Each year, Copenhagen becomes a meeting place for the global design community - a city where ideas are exchanged, materials are explored and new perspectives emerge. 3daysofdesign 2026 once again transformed the Danish capital into a living showcase of contemporary design, bringing together leading international brands, emerging studios and a global audience of architects, designers and creative thinkers.
What makes the festival so compelling is its intimacy. Rather than being confined to a traditional exhibition hall, design unfolds throughout the city - in historic buildings, brand homes, galleries and carefully considered installations. This slower, more thoughtful approach creates space for meaningful conversations, unexpected discoveries and a deeper connection between people, products and place.
From immersive brand experiences to considered new collections, this year’s festival reflected a continued shift towards design that feels purposeful, personal and enduring. Across the week, themes of sustainability, craftsmanship, material innovation and timeless living emerged as designers explored how we create spaces that respond to the way we live today.
In this report, the CULT team shares the releases, conversations and ideas that captured our attentionfrom standout presentations and emerging trends to the moments that defined our experience of 3daysofdesign 2026.
DATES 10 - 12 June 2026
LOCATION
Copenhagen, Denmark
FRIENDS OF CULT
QUICK GUIDE
Look out for these symbols to guide you to the most relevant themes for you.
A look back at the standout exhibitions, new releases, installations and presentations that left a lasting impression.
TRACES
LASTING IMPRESSIONS
A CHRONICLE OF DANISH DESIGN SCENES
O-OVERGADEN PROJECT MATERIA
MILAN DESIGN WEEK THE MOMENT IS NAU CUPIDO
TACTILE LIVING
FACES FOR SPACES
W+
with CULT
&Tradition
Astep
Fredericia
GUBI
HAY
Mater nanimarquina
NAU
Nemo Lighting
Sancal
String Furniture
Wästberg
TRACES
by &TRADITION
For the 2026 edition of 3daysofdesign, &Tradition presented Traces – an exhibition that explored the enduring marks of design, craft, and culture. By looking at process, material and making, &Tradition reflected on how every act of creation carries both legacy and impact. Taking a global view throughout &Tradition’s Copenhagen showroom, Traces sought to uncover the common threads that connect classic and contemporary, local and global, past and future. Exploring both the visible and invisible marks left by design, from the craftsman’s hand to the global footprint of production, and the gestures in between. With a special focus on the world of Verner Panton and Hee Welling’s Rely series, each room throughout the house was orientated around how heritage and originality coexist.
The proportions of Note (design studio)’s Alima morph in height and width with five new ways to store, display and organise.
ALIMA
BY NOTE (DESIGN STUDIO)
First released as a singular design envisioned to organise, this year, Note (design studio) expands the Alima trolley’s aesthetic systematisation across five new products: a scaled-down trolley, a side table and three shelving units.
BELLA
BY SPACE COPENHAGEN
Referencing the contours of a four-leaf clover, the Bella chandelier by Space Copenhagen embodies a new exploration of shape and scale in contemporary lighting.
FLOWERPOT ANNIVERSARY EDITION
BY VERNER PANTON
To celebrate what would have been Verner Panton’s 100th birthday in 2026, the Flowerpot VP1 is presented in its most elemental expression - Pewter. Chosen intentionally to shift the focus away from colour, the finish highlights the iconic form of this enduring design.
GIO FLOOR LAMP
BY LUCA NICHETTO N L
Designed by Luca Nichetto, the Gio Floor Lamp reinterprets Venetian glass craftsmanship, translating the collection’s signature sculptural elegance into a refined freestanding form.
HI LO POUF
BY ANDERSSEN & VOLL N F
Challenging the physical boundaries of conventional lounge seating, Anderssen & Voll’s twopiece Hi Lo sofa series now becomes three, with the addition of a generously sized pouf.
NUMBRA
Where line, light and shadow meets: Numbra by Teruhiro Yanagihara, a new lighting series for &Tradition.
BY TERUHIRO YANAGIHARA
Japanese designer Teruhiro Yanagihara brings a contemplative approach to lighting with Numbra, his first collaboration with &Tradition. Comprised of a pendant and a portable lamp, each conceived as a subtle architectural gesture that balances illumination with atmosphere.
RELY LOUNGE CHAIR
BY HEE WELLING
The essential seating range: Hee Welling’s Rely chair for &Tradition receives significant updates with new lounge chair, new colourways and undyed recycled plastic shell.
RELY NEW COLOURS
BY HEE WELLING
Alongside the new lounge chair, the dining chair’s recycled post-consumer plastic shell also welcomes three new colour variants for 2026: Midnight, Burnt Umber and Oyster.
WIRE SERIES
Verner Panton’s Wire series expands with the introduction of a coffee table, bar stool, and counter stool.
BY VERNER PANTON
Building upon the original idea behind the Wire Stool from 1981, the new additions carry the same signature geometric wire structure and sculptural lightness that are synonymous with Panton’s visual language.
LASTING IMPRESSIONS
by ASTEP
Astep presented Lasting Impressions, an exhibition exploring the emotional power of light through atmosphere, materiality and timeless design. Alongside the unveiling of Model 2095 by Gino Sarfatti and Filamento by Mayice Studio, the presentation reflected the brand’s philosophy of honouring design heritage while looking confidently towards the future. Quietly understated yet deeply considered, Astep once again demonstrated that great lighting shapes not only spaces, but the way we experience them.
FILAMENTO
BY MAYICE STUDIO N L
Filamento by Mayice Studio explores the relationship between light and glass. Carefully shaped concave and convex forms create the illusion of a suspended filament of light, transforming a technical observation into a quietly sculptural lighting experience.
MODEL 2095
A L
BY GINO SARFATTI
Designed by Gino Sarfatti in 1958, the system belongs to his experimental “2000” series of suspension lamps, developed through a focus on lighting as a spatial composition that responds to architecture and atmosphere.
A CHRONICLE OF DANISH DESIGN
by FREDERICIA
The Fredericia showroom brought together mid-century icons and contemporary works, presenting a curated selection spanning new releases, relaunches and archival pieces by designers including Nanna Ditzel, Cecilie Manz, Mogens Koch, Barber Osgerby and Børge Mogensen. Following its debut in Milan, Fredericia: A Chronicle of Danish Design guided visitors through over a century of furniture making, highlighting how the brand continued to shape Danish design through a balance of tradition, innovation and enduring craftsmanship.
POST LOUNGE CHAIR
BY CECILIE MANZ N F
Fredericia expanded the Post collection with the introduction of the Post Lounge Chair, completing the family alongside the Dining Chair and Table.
PLAN COLLECTION
BY EDWARD BARBER & JAY OSGERBY N F
The Plan collection expands with new chair and meeting table additions, extending its architectural design language across a broader range of residential, workplace and hospitality settings.
ND TRISSE STOOL & TABLE SERIES
The ND Trisse Stool & Table Series, designed by Nanna Ditzel in 1962, is an early example of her free approach to furniture design. Originally developed with children in mind, Trisse was conceived as an open object that changes character according to its use and surroundings.
BY NANNA DITZEL
Its simple forms and carefully balanced proportions lend the design a playful quality that continues to resonate across generations. Available as a stool, coffee table, dining table and coat stand.
SCENES
by GUBI
At 3daysofdesign 2026, GUBI set the stage for Scenes: a series of composed settings that explore how design shapes the way we live, gather, and experience atmosphere. From immersive interiors and new collections to outdoor living and hospitality spaces, each scene offers a distinct expression of the GUBI universe.
BRIM DINING CHAIR
BY GAMFRATESI N F
Defined by a continuous outline, the Brim Chair evolves the familiar form language of GamFratesi’s Beetle Chair into a more distilled expression, where a softly rounded profile defines both its character and presence.
C-CHAIR DINING CHAIR OUTDOOR
BY MARCEL GASCOIN
Marcel Gascoin’s modernist classic, the C-Chair, is reimagined for outdoor living, crafted from solid teak and outdoor-friendly French cane.
DORIC COFFEE TABLE
BY GAMFRATESI
GamFratesi’s Doric Coffee Table expands from Neutral White Travertine to Honey Amber and Stormy Gray marble, bringing new material character to the collection’s sculptural form.
ELOGIO OTTOMAN
BY TOBIA SCARPA A F
Developed as a natural extension of Afra and Tobia Scarpa’s Elogio modular sofa system from 1974, the Elogio Ottoman expands the collection’s architectural flexibility and spatial versatility.
F300 LOUNGE CHAIR NEW UPHOLSTERY
BY PIERRE PAULIN
In the late 1960s, French furniture designer Pierre Paulin unveiled a lounge chair unlike anything the world had seen before: the F300, now available in new upholstery options.
GRACE LOUNGE CHAIR OUTDOOR
BY TOVE KINDT LARSEN
The new outdoor edition brings its sculptural beauty and nature-inspired aesthetic into open-air spaces, with a modern upgrade in synthetic rattan crafted from powder coated aluminum and polyethylene fibers.
HORNBÆK PORTABLE LAMP
N L
BY GUBI
Inspired by sails catching the wind and lanterns guiding sailors along the shore, the design combines folded canvas shades with a hand-glazed ceramic base and a refined antique brass finish handle.
KEEN SHELVING SYSTEM
BY LINDA KORNDAL N F
Created for GUBI by Linda Korndal’s studio, Toko Among Friends, Keen is a modular shelving system defined by architectural structure, expressive personality, and quiet adaptability.
LOTUS
A L
BY CARLO NASON
Reintroduced by GUBI after more than 50 years out of production, Carlo Nason’s iconic Lotus Table Lamp fuses the peak of Murano glassmaking with a timeless artistic vision.
M-CHAIR
A F
BY MARCEL GASCOIN
Originally designed in 1937 and brought into production for the first time by GUBI, the M-Chair revived a previously unseen Marcel Gascoin design, showcasing his early exploration of metal construction and modernist living.
MODERN LINE DINING
A F
BY GRETA M. GROSSMAN
Originally designed in 1949 and reintroduced by GUBI in 2015, Modern Line has long been favoured in hospitality and workplace interiors, demonstrating its relevance in contract environments.
MULTI-LITE WALL LAMP
BY LOUIS WEISDORF
Faithfully developed from an original sketch by Louis Weisdorf, the Multi-Lite Wall Lamp brings a new dimension to one of the designer’s most iconic collections.
OBELLO PORTABLE NEW COLOURS
BY BILL CURRY
Originally designed by Bill Curry in 1971, the Obello Lamp returned in three glossy pastel finishes, Mellow Yellow, Powder Pink and Pearl White, bringing a fresh expression to the designer’s iconic Space Age silhouette.
P3 OUTDOOR COLLECTION
BY TITO AGNOLI A F
Designed by Tito Agnoli in 1964, the P3S Collection combined sculptural form with handwoven rattan craftsmanship. Introduced as GUBI’s first sun lounger, it extended the collection’s distinctive aesthetic into outdoor settings.
PEDRERA COFFEE TABLE STRUCTURED GLASS
BY CORSINI & RUIZ MILLET A F
Designed by Barba Corsini in 1955, the Pedrera Coffee Table paired a sculptural steel base with an organic glass top, now introduced in a new structured glass finish alongside a selection of refined frame options.
SILK LANTERN LAMP
BY LARSEN & MADSEN A L
Originally designed in 1951 and produced for the first time by GUBI, the Silk Lantern by Ejner Larsen and Aksel Bender Madsen combined Japanese-inspired lightness with Danish modernism through a refined palette of silk, walnut and steel.
STAY SLIPCOVER
BY SPACE COPENHAGEN
The Stay Collection introduced removable stonewashed linen slipcovers, adding a softer, more relaxed expression while enhancing the collection’s comfort, versatility and everyday appeal.
SW50 SOFA
BY ILLUM WIKKELSØ
Originally designed by Illum Wikkelsø in 1959, the SW50 Sofa combined architectural lines, visible timber construction and exceptional comfort in a refined expression of Danish modernism.
TOTTO STOOL
BY GAMFRATESI
The Totto Stool by GamFratesi reinterprets the archetypal three-legged stool through softness, tactility, and refined simplicity. Crafted entirely from Sapelli wood, the design balances a grounded character with instinctive functionality, creating a versatile companion shaped for everyday life.
by HAY
HAY transformed Copenhagen’s O–Overgaden into an immersive exhibition, bringing together past, present and future collections in a series of thoughtfully curated installations. By placing new and existing designs in conversation, the exhibition highlighted the brand’s enduring commitment to accessible, functional design shaped by colour, materiality and everyday living.
New releases from Jasper Morrison, Philippe Malouin, Gudmundur Ludvik, Andreas Bergsaker and Julien Renault reinforced HAY’s collaborative approach, presenting furniture and objects that balance innovation with simplicity. Together, the exhibition reflected HAY’s ability to evolve while remaining grounded in timeless Scandinavian design principles.
BACKFLIP CHAIR
BY GUDMUNDUR LUDVIK N F
HAY is proud to introduce the Backflip Chair by Icelandic designer Gudmundur Ludvik - a foldable chair that reconsiders a familiar typology through a cleverly engineered folding mechanism.
CANELÉ TABLE LAMP
BY LECLERCQ VIALLET
In their first design for HAY, French design duo Leclercq Viallet have created the Canelé Table Lamp - an elegant table lamp defined by the interplay of folded steel and pleated textile.
CHISEL COLLECTION N F
After the Chisel Lounge Chair by Norwegian designer Andreas Bergsaker, HAY is delighted to present the Chisel Collection - a contemporary yet timeless assortment for any indoor environment.
BY ANDREAS BERGSAKER
The Chisel Collection has evolved from a moulded plywood chair into a family of pieces: a dining chair, a stool and two bar stools, as well as round, rectangular and extendable tables.
SOFA
BY PHILIPPE MALOUIN N F
Designed by British-Canadian designer Philippe Malouin, Mimi is an inviting sofa defined by the interplay between precise structure and a fluid silhouette.
MIMI
PACK CHAIR
BY JASPER MORRISON N F S
In his first chair for HAY, Jasper Morrison has designed the Pack Chair, a contemporary take on the wooden trattoria chair. With its moulded seat and backrest, the design translates a recognisable typology into an industrial context through considered construction.
PROJECT MATERIA x
MATER
At this year’s 3daysofdesign, Mater presented an exhibition centred on its commitment to circular design and material innovation, showcasing its evolution from FSC-certified timber to furniture made primarily from recycled and waste-based materials. The exhibition highlighted the brand’s proprietary Matek® material, demonstrating how waste streams are transformed into high-quality furniture through innovative manufacturing processes, while reinforcing Mater’s vision of creating timeless design with a lower environmental impact.
OCEAN COLLECTION DUSTY BLUE
BY JØRGEN & NANNA DITZEL
The dusty blue version is made from post-consumer e-waste. E-waste is considered the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. E-waste consists of mixed plastic parts from endof-life electronic appliances such as fridges, displays and keyboards.
TERRA COFFEE WASTE
BY OEO STUDIO
The Terra, designed by OEO Studio, features a lampshade crafted from our innovative waste material, Matek™. The design is minimalist, precise, and timeless, while the tactility of the Matek™ material lends the series a fresh and intriguing expression.
SPACE COPENHAGEN THE ORIGINAL STOOL COLLECTION
Designed by Space Copenhagen, these stools are considered New Danish Classics, combining an organic, minimalist form with refined comfort and updated materials for both residential and commercial spaces.
BY SPACE COPENHAGEN
All Low and High Stools are now available in selected textiles from Kvadrat’s Baru and Clay collections, allowing for extended customisation across the range.
NANIMARQUINA
from MILAN DESIGN WEEK
nanimarquina presented “Make the Everyday Sacred” at Milan Design Week 2026, an immersive exhibition celebrating the artistic legacy of Lucia Eames and the launch of the Lucia Eames™ Rug Collection. Inspired by Eames’ ability to transform everyday moments into poetic compositions, the installation explored nature, craftsmanship and emotional design through organic motifs, textures and colour. The collection was also showcased at Salone del Mobile, highlighting nanimarquina’s ongoing commitment to storytelling through handmade rugs and meaningful design.
LUCIA EAMES™
The Lucia Eames Collection by nanimarquina translated Lucia Eames’ original artworks into handcrafted rugs, celebrating her distinctive visual language through organic motifs, playful forms and refined textile craftsmanship.
BY LUCIA EAMES
The collection reflected her deep connection to nature, colour and the beauty found in everyday moments.
MATIZ
Conceived as a dhurrie, MATIZ reinterprets traditional weaving techniques by shifting the focus from pre-dyed yarns to a more experimental approach.
BY JULIE RICHOZ
Each rug begins with a handwoven base in a single colour. Once completed, a contrasting tone is applied through a manual dyeing process, allowing the pigment to interact organically with the woven surface.
THE MOMENT IS NAU
by NAU
Returning to Copenhagen for a second year, NAU presented The Moment Is NAU - an exhibition celebrating Australian design through a lens of craftsmanship, material honesty and quiet permanence. Set within a light-filled gallery space, the presentation brought together new releases and evolving collections by Adam Goodrum and Tom Fereday, creating a calm, architectural environment that invited visitors to slow down and engage with each piece.
Rather than following trends, the installation reflected NAU’s enduring commitment to thoughtful design with longevity at its core. It reinforced the growing confidence of Australian design on the global stage, demonstrating a distinctly local design language that resonates well beyond our shores.
SOFT SPOT
BY ADAM GOODRUM N F
Soft Spot is a seating collection by Adam Goodrum, shaped by a soft, enveloping silhouette and a distinctly relaxed sensibility. Generous, layered forms create a sculptural presence - substantial yet inviting - balancing comfort with clarity of form.
NAMI SHELF
BY TOM FEREDAY N F
Designed by Tom Fereday for NAU, the Nami Shelving System extends the original collection’s sculptural language into a versatile storage solution defined by fluidform and material warmth.
BREEZE BLOCK
BY NICK RENNIE N F
Breeze Block celebrates colour, pattern and material through a playful, customisable design. Interchangeable inserts in patterned tile, timber or laminate allow each table to be uniquely composed, bringing character and versatility to outdoor settings.
BY ADAM GOODRUM N L
A study in geometry, balance and light, XO is a sculptural lighting collection by Adam Goodrum inspired by two universal forms - the circle and the cross.
PIER
BY ADAM GOODRUM N F
Designed by Adam Goodrum, the table series features a distinctive folded timber base that transforms a traditional structural element into a refined architectural gesture. The solid timber construction highlights the natural warmth, grain and character of the material.
ARCH
BY ADAM GOODRUM
A celebration of craftsmanship, proportion and timeless form, Arch is a solid timber dining chair defined by its distinctive arched backrest. Balancing sculptural simplicity with everyday functionality, it brings warmth and refinement to dining and hospitality spaces.
CUPIDO
by NEMO LIGHTING
Nemo Lighting showcased its latest innovation, Cupido by Alon Rotman, alongside a curated selection of decorative and architectural lighting from across the Nemo Group, including FontanaArte, ILTI Luce and Reggiani. Presented at the brand’s Copenhagen showroom, the exhibition highlighted the group’s shared vision of balancing contemporary innovation with design heritage while bringing together the wider design community through a series of events.
CUPIDO
The Cupido table lamp embodies a love story between mass and line, expressing the romantic tension that results from the fusion of these two elements.
BY ALON ROTMAN
A fine cable shapes the metal stem of the lamp, evoking the image of Cupid’s bow and symbolising a deep, passionate bond. The result is a harmonious balance between elegance and visual strength.
TACTILE LIVING
by SANCAL
Sancal presented Tactile Living, a collaboration with Paper Collective exploring the relationship between design, art and sensory experience. Through a series of material-driven environments, the exhibition celebrated sculptural forms, natural materials and the emotional connection we create with the objects around us.
At the centre of the presentation was Gradas, a new architectural seating system designed by UNS, alongside recent releases that highlighted Sancal’s playful approach to colour, comfort and contemporary living. The installation reflected the Spanish brand’s belief that furniture should not only be functional, but encourage interaction, connection and moments of joy.
GRADAS
BY UNS N F
GRADAS by UNS, introduces a new seating typology inspired by the vitality of urban life. Its stepped, multi-level configuration encourages open and spontaneous ways of use, accommodating everything from individual moments of concentration to collective gatherings.
TWINS
BY JÚLIA ESQUÉ N F
TWINS by Júlia Esqué, is an exploration of duality translated into furniture. Based on a single structure, the piece adopts two contrasting personalities through the transformative power of textiles.
BY MARC MORRO N F
PALMA by Marc Morro evolves from an earlier all-metal design, preserving its structural simplicity while introducing a warmer, more approachable character suited to both residential and shared spaces.
PALMA
MIMOSO
BY
NOTE (DESIGN STUDIO)
MIMOSO by Note (Design Studio) draws inspiration from maximalism and the warmth of 1970s and 1980s interiors. Like an oversized duvet draped over a robust base, it creates an inviting, enveloping comfort experience.
FACES FOR SPACES
by STRING FURNITURE
String Furniture presented Faces for Spaces, an exhibition that celebrated the enduring adaptability of its iconic modular shelving system. Installed at Odd Fellow Palace, the exhibition transformed shelving configurations into playful, character-like compositions, demonstrating how each arrangement can reflect different personalities, spaces and ways of living. Through imaginative styling and thoughtful compositions, Faces for Spaces highlighted the flexibility that has defined String Furniture since 1949, showing how no two configurations are ever the same. The installation reinforced String Furniture’s commitment to timeless, evolving design, creating furniture systems that adapt to changing needs while encouraging creativity, individuality and everyday functionality.
by WÄSTBERG
Wästberg presented a considered exploration of light, craftsmanship and human experience, reinforcing the Swedish brand’s belief that good lighting should be both functional and emotional. Through a refined presentation of its latest collections, Wästberg highlighted its ongoing collaboration with leading designers and architects, creating lighting solutions that feel timeless, purposeful and deeply connected to the spaces they inhabit.
The installation reflected Wästberg’s commitment to thoughtful design - where materiality, sustainability and innovation come together to create light that enhances everyday environments.
CAST
BY FOSTER + PARTNERS INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Cast takes a softer approach to directional lighting, inspired by traditional Japanese paper cups. Its domed form, concealed mechanics and fluid movement create a more human, refined presence without compromising performance.
BY FOSTER + PARTNERS INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
V reinterprets the classic banker’s lamp through a contemporary, sculptural lens. With a refined silhouette, compact footprint and fluid positioning, it balances comfort and focus across home, work and library settings.
BABEL
BY THAMVIDEGÅRD N L
Babel balances playfulness and poise, creating a bold yet refined statement piece. Available in two sizes, it can stand alone or combine to create a dynamic visual dialogue. Designed by Stockholm-based Tham & Videgård.
