It is a privilege and an honor to share the news that Sofia will host the next edition of the European Design Awards and the European Design Festival in 2026. We at Komplekt will act as curators and main organizers of the event, in partnership with the Bulgarian Convention Bureau and the European Design Awards. Save the date – June 2026 will be all about design.
We look forward to sharing updates about the festival’s development, the program, and the awards ceremony.
How We Got Here
After extensive preparation in 2024 and a visit to the previous edition of the European Design Awards and Festival in Naples – where we participated as jury members – we submitted a proposal that highlighted Sofia’s rich cultural identity, strong creative potential, and vibrant local scene. Our aim was to present a festival with personality and lasting resonance within the European design community. In early May, we received confirmation that, for the first time in the festival’s history, it will be held in Bulgaria.
“Sofia is a city in transformation – raw, compelling, and full of creative energy,” says Demetrios Fakinos, director of the festival. “You can feel that something is about to happen – this makes it the perfect stage for a festival that gives voice to bold ideas and new perspectives.”
What We’re Preparing
An exciting year of preparation lies ahead. Highlights of the upcoming European Design Festival include:
– A two-day international conference featuring progressive and influential designers from across Europe and Bulgaria
– Practical workshops and experience exchange across various fields of communication design
– A curated selection of exhibitions showcasing contemporary Bulgarian design
– Visits to beloved and emerging creative studios in Sofia
– Guided walks with curated cultural programs
– And of course, the 20th European Design Awards ceremony
Each edition of the festival features a strong visual identity developed by a local design studio. We have invited the award winning creative agency Next DC to develop the graphic look of the Sofia edition.
The upcoming edition of the European Design Awards and Festival is organized by Studio Komplekt, producer of the MELBA Design Festival, in partnership with the European Design Awards and with the support of the Bulgarian Convention Bureau.
The event aims to introduce the European design scene to the unique identity and rising creative power of Sofia.
More details about the program and ticketing will be available at the end of 2025.
Stay up to date at:
studiokomplekt.com | melba.bg | europeandesign.org