New York's ICFF to move to November from 2027
New York furniture show International Contemporary Furniture Fair will move from its May dates to a spot in November, after more than 35 years, starting in 2027.
The fair announced its impending departure from the busy month of May, citing the "compressed" nature of the global design calendar in the late spring months.
Crowded spring calendar
The event is currently sandwiched between Milan design week in late April and Copenhagen's 3 Days of Design, which takes place in early June.
"Exhibitors and partners told us clearly and consistently that the spring international fair calendar had become too compressed, so it was time to take meaningful action," said International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) brand directors Odile Hainaut and Claire Pijoulat.
"This was not a change for the sake of change, but a thoughtful decision shaped by years of listening, discussion, and considering what would best serve the industry."
Held at Manhattan's Jacob K Javits Convention Center, ICFF comprises hundreds of booths showcasing brands from seating to acoustic panelling, as well as an experimental design showcase, Wanted Design, which was founded by Hainaut and Pijoulat before being acquired by ICFF.
Its new November date, set to start in 2027, will align it with Boutique Design New York (BDNY), another trade show owned by ICFF's parent company, Emerald.
Yesterday, private equity firm Apollo announced that it will acquire Emerald, pending negotiations. It is unclear what impact this may have on the 142 events managed by Emerald.
ICFF said that currently, only 10 per cent of the audiences between the two fairs overlap.
Future of NYCxDesign unclear
"For ICFF, the November schedule expands access to key decision-makers across hospitality and commercial design while easing the constraints of the crowded spring calendar," said ICFF.
"For BDNY, this change introduces a complementary layer of high-end contemporary design, spanning global brands, emerging talent, and a broad range of furnishings, lighting, and materials."
The decision to move will certainly affect the city-wide NYCxDesign festival, which overlaps with ICFF.
Hainaut and Pijoulat told the New York Times that they still plan to sponsor events during NYCxDesign.
In recent years, the trade show calendars have continued to be shaken up. Both Stockholm Furniture Fair and Singapore Design Week chose not to run events this year, with both events set to relaunch as biennales next year.
In India, Design Mumbai also announced the cancellation of its 2026 edition.
The photography is courtesy of Emerald.
ICFF will take place from 17 to 19 May 2026. For more global trade fairs and exhibitions in architecture and design visit Dezeen Events Guide.
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