REKA Design Week 2026 officially opened today at Pavilion Damansara Heights, bringing together designers, industry leaders, students and members of the public under the theme “Designing Dignity.” The event was officiated by YB Hannah Yeoh, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), underscoring the important role of design in shaping a more liveable, inclusive and people-centred Kuala Lumpur.
Organised by the Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID), REKA Design Week 2026 focuses and positions design as a practical tool for addressing real urban needs — from public facilities and accessibility to community spaces, sustainability and overall quality of life. This focus is reflected in the Student Design Competition, which challenges emerging designers to rethink everyday public facilities, including public toilets, with greater emphasis on cleanliness, safety, accessibility, functionality and dignity.
Beyond the main Design Activation at Pavilion Damansara Heights, REKA Design Week 2026 extends across Kuala Lumpur through a series of city-wide programmes.
- Open Studio invites members of the public into several participating interior design studios, offering an inside look at the creative processes, people and ideas behind the profession.
- The MikeBikes City Tour invites participants to experience Kuala Lumpur by bicycle, discovering the city’s architecture, neighbourhoods and urban character from a different perspective.
- The Rakan Reka Stamp Hunt connects visitors with participating creative spaces, design brands and destinations across the city, encouraging greater public engagement with Kuala Lumpur’s design ecosystem.
Together with design talks, exhibitions, student showcases, and competitions, these programmes position REKA Design Week as more than an industry event — establishing it as a platform that brings design into the city and closer to the community.
REKA Design Week 2026 is guided by four pillars — Roots, Everyday, Kinship and Awareness — reflecting the relationship between culture, daily life, community and sustainability. Through these initiatives, MIID aims to strengthen collaboration between government, industry, educational institutions, designers and communities, while nurturing the next generation of Malaysian design talent.
REKA Design Week 2026 was held from 17 to 20 September 2026 at Pavilion Damansara Heights, with selected city-wide programmes taking place across Kuala Lumpur.
https://www.rekadesignweek.com/
