Living Artfully: Where to find Interior Inspiration from Milan Design Week 2026?

Milan Design Week or Fuorisalone opens its most exclusive historic palazzi and hidden villas to showcase a new era of curated interiors that blend experimental art with timeless craftsmanship. These immersive exhibitions offer a rare look at how world-class designers translate high-concept ideas into beautiful, liveable spaces. Whether you are looking for architectural inspirations or bold decor ideas, this guide highlights the essential installations to visit for a fresh perspective on modern living.

First things first: do you need to pre-register or buy tickets?

Most exhibitions are free to enter, except Alcova, where you need to purchase a ticket (25 euro) and reserve a time slot. Pre-registration is recommended for most places.

Villa Pestarini by Alcova

Alcova remains the strongest pilgrimage for anyone who wants experimental design in unforgettable settings, and this year Villa Pestarini is especially notable. It is a rare chance to see this rationalist architecture Villa Pestarini designed by Franco Albini, which has been closed to the public until now. The villa is kept in its original condition by the family. Required a paid ticket of 25 euro and a pre-booked time slot, which you can find at alcova.xyz . Address Villa Pestarini, Via Mogadiscio, 2/4, Milan

L’Appartamento by Artemest

Returning to Palazzo Donizetti on its forth edition, and this year is the first time to showcase its outdoor space. This year’s story is dedicated to Italian Grandeur, a tribute to Italy’s artistic legacy, architectural language, and exceptional craftsmanship. Featuring five international studios: Sasha Adler (@sashaadlerdesign), March and White (@marchandwhite), Rockwell Group (@rockwellgroup), Charlap Hyman & Herrero (@ch_herrero), and Urjowan Alsharif (@urjowan_interiors). Each room is a curated tribute to Italian cultural capitals such as Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, and Palermo, making it a perfect spot for discerning homeowners seeking refined inspiration.Pre-registration recommended at artemest.com. Address Palazzo Donizetti, Via Gaetano Donizetti 48, Milan

Nilufar

Nilufar is always one of Milan’s most elegant lessons in collectible interiors, and its Design Week programming remains essential for anyone interested in interiors with collectible depth. This year presents two separate exhibitions - Nilufar Grand Hotel at Nilufar Depot, a hospitality-inspired immersive exhibition shaped by founder Nina Yashar. And La Casa Magica> at Via della Spiga, a reimagine of the home as a symbolic, ritual space, curated by Valentina Ciuffi of Studio Vedèt with set design by Space Caviar. Two addresses with two separate pre-registration at Nilufar.com. Address Nilufar Grand Hotel at Viale Lancetti, 34, Milan Nilufar La Casa Magica at Via della Spiga 32, Milan

Fornasetti – "Forever Fornasetti: New Encounters" & cc-tapis

During Milan Design Week 2026, the historic Fornasetti atelier transforms its Milan flagship into Forever Fornasetti: New Encounters sees the brand’s flagship store reimagined by the London and Milan-based studio Tutto Bene. The exhibition highlights Fornasetti’s latest furniture novelties and the debut of a major rug collaboration with CC-Tapis. Visitors can also experience Fornasetti Fiori by Fjura, a temporary flower shop within the store that blends botanical artistry with the Atelier’s whimsical aesthetic.

The collaboration with cc‑tapis reinterprets archival Fornasetti imagery into hand‑knotted rugs that turn familiar faces, architectural fragments and surreal scenes into large‑scale, walkable artworks. It is an excellent stop if you want to see how strong pattern, colour and irony can coexist in a real interior rather than in isolation. Pair it with other 5VIE visits if you are building a "decorative courage" itinerary for your own home. Address Fornasetti Store, Via Senato 2, Milan CC-Tapis, Piazza Santo Stefano 10, Milan

Foscarini

Foscarini is presenting "INTRECCI DI LUCE," an experimental project using 3D knitting techniques to create luminous textures, designed by Jozeph Forakis (@jozeph_forakis) and Lorenzo Palmeri (@lorenzopalmeri). Address Spazio Monforte, Corso Monforte 19, Milan

Palazzo Acerbi – H&M Home x Kelly Wearstler

H&M Home makes its design-week debut with a landmark collaboration with American interior designer Kelly Wearstler, staged inside Palazzo Acerbi, a 17th‑century Baroque palazzo that has long been closed to the public. This conceptual installation reveals a curated selection of furniture and objects that explore the "ritual of becoming," set against the palace's Baroque frescoes. The immersive journey, produced by Studio Boum, uses light and shadow to create a sensorial dialogue between contemporary modular design and historic grandeur.

The display includes an exclusive preview of pieces launching later in the year alongside bespoke items in custom colours and sizes, so it is particularly interesting for homeowners who like the idea of a more accessible, high-street‑meets‑designer collection. It is less about a trade-only product launch and more about seeing how sculptural forms and expressive colour can live within a grand historic shell.

Address Palazzo Acerbi, Corso di Porta Romana 3, Milan

Casa Ornella - Animale sociale

For its fourth edition, interior designer Maria Vittoria Paggini presents Animale Sociale – Nessuno mi può giudicare. The exhibition explores the primal need for human connection, transforming the apartment into a fluid organism where walls are treated as social propositions rather than boundaries. This immersive domestic project, featured within the 5VIE district, invites visitors to experience living as a radical, relational act. Pre-registration recommended at casaornella.com. Address Via Conca del Naviglio 10, Milan

GARÇONNIÈRE

Belgian designer Elias van Orshaegen and interior architect Maarten van Meerbeeck present GARÇONNIÈRE, a cinematic installation staged in a private residence. The project reinterprets the traditional secondary apartment of the bourgeoisie as a retreat away from their formal homes. The installation is structured in a sequence of spatial "acts", guiding visitors through the construction of the room — from its underlying structure to the finished interior. Address Via San Maurilio 14, Milan

Ingo Maurer - HERE WE YAYAHO AGAIN

Stop by Ingo Maurer to see a special lighting installation HERE WE YAYAHO AGAIN, a reboot of the famous YAYAHO from 1884. The reinterpretation centered around the familiar materials such as Japanese paper, technical upgrade of the low-voltage system, and sculptural forms, bridging history, creativity and innovation.

Address Via Varese 13, Milan