Get ready for Milan Design Week 2026
We love design. We also love food. What happens when we bring them together? Find out what we’ve got cooking.
Food For Thought
Join us for 'Food For Thought', a participatory exhibition that brings together Democratic Design with the sensory world of gastronomy. Co-created with chefs and interior designers. Together, we're exploring how design reflects the evolving rituals of cooking, eating, and connecting across cultures.
Where:
Spazio Maiocchi, Via Achille Maiocchi 7, Milan
When:
21–26 April 2026
Open daily, 10:00–21:00*
*Sunday, 10:00–18:00
Free entry
Designer meets chef
Five interior designers. Five chefs. Each duo has designed a room and menu around a real life at home scenario, turning cultural insights into spaces you can explore. Together, we're reimagining the IKEA range through diverse perspectives.
Living room
Party at your place
Maye Ruiz and Rosio Sanchez
A house party. A quiet night in. Your living room sees both. Most of us want a sanctuary for relaxing, but we also love welcoming people over, whether it's game night, a celebration, or just friends popping round. How do we design for these polarities?
Bedroom
Room self-service
Charlotte Taylor and Ben Lippett
Meals in bed. Usually they’re saved for hotel room service or special occasions. What if it became part of everyday life? Self-care is rising, and meals in bed can bring joy through comfort. How do we design to make it feel worth it?
Kitchen
Do play with your food
Lydia Chan and Alessandra Lauria
What if we turned mealtime rules upside down? Cooking with children builds essential life skills and connection. It takes patience and it's messy. But the rewards last a lifetime. How do we design to make playful cooking a joyful, shared experience for families?
Studio living
The not so lonely dinner
Oliver Lyttelton and Tina Choi
Eating alone doesn't have to feel lonely. It can be a chance to reconnect with your senses. The challenge? Many people lack the motivation or the right setup. How do we design spaces that make dining alone feel intentional, not incidental?
Dining room
Eat with your mouth open
Mehek Malhotra and Maurizio Tentella
Shared meals are one of the most powerful social rituals we have. But creating the right chemistry between guests is no easy feat. From personalities to practicalities, barriers can hinder the magic. How do we design to make social dinners flow effortlessly?
Tuesday 21st April
Maye Ruiz and Rosio Sanchez
10:00
We open
12:00 – 14:00
DJ set: R.ocks
14:00 – 15:00
Duo: interior design talk
15:30 – 16:30
Sara Guidolin: multi-instrumentalist (jazz cello, vocals, piano)
17:00 – 18:00
Duo: storytelling and tasting
18:00 – 21:00
Aperitivo with DJ set: Akwaaba World
Wednesday 22nd April
Charlotte Taylor and Ben Lippett
10:00
We open
12:00–14:00
DJ set: Akwaaba World
14:00–15:00
Duo: interior design talk
15:30–16:30
Federico Calcagno: quartet (bass clarinet, vibraphone, upright bass, drum)
17:00–18:00
Duo: storytelling and tasting
18:00–21:00
Aperitivo with DJ set: Michiru
Thursday 23rd April
Lydia Chan and Alessandra Lauria
10:00
We open
12:00–14:00
DJ set: Michiru
14:00–15:00
Duo: interior design talk
15:30–16:30
DJ set: Giannantonio
17:00–18:00
Duo: storytelling and tasting
18:00–21:00
Aperitivo with musicians: Elena Cantarutti and Elia Pastori (harp, percussion, synth)
Friday 24th April
Oliver Lyttelton and Tina Choi
10:00
We open
12:00-14:00
DJ set: R.ocks
14:00–15:00
Duo: interior design talk
15:30–16:30
Martino Vercesi: classic guitar
17:00–18:00
Duo: storytelling and tasting
18:00–21:00
Aperitivo with DJ set: Dualismo
Saturday 25th April
Mehek Malhotra and Maurizio Tentella
10:00
We open
12:00–14:00
Riccardo Sala and Beetamax (jazz tenor saxophone, synth-drums, bass)
14:00–15:00
Duo: interior design talk
15:30–16:30
DJ set: Dualismo
17:00–18:00
Duo: storytelling and tasting
18:00–21:00
Aperitivo with musicians: Riccardo Sala and Beetamax
Sunday 26th April
10:00
We open
18.00
We close
The exhibition is open to the public on 21–26 April 2026.
Opening hours:
Monday–Saturday: 10:00–21:00
Sunday: 10:00–18:00
The exhibition takes place at Spazio Maiocchi, Via Achille Maiocchi 7, in the Porta Venezia area of Milan.
Spazio Maiocchi is a social space for new cultural experiences, housed in a former industrial building.
Free IKEA shuttle:
We're running a free electric bus service daily from 09:00–19:00, with multiple stops through the heart of the city to the exhibition:
Ex Macello
Piazza Ventiquattro Maggio
Duomo di Milano
Brera
Repubblica
Centrale
Spazio Maiocchi
Public transport to the venue:
Metro: Line M1 to Lima or Porta Venezia
Train: Porta Venezia station
Bus: Lines 60 and 92
Tram: Lines 5 and 33
No registration or ticket needed. We're proud to host this event for free every year, making it accessible for the many people attending Milan Design Week.
Room sets and a working kitchen. Interior designers and chefs collaborate to explore how we experience food in different parts of the home and reinterpret the IKEA range.
Live cooking demonstrations and tastings. Chefs offer a window into different cultures through food.
BILLY café. A space to explore a giant Phaidon cookbook library, hang out and enjoy a coffee.
A food market. A mix of stalls featuring IKEA food products, local vendors and Phaidon cookbooks.
IKEA Food classic. Hot dogs, ice cream, soft drinks and more served at the kiosk.
Live performances and DJ sets from independent artists from the city.
Classical and intimate experiences with violins, cellos, harps and more.
Yes! The IKEA Food kiosk will serve classics, including hot dogs, soft serve ice cream and soft drinks.
Each day, a "topping of the day" designed by the designer-chef duos will be available to add to the hot dog, and paired with a signature drink.
There’s also a food market! A curated mix of market stalls brings together local Milanese food vendors and IKEA Food offerings.
We’ll have a couple of bars inside the venue serving coffee during the day and aperitivo in the evening.
Yes, the event is fully accessible. In the room sets, we have stairs to an upper floor for varied perspectives. We'll provide accessible solutions so everyone has the same viewing experience. If you have specific accessibility needs, please speak to a member of the IKEA team or security on-site, and we'll be happy to help.
