Geelong's biggest celebration of creativity, innovation and design is underway, with Geelong Design Week 2026 officially launched last night alongside the inaugural Victorian Regional Design Fair at Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre.
The launch event marked the start of the largest Geelong Design Week program in the festival's history, featuring more than 100 exhibitions, talks, workshops, tours, installations and experiences across Greater Geelong and the Bellarine.
As Australia's only UNESCO City of Design, Geelong will spend the next ten days, until 11 October, showcasing how design is shaping better places, stronger communities and a more sustainable future, while spotlighting the creativity and innovation emerging from regional Victoria.
A centrepiece of this year's program is the inaugural Victorian Regional Design Fair, a landmark showcase featuring more than 50 designers, makers, studios and creative businesses from Geelong and across regional Victoria. The Fair places regional creativity on a national stage, highlighting everything from architecture and interiors to fashion, technology, sustainability and advanced manufacturing.
Visitors are encouraged to experience the Fair throughout the week, including tonight's vibrant Friday Night at the Fair event and a special performance by acclaimed artist Laura Alice, creating a unique after-hours celebration of regional design and creativity.
Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM:
Design influences the places we live, the services we use, the products we buy and the way our communities connect.
Geelong Design Week brings together designers, businesses, creative practitioners and the community to explore new ideas and showcase the innovation that is helping shape our future.
As Australia's only UNESCO City of Design, Geelong is proud to lead a festival that celebrates creativity while supporting local talent, attracting visitors and strengthening our reputation as a clever, creative and connected city.
Deputy Chair of the Arts and Culture, Hospitality and Live Entertainment portfolio, Councillor Elise Wilkinson:
Design isn't just about how things look: great design helps create cities that are more welcoming, accessible, sustainable and connected.
These events show how design thinking is helping us shape better places and better outcomes for our community.
City-led events showcase design in action
Geelong Design Week highlights how design can help create more inclusive, vibrant and connected places, with City-led events exploring everything from public spaces and community services to heritage, sustainability and neighbourhoods.
Highlights include Designing City Services, exploring how design is used to improve Council services; A Tale of Two Cities: Vibrancy in a Different Light, looking at Geelong's evolving laneways and public spaces; and a guided tour of Rippleside Inclusive Playspace and the Flow by Design Ocean Grove Bike Park, showcasing inclusive and accessible design for children and families of all abilities.
Other City-led events include walking tours, talks, installations and showcases exploring Geelong's architecture and heritage, public art, libraries, waterfront, neighbourhoods, coastal protection and clean economy.
The Greater Geelong Showcase 2026: Powering a Clean Economy Innovation Future will also bring together industry, government, researchers and innovators to explore local solutions and future opportunities in sustainability, circularity and clean economy development.
Fashion, sustainability and circular design
Sustainability and circular design are strong themes across this year's program, exploring how design, creativity, research and new technologies can help us rethink materials and waste.
The Geelong Fashion Community Runway and Wasted Space bring fashion, creativity and community together to spark conversations about responsible consumption, textile waste and circular design. Wasted Space transforms a former fast-fashion store into a space for circular fashion, creativity and experimentation.
At Deakin University, Designing for Circularity and Innovation will explore the future of sustainable textiles, followed by a tour of research facilities including yarn spinning, weaving and textile recycling technologies.
Together, these events show how design and innovation can turn waste into new resources and ideas into more sustainable solutions.
Design for all ages
Families and visitors of all ages can get involved through a wide range of hands-on, interactive and accessible design experiences across Geelong Design Week.
Activities across the National Wool Museum, Geelong Regional Libraries, Geelong Botanic Gardens, Platform Arts and Yarra Street Window Gallery offer opportunities to create, learn and experience design in engaging and accessible ways.
Younger visitors can also explore the Victorian Regional Design Fair with a special Design Detective activity sheet, encouraging them to look more closely at the designs, materials and ideas on display.
Geelong Design Week runs from 1 to 11 October 2026, with more than 100 events across Greater Geelong, including exhibitions, talks, workshops, tours, installations and experiences.
Many events are free or low-cost, with bookings required for some sessions.
For the full program and bookings, visit the Geelong Design Week website .
