Designblok 2024: Prague’s premiere design and fashion festival begins today

Designblok, the biggest design and fashion festival in Czechia, opens in Prague today and will run until Oct. 6, with "Youth" as the main theme of this year's 26th edition. The event will take place in several venues.

The Museum of the City of Prague in the Karlín neighborhood, which has been under reconstruction since 2020, will temporarily open for this occasion, while its official opening is planned for the beginning of next year. Other festival exhibitions can be seen at Prague Castle, the seat of Czech heads of state; the Bastion Florenc building in Karlín; and the Museum of Decorative Arts in the Old Town of Prague.

The festival will feature more than 200 artists, studios, and brands, including experimental and sustainable projects, international guests, and various shows, lectures, and discussions.

The exhibition halls of the modernized building of the Prague Museum now house the festival's Superstudio, a space for exhibitions by selected companies, shops, and manufacturers. Lectures and debates will take place on the second floor of the museum.

In the Romanesque cellar of the Old Royal Palace at Prague Castle, visitors can see the "Whiteout" exhibition by Czech porcelain and ceramics designer Daniel Pirsc, showcasing both his older works and new pieces created especially for this occasion. This display will run until Oct. 13.

The Riding Hall of Prague Castle houses the "High Craft" exhibition, which brings together over 30 Czech designers and brands that combine traditional crafts with innovative and environmentally friendly production methods.

At the Museum of Decorative Arts, the festival has prepared not only displays of original authors' designs but also an exhibition celebrating the 70th birthday of designer Bohuslav (Boda) Horák, co-founder of the Atika group. For the first time, Horák's major works, collector's pieces, and new items will be on display together until Oct. 28.

The Bastion Florenc development project presents exhibitions by designers, studios, and Central European universities. New Czech and international design innovations will be showcased, primarily through displays of prototypes and small-series production.

The international jury will present the Designblok 2024 Awards for exceptional achievements at the Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle on Thursday, Oct. 3.