Anniversary Tour

For its 20th birthday, we gave VIENNA DESIGN WEEK a European tour. This is a look back at what has already become a legendary Anniversary Tour.

Between March and June, the unique spirit of VIENNA DESIGN WEEK travelled across Europe with our team – from Belgium to Italy, the Czech Republic, Germany and Spain.

More than 100 designers, artists, craftspeople, companies, festivals and institutions took part in the journey. Together, we commissioned new works, took over bars, foraged for wild herbs, activated historic spaces, shared thousands of conversations and served countless drinks.

Most importantly, however, we demonstrated what has defined VIENNA DESIGN WEEK for the past twenty years: its close connection to the design community, its international network, its site-specific approach, and its unique ability to spark meaningful conversations through accessible, people-centred formats.

For us, the Anniversary Tour was far more than a series of international appearances. Across five very different settings, it carried the distinct character of VIENNA DESIGN WEEK beyond Vienna. It became an invitation to exchange ideas, a network in motion, and a way of making Vienna and its design scene tangible far beyond the city's borders. Along the way, new friendships, collaborations and projects emerged almost naturally—connections that will continue well beyond this anniversary year.

From 25 September to 4 October, the tour will make one final stop in Vienna. A special showcase at the VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2026 Festival Headquarters will bring together the many souvenirs, objects and stories collected along our adventurous journey across Europe.

We hope you enjoy looking back on the tour and discovering its many highlights!

The whole tour was supported by: