The sixth season of Ukrainian Design and Innovation Week (UDIW) took place in Kyiv and online through May 10, 2026, bringing together more than 30 events ranging from exhibitions and lectures to workshops, studio visits and public discussions.
This year’s edition explored design not only as aesthetics, but also as a lived experience shaped by interaction with space, people and the urban environment.
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A key event of the program was the UDIW Design Hall, held on May 9-10 at Mystetskyi Arsenal. More than 180 Ukrainian brands presenting furniture, lighting, décor and contemporary art are showcased there. Organizers described the venue as an immersive environment where visitors could not only see design, but physically experience it.
As is tradition, the design hall featured a dedicated lecture space hosting panel discussions on current trends in design and architecture, alongside public talks for a broader audience. Among speakers were Liubko Deresh, Hlib Ushakov, and Oleksandr Poltavtsev.
A major focus of the 2026 season was the collaboration with Unbroken. As part of the festival, the rehabilitation center presented an inclusive design exhibition created in its creative workshop, alongside discussions on art as a neuropsychological tool for recovery from war trauma and adaptation to life after injury.
At the Unbroken creative workshop, people affected by the war worked with ceramics, textiles and painting. Organizers described the process not simply as art practice, but as a way to restore a sense of stability, agency and connection after trauma. Objects created in the workshop were exhibited at the design hall in Mystetskyi Arsenal, each reflecting a personal story of recovery and resilience.
Organizers say that in 2026, UDIW expanded beyond traditional design formats, combining design with contemporary art, gastronomy and performative practices. During the festival, Kyiv itself has been transformed into an open route for exploring the possibilities of today’s urban culture and public space.
