mcbw 2026: Playground of Possibilities

munich creative business week (mcbw), Germany’s largest design event, returns from May 4–10, 2026. Organized by bayern design, it brings together an international community of creatives, designers, architects, companies, and students for a week of inspiration, exchange, and collaboration.

Taking place for the 15th time, mcbw invites you to rediscover the world of design under the annual theme Playground of Possibilities. The motto positions design as a driver for innovation, experimentation, and new ways of thinking—especially in times of uncertainty, where creativity becomes a key tool for shaping the future.

Guided by four principles—Empowering the Creative Self, Exploring the Creative Field, Turning Ideas into Action, and Creating Visions that Enrich—the program spans the full creative process, from first ideas to impactful solutions. Over seven days, Munich transforms into a vibrant platform with 200+ events, including exhibitions, installations, talks, workshops, and guided tours across a wide spectrum of creative disciplines.

The event attracts over 65,000 visitors from more than 17 nations, featuring 200+ events and 8 large-scale installations across the city. More than 200 partners contribute to making mcbw a hub for ideas, dialogue, and networking.

This year’s motto speaks to our times: amid complexity and uncertainty, design offers the chance to experiment, imagine, and shape the future. It is precisely this uncertainty that opens space for creativity, for playful, sensuous, and relevant solutions.

A key highlight is the mcbw Design Summit and Get Together on May 4, 2026, at Munich Urban CoLab, featuring international speakers and interdisciplinary perspectives on the annual theme. mcbw is open to all creative minds—from professionals to start-ups and students—and offers opportunities for active participation, including wildcard spots for outstanding ideas.

mcbw is organized by bayern design GmbH and sponsored by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy, as well as the City of Munich.

More information about the program and the locations here.

When?
May 4–10, 2026

Where?
Munich Urban CoLab
Freddie-Mercury-Straße 5
80797 München
... as well as at other locations across the city of Munich.