The World Design Cities Conference 2026, or WDCC 2026, runs from Sept 28 to 30, with its main venue in Huangpu district.

Nearly 1,000 experts, scholars, and industry leaders from China and abroad are participating in discussions on AI design, green and sustainable design, cultural heritage and innovation, and the development of Shanghai as a Design City.

Four key events

The Industrial Culture Development Conference 2026 featured a main forum, three parallel forums, and an entrepreneurship event. It released the Guidelines for Brand and Culture Development in Industrial Enterprises and the first group of sites under an initiative that aims to turn industrial elements and intangible cultural heritage into public displays and visitor attractions.

The Global Creative Cities Design Forum featured representatives from UNESCO and more than 30 Creative Cities, including London, Paris, Zurich, Dubai, Doha, Geelong, Busan, and Kuala Lumpur. They shared their experiences in developing design cities and jointly launched work on publicly available standards for design cities.

The World Green Design Conference featured speakers including Wang Jinnan, president of the World Green Design Organization, Alfred Pitterle, a recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, and academician Wang Hualin. The event also released international standards for green design and introduced assessments for green design products and green design engineers.

The International Design 100 Summit Forum featured experts from the Shanghai International Design 100 Think Tank, including Dava Newman, former director of the MIT Media Lab, and Italian architect Stefano Boeri. They discussed topics including how design can anticipate the future, bring intelligent manufacturing into everyday life, and rethink living spaces.

What visitors can see

The main WDCC exhibition is open to the public from Sept 26 to 30 at No 689 Jumen Road in Huangpu district. Admission is free, but advance registration for exhibitions and forums is required through the official "世界设计之都大会WDCC" WeChat mini program.

WDCC 2026 features about 15,000 square meters of exhibition space, with nearly 500 brands and more than 3,000 exhibits, and international brands accounting for over 20 percent.

Dedicated sections focus on AI design, green design, and U35 design talent. A separate Shanghai Design 100+ exhibition is also part of the program, while an outdoor carnival features a creative market and urban furniture displays.

Shanghai Casa, located at the main venue, features curated city gifts and products from Shanghai brands, including limited editions, collaborations, and new releases. The Shanghai Style section, dedicated to Huangpu district, also highlights clothing, jewelry, and other custom items.

The Shanghai GALA fashion event will take place from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Sept 29 at No 366 Hechuan Road in Minhang district. The Heritage Next fashion show will look at how traditional craftsmanship can be reinterpreted with AI creative tools.

More than 20 locations across Shanghai have been selected for four city walk routes focusing on industrial development, fashion consumption, fashion customization, and urban renewal. District-level events are also being held in Huangpu, Yangpu, Minhang, Jiading, Jinshan, Songjiang, and other districts.

Sources: General Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, WDCC 2026