As we settle into 2026 — and that novel “new year, new you” spirit dissipates — we can’t help but wonder what’s actually on the horizon for the design industry. Fortunately, Maison&Objet offers a unique glimpse into the future. Every January, the French trade fair welcomes approximately 2,300 vendors from all corners of the world as well as several exhibitions to share their thoughts on what’s new and noteworthy. Below, a look at the most memorable moments of this year’s showcase.
Tactile Treatment
Artificial intelligence and digitization are inescapable in 2026, but the design world craves a human touch. “The more we move toward a dematerialized world, the more we need to reconnect with our roots and with materials,” says Elizabeth Leriche, whose curation of items for IN MATERIA: A Journey Into the Essence of Materials offered a deep sensory immersion into the heart of materials. With a focus on ceramics, wood, and glass, among others, IN MATERIA showcases specific skillsets and craftmanship know-how to redefine our relationships with everyday mediums.
“These objects are meaningful,” Leriche adds. “They require time to be made and possess an added soul.”
Past Reveal Future
As the exhibition called What’s New? Decor proves, the past often holds the key to the next big thing. “We have always drawn inspiration from the past to create, and designers draw from culture as a source of inspiration,” Leriche explains. “We need reassurance and grounding, because these are difficult times, and we need reliable, enduring values.” This year, Leriche forecasted trends through a Neo-Classical lens — and tapped creatives like Théo Galliakis and Des Zing Studio to help create a dynamic conversation that spans different eras.
Soulful Escapes
Home might be where the heart is, but frequent flyers will agree a well-appointed hotel room is often the next best thing. But if you ask Rudy Guénaire, who curated this year’s What’s New? Hospitality exhibit, travel is due to receive a perfect (and, yes, imperfect) makeover.
“I see it around me more and more,” he tells aspire. “Fewer people are searching for perfection, and more are drawn to singular stories. What they are looking for are propositions that feel more embodied, [and] offers with a soul.”
Drawing inspiration from Wong Kar-wai films such as 2046 and In the Mood for Love, Guénaire crafted a disturbed room — one that appears to be just vacated by a couple who had just left. “That shift was at the heart of this installation, and I think it’s precisely what resonated with the audience,” he says.
A Bright Future
A trip to January’s Maison&Objet would not be complete without mentioning Harry Nuriev, who was named the 2026 Designer of the Year. As the founder of Crosby Studios, Nuriev considers himself a design anthropologist and storyteller who explores creative evolution.
“I don’t see creativity as linear but as a spiral that the creator twists,” he shared in a press statement. “My approach questions the very notion of novelty. In the 21st century, thanks to technology and history, we have access to extraordinary data. Let’s use it, let’s transform it.”
On view was “Transformism,” his unique approach to elevate everyday items. “It is about giving a second life to objects that have lost their place,” he said in a statement. “It is about creating meaning from what others overlook.”
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