In November, Olomouc will once again transform into a city of design. The fourth annual Olomouc Design Days festival is approaching and invites visitors to enjoy exhibitions, workshops, guided tours, discussions, open studios, and much more.
Are you interested in artists’ perspectives on current design trends? Would you like to get a behind-the-scenes look at how skilled artisans create original handmade products? Or would you rather check out a unique fashion show? Are you looking for a new home accessory that’s both eye-catching and practical? Or would you like to try making something of your own that no one else will have? Whether you answered “yes” once or several times, this year’s Olomouc Design Days—with its program featuring nearly fifty events—will definitely not disappoint you.
A Traveling Exhibition to Kick Things Off
The fourth annual Olomouc Design Days will kick off this year with an unconventional traveling opening reception for three exhibitions. It is scheduled for Monday, November 2, at 5:00 p.m., and over the course of a single evening, it will connect three different venues and three different perspectives on design. The traveling opening begins at Studio G21, where we’ll jointly launch the “Bažanti designu” exhibition. It features works by current students and graduates of design programs. We’ll then move to Atelier Arikona for the opening of the “Zrození” exhibition. This exhibition combines creative work, a personal story, and the launch of a new brand. And finally, at the mimokolektiv studio, we’ll open an exhibition by Jiří Pelcl, which will showcase his collection of vases titled “Natural/Brutal.”
Even before the start
The official opening of the fourth annual Olomouc Design Days festival is scheduled for Monday, November 2. However, as early as Sunday, November 1, studios, workshops, and ateliers of local artists and creatives will open throughout Olomouc, giving visitors the chance to see how and where their products are created. At many locations, visitors will also have the chance to try out a creative technique and perhaps even make something themselves. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to meet people whose work you may be familiar with, but whose creative process you may not fully understand.
In addition to Open Studios, a program is also planned for Sunday, November 1, at the Regional Museum. This marks the start of the regular November weekend workshops titled “Embroider the Museum,” during which visitors will hand-embroider and design motifs for blankets intended for museum events.
Create Your Own Original Piece
One of the festival’s greatest strengths is the diversity of its program. You don’t have to limit yourself to just viewing exhibitions—you can also create something, try out a technique, visit a studio, or take part in a collaborative creative process. That’s why workshops and creative sessions are featured in the program every year. This year, they’re hosted by the Children and Youth Center, the Miloslav Stibor Elementary School of the Arts, the FABRICKA Creative Center, Geniátor in Hlubočky, the Cultural and Educational Center, and Studio VKUSE. You’ll be able to make a wooden spoon, try your hand at bronze casting, create ceramic Christmas decorations, experiment with the dry felting technique, or design a theater costume using unconventional materials.
Storefronts in Olomouc as Street Galleries
The Dizajn Display project brings a unique burst of life to the historic center of Olomouc. It creatively transforms both unused and active storefronts of local businesses, turning them into open-air street galleries. Established design studios, regional artists, and creative students and educators will showcase their work here. You can thus discover cutting-edge design in a natural dialogue with the city’s everyday life literally at every turn.
This year, we’ve managed to secure nearly two dozen designers and venues. The exhibits will include installations featuring glass, porcelain, furniture, jewelry, handbags, and floral arrangements. Visitors can look forward to presentations by the studios Arikona, Dosena, DO_VÁZY, Renáta Jančo, Andrea Zlamal Vytlačilová, Sebastian Kitzberger, and Egoé.
A Program for the Public and Professionals
The long-term goal of Olomouc Design Days is to introduce the public to a broad spectrum of cultural and creative fields and to connect their creators with users. Creative professionals from Olomouc and the surrounding area will have the opportunity to meet this year, for example, at an interdisciplinary creative workshop organized by the Olomouc Region Innovation Center on Wednesday, November 11. This workshop will bring together people from the creative fields, education, business, culture, public administration, and academia. During the one-day program, they will work together on a real-world project related to Olomouc and seek new perspectives, ideas, and possible solutions. It is free and open to all creatives, students, entrepreneurs, cultural actors, and representatives of the public and academic sectors.
Enter the Contest for Designer Prizes
New to this year’s Olomouc Design Days is the “Design Pass – Your Design Journey” contest, which invites visitors to explore participating venues and discover the work of Olomouc designers. Simply visit at least three different participating venues, collect stickers at each one, and you’ll have a chance to win valuable prizes from local creators.
Submit your completed card with the collected stickers to the designated collection box at the Olomouc Information Center by December 7, 2026, at the latest. Then all you have to do is cross your fingers and look forward to the results of the drawing.
The complete program for the fourth annual Olomouc Design Days is available at www.olomoucdesigndays.cz.
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