This year Helsinki Design Week launches an initiative to revitalize the city centre. a two-year collaboration with the City of Helsinki focused on the Aleksanterinkatu area, with the aim of making the city centre an even more vibrant stage for culture and urban life.
Instead of one central festival hub, Helsinki Design Week will be staged across a network of HDW Meeting Points located throughout central Helsinki. One of these is HDW Lab, a two-storey space at the corner of Kluuvikatu and Aleksanterinkatu dedicated to developing practical ideas for revitalizing the city centre. The goal is to develop ideas that can be tested and integrated into the urban environment as part of Helsinki Design Week 2027.
“It is wonderful to see design take over the heart of Helsinki at the end of August, offering inspiring experiences centred on high-quality design and architecture. The City of Helsinki is delighted to partner with Helsinki Design Week in bringing this city festival to life and in helping create an even more vibrant city centre. The festival offers everyone an opportunity to experience the city centre from new perspectives,” says Daniel Sazonov, Mayor of Helsinki.
At street level, HDW Lab becomes a showcase for the city centre of the future from 2 to 4 September. Local residents can pop into the former business premises to brainstorm and discuss ways in which brick-and-mortar business premises and urban spaces could be used in the future.
In workshops aimed at professionals, decision-makers and urban development specialists will discuss what new opportunities brick-and-mortar business premises and public urban spaces could offer residents in the future.
Outside HDW Lab, in front of the Kluuvi shopping centre, you can sample the season’s produce at Finland’s first wild mushroom bar from 1 to 4 September.
How is the Helsinki city centre being redesigned?
As part of the City’s project to enliven the city centre, an open seminar entitled Towards a More Vibrant City Centre will be held at the Event Square in front of Helsinki City Hall on 1 September from 14.00 to 16.00. This English-language seminar will bring together specialists in city planning, business, design and culture to discuss new solutions for the future of quietened city centres.
The discussion will be led by CEO of Uppsala Citysamverkan Lisa Thörn, who will present successful examples from Swedish city centres and provide an overview of the future of city centre development and cooperation models. Jannica Aalto, who will take up the position of Executive Director of Helsingin Ydin ry on 1 October, will bring her own extensive experience from the perspective of universities and property developers to the seminar and share her ideas on enlivening the Helsinki city centre.
Pia Salmi, Director of Urban Design at WSP, will discuss recent projects that have helped with making urban spaces more pleasant, vibrant and sustainable.
The seminar will conclude with a panel discussion featuring speakers such as entrepreneur and cultural influencer Mikko Leisti and senior specialist Timo Hämäläinen from the City of Helsinki's Economic Development Department.
Marimekko and Futuro at Helsinki Design Week
Designed by the Finnish architect Matti Suuronen in 1968, the Futuro House represented a bold vision of the future. During Helsinki Design Week, Futuro will land in the Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden in collaboration with Marimekko.
Led by American architectural heritage expert Jan van Dijs, the project brings one of Finland's most visionary architectural works back into the spotlight. The installation celebrates Suuronen's legacy while inviting visitors to reflect on how the building might respond to today's needs, challenges and aspirations.
The interior of Futuro will be reimagined by Marimekko, presenting the brand's interpretation of contemporary living and design. The result is a bold and imaginative installation that offers visitors a new way to experience the iconic building.
Step inside the Aalto vase
To mark the 90th anniversary of Alvar Aalto’s iconic vase, Iittala and Hydro are bringing the Aalto 90 Pavilion to Helsinki’s South Harbour from 28 August to 6 September. The seven-metre-high pavilion takes its distinctive form from the recognizable silhouette of the Aalto vase.
Inside the pavilion, visitors can explore an exhibition by photographer Arno Rafael Minkkinen, who captures the spirit of the Aalto vase. The exhibition is part of the The Spirit of Aalto series, in which contemporary artists have been invited to interpret the legacy of the Aalto vase through their own artistic practice.
Eteläranta 6
At the end of August, the Museum of Architecture and Design will open a new event and gathering space at Eteläranta 6. Together with its partners, the museum will host a programme of events in the space designed by Joanna Laajisto, inviting the public to discuss the role of architecture and design in shaping the city on 31 August from 16.00 to 18.00.
Following Helsinki Design Week, visitors to Eteläranta 6 will be able to observe the development of the area throughout the construction phase of the new museum.
Other key festival events include the lDesign Market and HDW Children's Design Week at Kaapelitehdas on 29-30 August, Open Studios on 28 August and 4 September, Design Diplomacy conversations on 2-4 September, and the popular PechaKucha Night on 4 September.
As always, Helsinki Design Week's programme extends beyond its flagship events to include a comprehensive programme of partner and satellite events. The full festival programme can be found at helsinkidesignweek.com.
Helsinki Design Week is an annual urban and design festival. The City of Helsinki is the main partner of Helsinki Design Week.
The news article was published on 6 August 2026 and updated on 27 August 2026.