The 64th edition of Salone del Mobile.Milano concluded with remarkable success, reaffirming its position as the leading global event in the field of design. In a year marked by international uncertainty, the exhibition welcomed 316,342 visitors from 167 countries, representing a significant increase compared to the corresponding figures of 2025. At the same time, 1,900 companies from 32 countries participated, showcasing the image of a flexible and competitive industrial ecosystem.

The established parallel exhibitions, such as the International Bathroom Exhibition, EuroCucina and FTK–Technology For the Kitchen, highlighted the continuing importance of living spaces where industrial production, technological innovation and evolving lifestyles intersect.

Beyond product presentation, this year’s edition strengthened its cultural and strategic character. Salone Raritas hosted 28 exhibitors from 12 countries, integrating the collectible and experimental dimension of design into a broader dialogue around uniqueness and research. The masterplan for Salone Contract 2027, designed by Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten / OMA, redefined the field of contract design as a complex global system, shifting the focus from the object itself to infrastructures and markets.

Finally, the sold-out event La Notte Bianca del Progetto, promoted by the Salone del Mobile.Milano Observatory, brought together 19 institutions, including major public and private archives, with more than 50 guided tours and talks, presenting over 150 historic architecture and design collections that form part of the city’s cultural heritage.

ek magazine was an official media partner of this year’s Salone del Mobile.

The 65th edition of the exhibition will take place from 13–18 April 2027.

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Global connections, new curatorial territories and an unprecedented openness to Contract. Salone del Mobile.Milano 2026 sets the coordinates for the project’s near future.

The countdown to the 64th edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, the most important international furniture and design industry event, from 21^st to 26th April, at Fiera Milano Rho, is on: more than 1,900 exhibitors (36.6% from abroad) and over 169,000 square metres of net exhibition space completely sold out. At the centre of it all is the eagerly awaited return of the biennial exhibitions: EuroCucina with FTK – Technology For the Kitchen, and the International Bathroom Exhibition.

Completing the picture is SaloneSatellite with 700 designers under 35 and 23 international schools and universities. These figures confirm that the Salone is not only the most important international furniture and design fair, but also an active and evolving cultural infrastructure: a relational and strategic driver that fuels global connections, disseminates shared visions and consolidates Milan’s role as the capital of contemporary design.

The common thread running through the 2026 edition will be an increasingly integrated architecture of content and exhibition itineraries. The Salone is also embarking on a new venture, which will lead to the debut of Salone Contract in 2027 — the Masterplan has been entrusted to Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten (OMA). From the interpretation of contexts to the visitor experience, integrated supplies and the strengthening of B2B networking.

Debuting also Salone Raritas. Curated icons, unique objects, and outsider pieces: 25 exhibitors will create a new platform, a bridge between special production and the design market, curated by Annalisa Rosso, Editorial Director and Cultural Events Advisor of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, with exhibition design by Formafantasma.

A Luxury Way will feature Aurea, an Architectural Fiction, an immersive installation designed by Maison Numéro 20: an imaginary hotel that transforms interior design into narration and scenography, leveraging the emotional and sensory dimensions of living. Bringing this narrative together and amplifying it, the communication campaign A Matter of Salone is a collective project that puts matter back at the centre as the origin and meaning of design, translating the transition from gesture to form and meaning into images, and a reworked visitor experience: a clearer and more intuitive wayfinding system will help visitors find their way around the fair more easily, fostering discoveries and encounters and making the complexity of the event easier to understand.

Learn more here.

 

Cover Image: Entries_Salone del Mobile.Milano 2025_©Diego Ravier

01: Salone-Raritas_Salone del Mobile.Milano 2026_Visual_©Formafantasma

02: Aurea_Salone del Mobile.Milano 2026_illustration_MN20

03: Communication Campaign_A Matter of Salone_Salone del Mobile.Milano 2026_©Motel409

Careful restoration

In the heart of Corso Italia in Milan, a small yet highly significant interior within Casa Sissa – a residential building by Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia – has been given renewed life and purpose. The architecture of the residence balances Rationalist, eclectic, and Novecento elements, emblematic of Italian design of the period. The intervention addresses the theme of conservative restoration with philological rigor, while carefully accommodating new functions related to contemporary professional use.

 

Spatial Organization

The studio occupies a wing of the building facing Corso Italia. The plan is organized around an entrance hall equipped with full-height cabinetry, leading to a large, luminous open workspace. This is complemented by a more intimate meeting room overlooking the internal garden, a coffee area, a bathroom with an antechamber, and discreetly concealed technical zones. The original layout is respected throughout: double-leaf glazed doors, reconstructed after the loss of the originals, open onto the principal spaces, while smoked oak boiseries line the entrance, adding warmth and depth.

 

Material Palette

All design decisions stem from close engagement with the existing fabric. The original oak floors, laid in a herringbone pattern in the meeting room and in 40×40cm diamond-patterned parquet tiles in the work area, were carefully recovered, reassembled, and integrated where necessary to accommodate new technical systems. This rare flooring, discovered beneath later coverings, was restored with meticulous attention. In other areas, black cementine tiles imitating Belgian Black marble were retained; where suitable replacements could not be sourced, continuity was ensured through slabs of actual marble matched in tone and finish.

Wall surfaces were treated with an almost archaeological approach. Original 1930s plasters and decorative finishes, concealed beneath subsequent layers, were revealed, consolidated, and reintegrated where lacunae existed. In the meeting room, the green wall tone recalls the chromatic palette of the era. Windows, handles, and hinges were also restored: each metal element was dismantled, cleaned, and, in some cases, recast from molds, revealing the variety of original brass and iron finishes. Positioned between Modernism and Novecento taste, these details testify to a project in which elegance and technical precision intersect with material culture.

 

 

Furnishings & Restoration Practices

The built-in furnishings, entirely custom-designed, define functions with discretion. Storage units, consoles, and worktables in bleached ash articulate the space without interrupting the historical legibility of the interiors. The condominium entrance hall is conceived as an integral part of the project. Though still awaiting restoration, it preserves original wall cladding in Palissandro Blu marble – a rare Italian stone from Piedmont – laid in a diamond pattern, a motif echoed in the office flooring.

Other notable elements include the striped plaster ceiling, a recessed lamp beneath a marble bench, and a large, glazed window that floods the staircase with light, all poised between Novecento and Modernist sensibilities. The intervention stands as both an act of care toward the historic fabric and a clear declaration of method.

 

The 63rd edition of Salone del Mobile.Milano concluded with great success, reaffirming its role as the world’s leading event in the field of design. Despite international challenges, the exhibition welcomed 302,548 visitors from 151 countries, further strengthening its strategic global position. More than 2,100 exhibitors from 37 countries presented innovative ideas and products, while the rich Cultural Programme and the Euroluce International Lighting Forum emerged as key highlights, opening new perspectives for the future of design and lighting. Within this framework, distinguished figures from the international design scene took part as keynote speakers:

• Bjarke Ingels, Founder and Creative Director of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)
• Valeria Segovia, Principal and Design Director at Gensler London
• Kaoru Mende, acclaimed lighting designer and architect
• Lonneke Gordijn, co-founder of Studio Drift
• Lesley Lokko, architect and founder of the African Futures Institute

At the same time, striking installations such as Mother by Robert Wilson, La Dolce Attesa by Paolo Sorrentino, and Villa Héritage by Pierre-Yves Rochon received outstanding acclaim, further enriching the dialogue between art, architecture, and design. Sustainability was once again placed at the forefront through the reinforcement of the ISO 20121 certified standard and the promotion of responsible management practices.

Maria Porro, President of Salone del Mobile.Milano, stated: “This year’s edition demonstrated that through collaboration, quality, and creativity, we can shape the future of the industry.”

The next Salone del Mobile.Milano will take place from 21–26 April 2026 in Milan.

Illuminated geometries

The recently inaugurated lifestyle centre is a futuristic architectural landmark intended to revolutionise the Milan’s urban skyline. Its design is a tribute to sustainability and everyday life, featuring the highest urban planning standards and poised to become a focal point within the city.

 

Design Philosophy

The centre includes 210 stores that feature a unique selection of national and international brands. The complex is distinguished by its organic architectural shape, comprised of two circular buildings connected by a suspension bridge, and acts as a striking example of modern architecture. The interior showcases magnificent, expansive, seamlessly interconnected spaces made of an array of strategically configurated glass elements.

 

Lighting Design

Spaces are diverse and intricate, thus in need of different lighting requirements, which are addressed through a careful lighting design study by the Greek designer, Thomas Gravanis (Studio L+DG Lighting Architects). The lighting blends harmoniously with its surroundings, creating a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. Despite a number of challenges, such as mitigating light pollution and glare, the result offers comfort and high-quality lighting that accentuates the distinctive architecture of the centre. Additionally, by developing tailored lighting solutions, the building follows bioclimatic and energy-efficient design principles. Finally, the façades have been illuminated to enhance the visual experience for both pedestrians and motorists.

 

Sustainability Approach

The architecture seamlessly integrates advanced technology and sustainability. The main roof offers ample natural light while avoiding glare or overheating. The project successfully meets all the current challenges of sustainability with the use of eco-friendly materials and bioclimatic solutions. An 8,500m2 dome and the use of 4,500m3 of laminated timber contribute towards reducing the building’s environmental impact by absorbing the equivalent of 8 years of CO₂emissions. With over 5,000m2 of indoor and outdoor green space, the lifestyle centre becomes an urban oasis, situated at the heart of Milan.