The Surface Design Show brings together surface specialists from all over the world. From 3-5 February, the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, is where the community will immerse itself in the latest, inspiring materials for the built environment.
The theme for 2026 is ‘Material Evolution’, which calls for a rethinking of newness and how we can make a shift from waste to worth. Material Evolution celebrates thoughtful design and redefines what it means to be new whilst championing circular systems, material transparency, and inventive reuse.
Trend expert Sally Angharad says of the theme: ‘Taking cues from fashion’s embrace of repair, recycling and circular systems, Material Evolution for the 2026 show considers design as an ecosystem rather than a linear process. It celebrates the creative tension between progress and preservation, showing that every material carries both history and possibility. Through this lens, newness becomes not an endpoint, but a continuous conversation between past and future.’
The Surface Design Show has also announced a new partnership with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). As part of the collaboration, the Surface Design Show will serve as host partner for two of RIBA’s most significant annual events: RIBA Future Leaders is a programme designed to support the professional development of emerging architects, while following the success of last year’s inaugural event, the RIBA AI in Practice Summit dives into the cutting edge of AI in architecture.
Philip Lowther, director of commercial programmes and delivery at RIBA, says: ‘We’re delighted to be partnering with the Surface Design Show for their 2026 show. This exhibition will offer attendees a crucial platform to collaborate, exchange ideas and empower architects and designers to grow and innovate.
‘From our Future Leaders programme, which will equip early-career architects with the skills and insight to lead sustainable practices, to our AI in Practice Summit that will bring together leading voices to offer practical insight into current tools and emerging trends in technology, it will be an unmissable few days for those from all corners of the profession.’
‘We are thrilled to partner with RIBA for this year’s edition of the Surface Design Show,’ added David Todd, event director at Surface Design Show. ‘This collaboration gives us a chance to connect with new audiences and explore ideas that matter in architecture and design. I’m looking forward to the conversations and perspectives this partnership will bring.’
The 2026 edition will also offer well-loved returning features, such as the Surface Spotlight, Stone Tapestry, Green Grads and Surface Design Awards. Surface Spotlight is a material showcase curated around the Material Evolution theme, with every material carefully selected by Angharad, while the Stone Tapestry is a natural stone showcase presented by the Stone Federation, the trade association for the natural stone industry. The Green Grads will once again grace the Innovation Gallery with their experimental projects that push the boundaries of design and materiality. And the Surface Design Awards returns, attracting entries from the UK, Europe and Asia and celebrating excellence in material and surface innovation. This year’s judging panel includes judges from the UK’s leading architectural practices along with expert representatives from various sectors.
The Surface Design Show is a must in the design calendar to explore all creative things within the material and surface world.
