Want to join Design Wave Festival 2026? You can do it online!
Can’t make it to Riga? You can still be part of it! Discover inspiring ideas, explore the programme and find out how to join the talks online — plus, learn how to get involved if you want to take your own creative ideas further.
Written by Maria A. Decuzzi
What is the festival about?
Are you a student, designer, artist, creative professional or simply curious about the connection between creativity, technology and sustainability? Design Wave Festival 2026 brings together an international creative community to exchange ideas, explore new approaches and discover what’s next for the creative industries.
Taking place from 25–27 November 2026 at KOKA Riga, Latvia, the festival explores topics including:
– AI and creative technologies
– Digital fashion and costume
– Sustainability and circular design
– Creative entrepreneurship and communication
You’ll discover perspectives from organisations and professionals working across these fields, including STARTPLATZ AI Academy (Germany), the Estonian Design Centre, Istituto Marangoni Milano (Italy), Xamk – South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences and the University of Victoria (Canada).
Curious about new digital tools, more sustainable ways of creating or what’s next in the creative industries? The event brings fresh perspectives, new skills and inspiring people together.
No need to be an expert — just bring your curiosity!
How can you join online?
To participate, you first need to register on the official B2Match platform. Registration is required for both online and onsite participants. The festival is free to attend.
Here’s how to get started:
- Register. Create your account on the Design Wave Festival 2026 B2Match platform.
- Complete your profile. Add the requested information about yourself and your interests.
- Explore the agenda. Browse the programme and use the filters to find sessions.
- Build your schedule. Click Add on the sessions you want to attend, then find them in the My Schedule tab.
Once registered, you can use the B2Match platform to access the festival online.
All festival talks will be available online in English, so you can follow the sessions, ask questions and interact with speakers through the chat — wherever you are.
Want to take your ideas further? Explore two ways to get involved
If you have ideas you’re excited to bring to life, want to experiment or are looking to connect with other creative minds, Design Wave Festival offers two opportunities to get involved more actively.
1. Join the creative Hackathon
Have an early-stage idea or a project you want to develop? The creative hackathon brings together people working across fashion, costume design, art, performance and digital technologies to experiment, collaborate and develop projects.
Different tracks support projects at different stages, from early concepts to prototypes and more developed work. Teams in the IDEA and PROTOTYPE tracks may also compete for further development opportunities through the Time for (S)heroes international residency pathway.
2. Bring your fashion designs to the Catwalk
Are you a fashion designer, costume creator or wearable-art artist? The Design Wave Catwalk, taking place on 26 November, offers an opportunity to present experimental designs, prototypes or finished creations to an international audience in Riga.
You can showcase your work independently or explore collaborations with performers, digital creators and other participants to develop a more immersive presentation.
Applications are open until 10 November 2026, and presentation slots are limited. Find out more about the Catwalk Open Call.
These two opportunities are a chance to share your skills, meet potential collaborators and turn creative thinking into action. Check the specific requirements to find the right path for you.
Want to be part of it?
– Dates: 25–27 November 2026
– Location: KOKA Riga, Krāsotāju iela 12, Riga, Latvia + online
– Format: Hybrid
– Working language: English
– Registration and programme: Design Wave Festival 2026 on B2Match
See you in Riga or online this November!
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Design Wave Festival 2026 is organised by the Latvian Technological Center, with contributions from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, Enterprise Europe Network, Time for (S)heroes, SustainX and Nordplus.
Questions? Check the official FAQs or contact the organising team at techcenter@techcenter.lv.
Time for (S) Heroes brings together six project partners from across Europe, with the support of Creative Europe.
– South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk)
– Tallinn Business Incubator (TBI)
– Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture (NDPC)
– ESPRONCEDA – Institute of Art & Culture
– Kosmoskosmos
– Latvian Technological Center (LTC)
