Handwerk & Design

Craftsmanship holds the world together. This remains true even in times of digital transformation. That is why «Handwerk & Design» is more dedicated to the future than ever before: What materials do we want to surround ourselves with in the future? How can digital technologies help ensure that craftsmanship remains viable in the future? The exhibitors show us how: they present unique pieces and small series with a special focus on design. Because craftsmanship not only has to function, it can also be beautiful.

Such as, for example, the textile works of Handweberei Siebörger in Ober-Ramstadt in Hessen: Anja Ritter founded her own hand weaving mill 25 years ago. Since then, the master weaver has been producing scarves, fine woollen shawls, and larger blankets, as well as carpets and tapestries for churches. In her work, she combines the 7,000-year-old technique of hand weaving with modern demands for design and sustainability, working with environmentally friendly natural fibers.

Sustainable and social: the craft of the future
The headdresses by Soy como soy, alias Christiane Englsberger, are also completely environmentally friendly. The milliner, who has her own studio in Rotthalmünster in Lower Bavaria, works with rye straw: the straw is split very finely, twisted into cords, and then processed into flowers, leaves, and ornaments. The result is headwear that is as opulent as it is delicate.

The designer Thomas Poganitsch from Vienna takes a completely different approach. Among other things, he makes sugar bowls and soap dishes from high-quality concrete. He also produces wall hooks in the shape of birds from ceramic, concrete, copper, silver, or gold leaf. One of his specialities is his Viennese newspaper holders, which Poganitsch makes from wood and bent willow according to historical models, thus saving them from extinction.

EXEMPLAmünchen: Craftmanship in the context of society and environment
Among the absolute highlights of «Handwerk & Design» 2026 are the three special shows EXEMPLAmünchen, SCHMUCKmünchen, and TALENTEmünchen – Meister der Zukunft. EXEMPLAmünchen, with the motto “Shaping the Future,” showcases crafts in the context of society and environment. A young start-up builds rotor blades from wood for small and medium-sized wind turbines. A Swiss company presents cargo bikes specially designed for craftsmen.

The culture of repair is celebrated in various ways, from darning socks to Japanese Kintsugi, in which ceramics are repaired with gold, to the restoration of historic coffeehouse chairs. However, the social component of craftsmanship is also reflected: EXEMPLAmünchen offers craft training in juvenile detention centres, teaches digital design at the University of Kassel, and participates in the Erasmus+ program, which enables craftswomen and craftsmen to work and learn in other countries.

Craftsmanship stands for care and sustainability, combining tried-and-tested methods with innovative ideas relating to materials, techniques, and design. It offers tailor-made solutions that fit perfectly and last a long time. EXEMPLAmünchen 2026 showcases concrete examples of all this. As kind of “living workshops,” craftspeople will demonstrate their work live on site and answer questions from the audience.

SCHMUCKmünchen
The SCHMUCKmünchen special show is unique worldwide: for over 65 years, it has showcased the most innovative works in the field of artistic designer jewellery. Artists, gallery owners, collectors, and jewellery enthusiasts from all over the world travel to Munich every year specifically for this exhibition. SCHMUCKmünchen 2026 is curated by Sam Tho Duong. The jewellery artist from Pforzheim works with small freshwater pearls, which he arranges like ice crystals in hoarfrost, and recycled materials, among other things. For SCHMUCKmünchen 2026, Sam Tho Duong has selected almost 70 works from more than 1,000 applications – a new application record. This year's small special show Classics of Modernism is dedicated to Erico Nagai.
Erico Nagai was born in Tokyo in 1947, came to Europe in the late 1960s, and studied in the jewellery class at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts (Akademie der Bildenden Künste München) under Franz Rickert and Hermann Jünger from 1970 onwards. In her work, she combines Western and Eastern materials and techniques, such as Japanese Urushi lacquer in deep red or rich black, but also simple metals such as copper and iron, which she fuses and coats with tiny amounts of gold. Erico Nagai has received numerous awards for her work, including the Bavarian State Prize, the Herbert Hofmann Prize, and the Design Prize of the City of Munich.

The curated special show SCHMUCKmünchen is framed by the stands of FRAME: Jewellery galleries from all over the world present top-class international artists here, including galleries from Canada and Korea, Sweden and South Africa, Germany and the Netherlands.

TALENTEmünchen – Meister der Zukunft
The special show TALENTEmünchen – Meister der Zukunft focuses on the future of creative craftsmanship. Young designers up to the age of 35 from a wide variety of trades will showcase their skills here, often as part of their final projects: from textile work to glass, ceramics, furniture making, and paper. Here, the audience gets an impression of the questions that move young designers, the materials they prefer, and how they are further developing traditional approaches.


The printed city map will be available at the trade fair. The online version will be available from mid-February 2026 on the website www.ihm-handwerk-design.com


How to get there
Fairground of Messe München, Germany.
Location: Hall B1.

«Handwerk & Design» at Internationale Handwerksmesse will be taking place on the fairgrounds of Messe München. Visitors can reach the trade fair through the main entrance West after taking the underground line U2 to “Messestadt West”. Multi-story car parks adjoin the trade fairgrounds directly.

For more information, please contact:
Andrea Eisenschink, Exhibition Manager.
+49 89 189 149 132
andrea.eisenschink@ghm.de