KK Line [former Tokyo Expressway], Sukiyabashi intersection to Ginza 1-chome; within a 5-minute walk of Hibiya, Ginza, Ginza-itchome and Yurakucho stations)
Admission: Main venue: five-day pass 5,000 yen in advance / 6,000 yen on the day; one-day ticket (general) 3,000 yen in advance / 3,500 yen on the day; one-day ticket (students) 1,000 yen in advance / 1,500 yen on the day; opening party ticket 2,000 yen (all including tax)
Organizer: DESIGNART TOKYO Executive Committee
Official website: https://www.designart.jp/designarttokyo2026/
*Information as of October 19, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: Artwork by Kenta Cobayashi (from a press release by The Chain Museum Inc.)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on materials released by DESIGNART Inc. (September 18, 2026) and information on the official website.

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team