The 2026 edition of India Design ID explores the Age of Design Syncretism, a time defined by the convergence of cultural influences, design philosophies, and interdisciplinary practices, and considers how the future of design might unfold. In a world where boundaries are increasingly fluid, the theme examines how tradition and modernity, craft and technology, and local narratives and global perspectives intersect to shape the future of design. Below is a Platform Edit of what we’re looking forward to at India Design ID.
ID Symposium
ID Symposium is India Design ID’s knowledge platform, bringing together 40+ leading architects, designers and creative thinkers from India and across the world. Through keynote talks, panel discussions and dialogues, the symposium addresses emerging ideas, evolving practices, and critical industry conversations. This edition introduces a co-authorship initiative, highlighting special talk sessions curated in conjunction with top institutions and architects, including the Luxury Committee of the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Business France, The Design Village and Studio Archohm, Wallmakers, and Iram Sultan Design Studio. Aligned with The Age of Design Syncretism, the 2026 programme explores dialectic themes such as architectural pedagogy and practice, mindfulness and megastructures, cultural specificity and globalisation.
ID Salon
Distinct from a conventional design fair, the Salon brings together a curated selection of leading Indian and International galleries, presenting authored works by prominent contemporary designers and studios from across the world.
The debut edition will be held from 19–22 February 2026 at Bikaner House, New Delhi, welcoming collectors, connoisseurs, art consultants and practitioners from the design, architecture and art communities.
L: Anantaya R: Beyond Designs
ID Collectibles
Dedicated to contemporary collectible design, this segment features exceptional objects situated at the intersection of design, architecture and art, emphasising originality, craftsmanship and limited-edition works.
ID Special Project
This year, the spotlight is on DESIGN, TOMORROW, a curatorial project that explores how the future of design is already taking shape through shifts in material choices, modes of making, and ideas of sustainability, luxury, and function. Spanning furniture, textiles, and objects, the showcase positions Indian design within a broader global context marked by transition, hybridity, and experimentation.
ID Experiences
Keelaka Dance Company will put on a performance that collides forms, resulting in an aesthetic that embodies storytelling and identity. Rooted in geometric precision and the spiritual architecture of Bharatnatyam, the performance opens itself to conversations with contemporary ballet, folk and tribal-inflected practice, and intuitive modern movement. Musical symphonies by Madstarbase, Dr OS Arun and Harini Iyer add to the experience, proposing syncretism as a process in which traditions overlap, identities remain porous, and new creative forms come into being.
French Art de Vivre
Business France joins India Design ID 2026 as the official Country Partner, presenting a dedicated Art de Vivre Pavilion. Curated as a showcase of contemporary French creativity, the pavilion brings together a considered selection of French brands and studios spanning design, craft, décor, lifestyle and material innovation. Conceived as a cultural and commercial bridge between France and India, the pavilion highlights France’s enduring legacy of design excellence and its forward-looking approach to making, sustainability and aesthetics. Through this partnership, Business France positions France at the centre of the global design conversation at ID 2026, offering visitors a distinct lens into French art de vivre and contemporary creative practice.
Words Platform Desk
Date 19.2.2026
