The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) returned to the Javits Center from May 17 to 19, 2026, for an edition that celebrated the global design community during NYCxDESIGN.
This year’s edition featured the theme, “Common Ground: A Global Dialogue on Design and Shared Values,” which focused on design across different cultures and perspectives.
“ICFF 2026 reflected the kind of thoughtful evolution we believe the design industry is actively seeking,” said ICFF Brand directors Odile Hainaut and Claire Pijoulat. “There was a strong sense of engagement throughout the fair, from the conversations happening on the show floor to the depth of the talks programming and the quality of presentations from exhibitors. This edition demonstrated how design can bring people together while also creating meaningful business opportunities. We also saw continued momentum around emerging talent and independent design through the growth of curated sections such as Launch Pad and Look Book, alongside a particularly strong international presence from Brazil and India. Overall, the quality of attendees and level of engagement throughout the fair remained exceptionally strong.”
Attendees experienced an immersive floor plan conceived by RADS (Rodolfo Agrella Design Studio). The fair also unveiled new partnerships and initiatives, including ICFF’s first-ever collaboration with Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester.
The Parsons Healthy Materials Lab, led by Jonsara Ruth, presented a new exhibition exploring bio-based materials, healthier alternatives, and production processes through a series of talks and workshops. Craftsmanship was also featured in the expanded “Bespoke: The Art of Making” feature, presented in partnership with Hospitality Design and the Mayfair Design District.
At the center of the installation was the Bespoke Salon, designed by Post Company, a space that hosted live demonstrations, presentations, and conversations. Another installation, Rarify, brought together original Bauhaus archival materials and contemporary production through a collaboration between Rarify, Tecta, and the Bauhaus Archive Berlin in a presentation at ICFF.
WANTED also returned with expanded participation across Launch Pad, Look Book, and the Schools Showcase. The Look Book program, curated this year with Julia Haney Montanez and presented with media partner Dezeen, featured more than 60 North American design studios, while Launch Pad featured more than 80 emerging designers, and the Schools Showcase expanded to include 24 schools, its largest participation to date.
More than 110 designers, editors, architects, and thought leaders participated in talks and special programming across the Main Stage, The Oasis, Bespoke Salon, Aqua Atelier by GROHE, and the Juniper Recharge Lounge, drawing an audience over the course of three days. Conversations explored topics ranging from material innovation and affordable housing to sustainability, emerging technologies, and global collaboration.
Programming included A Message for Mamdani, moderated by Julie Lasky of The New York Times; The State of Affairs in Design Media, hosted by Tiffany Jow of Untapped; and Design as Diplomacy: Soft Power, Hard Materials with Amit Gupta of STIR. The fair also expanded its Emerging Designer Spotlight initiative, developed in partnership with Clever and Amy Devers and sponsored by Danver.
As ICFF concluded its final May edition, the fair also marked the beginning of a new chapter. Beginning in 2027, ICFF will transition to a fall schedule, with the inaugural edition taking place from November 14 to 16, 2027, at the Javits Center alongside BDNY.
ICFF and BDNY will remain two distinct, independently curated trade fairs, each with its own identity, audience, and programming. Taking place concurrently at the Javits Center, they will offer complementary experiences.
This year, ICFF hosted the ICFF Editors Awards, WANTED’s Best of Launch Pad Awards for furniture/home accessories and lighting, Best of Students Award, and Best of Schools Award.
ICFF Editors Award winners:
Furniture: Bernhardt Design
Outdoor: British American Camping
Lighting: Ridezign
Flooring & Rugs: Gica Atelier
Kitchen & Bath: Herbeau
Materials & Surfaces: Leon Speakers
Craftsmanship: Atelier Lebuisson
Exhibit Design: Arboreal
American Brand: Sin
International Brand: Zieta Studio
Sustainable Design: Parsons Healthy Materials Lab
Best in Show: Zieta Studio
Best of Launch Pad winners:
Furniture/Home Accessories Winner: Amin Tadj Studio
Lighting Winner: Mios
Best of Students winner: Heecham Kim, SCAD
Best of Schools winner: Lawrence Technological University
Best of Emerging Designers Spotlight: Joey Aji
This year, ICFF also extended its presence beyond the Javits Center with two NYCxDESIGN programs that brought the design community together ahead of the fair: ICFF Night Out and Look Book Offsite. Plans for 2027 events will be announced later this year.
In partnership with NYCxDESIGN and Interni magazine, ICFF Night Out welcomed hundreds of designers, media, and VIP guests on May 15 for a series of evening events across NoMad and SoHo at the Flos, Lixil, and Moroso showrooms.
From May 15 to 19, ICFF and AvroKO presented Form and Feeling at Host on Howard as part of ICFF’s inaugural Look Book Offsite program. The exhibition brought together independent North American design studios exploring contemporary form and traditional materiality and featured works by 16 invited Look Book designers, including Cuff Studio, Ian Love, Kate Dannessa, Coil + Drift, Vy Voi, Thomas Yang, and Simon Johns.
