Ukrainian Design and Innovation 2026 in Kyiv Unites Design, Art and Inclusive Practices

The sixth season of Ukrainian Design and Innovation Week (UDIW) took place in Kyiv and online through May 10. The program included more than 30 events, with UDIW Design Hall at Mystetskyi Arsenal serving as the central venue. A special focus was on the collaboration with Unbroken, featuring inclusive design projects and discussions on art as a tool for recovery after war trauma. Make us preferred on Google Flip Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied (Photo by Kyiv Post) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google The sixth season of Ukrainian Design and Innovation Week (UDIW) took place in Kyiv and online through May 10, 2026, bringing together more than 30 events ranging from exhibitions and lectures to workshops, studio visits and public discussions. This year’s edition explored design not only as aesthetics, but also as a lived experience shaped by interaction with space, people and the urban environment. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . A key event of the program was the UDIW Design Hall, held on May 9-10 at Mystetskyi Arsenal. More than 180 Ukrainian brands presenting furniture, lighting, décor and contemporary art are showcased there. Organizers described the venue as an immersive environment where visitors could not only see design, but physically experience it. As is tradition, the design hall featured a dedicated lecture space hosting panel discussions on current trends in design and architecture, alongside public talks for a broader audience. Among speakers were Liubko Deresh, Hlib Ushakov, and Oleksandr Poltavtsev. A major focus of the 2026 season was the collaboration with Unbroken. As part of the festival, the rehabilitation center presented an inclusive design exhibition created in its creative workshop, alongside discussions on art as a neuropsychological tool for recovery from war trauma and adaptation to life after injury. At the Unbroken creative workshop, people affected by the war worked with ceramics, textiles and painting. Organizers described the process not simply as art practice, but as a way to restore a sense of stability, agency and connection after trauma. Objects created in the workshop were exhibited at the design hall in Mystetskyi Arsenal, each reflecting a personal story of recovery and resilience. Organizers say that in 2026, UDIW expanded beyond traditional design formats, combining design with contemporary art, gastronomy and performative practices. During the festival, Kyiv itself has been transformed into an open route for exploring the possibilities of today’s urban culture and public space. Myroslava Makarevych has more than 30 years of experience as a journalist and editor. She has worked for BBC Ukrainian Service; for a number of publishing houses in Ukraine, like HFS (ELLE Ukraine), Edipresse and Sanoma Media (Sensa.Ukraine editor-in-chief). She collaborates with various socio-political media including zn.ua; nv.ua. She is the author of 7 original fairy tale books for children, and 3 publicist books.