About Congress

A return to London

For the first time in over 50 years, the World Design Congress is coming to the UK.

London was selected against stiff competition as home to some of the world's best designs and designers. The main event will run in the capital, in conjunction with the London Design Festival, supported by regional moments to showcase the UK's design sector to the global community.

London hosted the sixth edition in 1969 at the Southbank Centre. It was attended by almost 1,000 delegates from 39 countries and welcomed special guest of honour H.R.H. Princess Margaret. To celebrate, the Design Council's Design Centre in Haymarket London held an exhibition titled "Design '69" to showcase the best examples in design from 22 countries.

Following global footsteps

Since its first edition in 1959, the World Design Congress has convened the international design community every two years.

Host cities have included Tokyo, Hyderabad, Torino and Montreal, where they have discussed and debated the moment’s greatest design issues of global importance.

“London has always been a thriving hub for world-leading design and I’m delighted that we have been awarded the honour of hosting the World Design Congress 2025. It will be an excellent opportunity to showcase the talents of our creative community, as leaders from across the world unite to put design at the heart of our efforts to address climate change.”

Sadiq Khan
Mayor of London

An iconic venue

The World Design Congress 2025 will be held at the Barbican Centre, recognised worldwide for its brutalist architectural style and commitment to sustainable design.

Opened in 1982, the Barbican Centre is an arts, learning and conference hub which sits in the heart of the City of London and is set within a residential complex of over 2,000 coveted homes.

The Design Council is currently working with the Centre on Barbican Renewal, a project to bring underused spaces into new creative use without adding a single square metre of extra building.