Surface Design Show 2026 Explores the Future of Material Innovation Through “Material Evolution”

From 3–5 February 2026, the Surface Design Show returns to London’s Business Design Centre, placing a global spotlight on the evolving language of materials. Long established as a leading destination for material innovation, SDS26 will deliver an immersive exhibition of pioneering surfaces and finishes, encouraging architects and designers to see, touch and engage with the future of material design.

At the core of the 2026 edition is the theme Material Evolution, which challenges traditional notions of “newness” and urges the industry to rethink value. Rather than focusing solely on the novel, the show reframes innovation as a process of reinvention transforming waste into worth through circular design, material transparency and responsible production. Reuse, rediscovery and regeneration sit alongside scientific and technological advancement as key drivers of progress.

SDS26 will feature an expanded programme, welcoming back popular elements such as Surface Spotlight, Stone Tapestry, the Innovation Gallery, Green Grads and the Surface Design Awards. A major new development for 2026 is a partnership with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), which will host two of its flagship annual events at the show.

RIBA Future Leaders takes place on Tuesday 3 February, supporting the development of emerging architects, followed on Wednesday 4 February by the RIBA AI in Practice Summit (Second Edition). The summit will welcome more than 500 architects to examine the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in architectural practice.

The Surface Design Awards remain a cornerstone of the event, attracting over 100 entries this year. Winners were selected by an esteemed judging panel including Muyiwa Oki, President of RIBA; Tina Norden, Principal at Conran & Partners; Arthur Mamou-Mani, Director of Mamou-Mani; Seetal Solanki, Founder and Director of Ma-tt-er; Barbara Chandler, Founder of Green Grads; Oscar Pearce, Co-Founder of Design Burger; Michael Grubb, Founder of Michael Grubb Studio; Tim Bowder-Ridger, Principal and Partner at Conran & Partners; Roddy Clarke, design journalist and consultant; and Tim Gledstone, Partner at Squire & Partners.

Additional highlights include the return of the Young Architects and Developers Alliance (YADA) networking event, designed to foster meaningful connections among emerging professionals. Studio Justine Fox will curate the Designer Hub, bringing its expertise in colour psychology, ergonomics and insight to create one of the show’s most visually striking spaces.

Curated by materials, design and trend expert Sally Angharad, Surface Spotlight once again sits at the heart of the exhibition. This year’s installation presents Material Evolution as a story of renewal rather than novelty, exploring how materials transform through culture, heritage, science and circular design. Visitors are invited to reconsider familiar materials through creative application, narrative and context.

The show continues its commitment to supporting emerging designers through its ongoing partnership with the Royal College of Art. Featured RCA designers include Zoe Onatoye, whose work explores the relationship between nature and wellbeing by transforming construction waste into portable hanging gardens for site workers, and Olivia Webb, who challenges traditional material hierarchies by embedding discarded rose petals into modular tiles to create softer, more emotionally responsive architectural surfaces.

Green Grads, founded by Barbara Chandler, returns with a strong focus on environmental innovation, presenting solutions that address carbon reduction, circularity and material reuse. Highlights include Mobina Rajabimoghadam’s Bio Recursive, a compostable biomaterial made from waste eggshells, and Josh Myers’ Denimolite, a premium surface material created from post-consumer denim and manufacturing off-cuts that celebrates the visual character of textile waste.

New for 2026, the Emerging Talent category within the Surface Design Awards showcases experimental concepts with real-world potential. Notable projects include Poulami Saha’s research into fish scales as biodegradable biomaterials for interior panels and textiles, and David McGill’s Ruvi Acoustic Tile, which combines slip-cast ceramics with ancient Roman principles to enhance acoustic comfort in public spaces without synthetic foams.

A dynamic talks programme will run throughout the show, opening with a debate hosted by design author and journalist Katie Treggiden titled Waste: The Raw Material of the Future. Other key sessions include Hospitality by Design: Materials, Trends and Innovation, hosted by Design Insider editor Alys Bryan; Designing Emotion: Art, Materiality and Public Spaces with Zoe Allen and Giles Miller; and a discussion on designing for joy featuring interior designer Siobhan Murphy and Emily Wheeler of Furnishing Futures. The programme also includes Navigating Neurodiversity: Designing Spaces for Diverse Thinking, with panellists including Michelle Ogundehin head judge on Interior Design Masters and ex editor of Elle Decoration alongside experts from Buro Happold, HOK and Lloyd’s Banking Group.

With its ambitious vision and rich programme of exhibitions, installations and conversations, Surface Design Show 2026 cements its position as an essential date in the design calendar a celebration of creativity, material intelligence and the evolving future of surfaces.

For more information, visit www.surfacedesignshow.com