SHARES

Cairo is preparing for a landmark moment as Cairo Design Week 2025 approaches — an edition that promises to be its most expressive and ambitious yet. From 20 to 29 November 2025, Egypt’s capital will unfold into a vast, open-air museum where culture, architecture, creativity and innovation come together in a celebration of global design.

This year’s concept, “Design, So I Can See You,” draws inspiration from Socrates’ timeless words, reflecting on the idea that we reveal our identity not only through what we say but through what we create. The campaign positions design as a powerful language — one that exposes intention, emotion and cultural essence. It suggests that through design, we see others, and through design, we allow ourselves to be seen.

A City Transformed

The festival will span three major districts — Heliopolis, Zamalek and Downtown Cairo — each known for its rich history and vibrant artistic pulse. These neighborhoods will transform into immersive creative arenas filled with:

  • Large-scale public installations

  • Experimental design pavilions

  • Interactive trails and exhibitions

  • Pop-up studios

  • Live performances and cultural activations

Every corner of Cairo will offer a new visual or tactile experience, making the city itself part of the storytelling.

A Global & Local Creative Dialogue

Cairo Design Week continues its mission of connecting Egypt’s homegrown talent with leading international voices. Designers, architects, artists and innovators from around the world will gather to share insight, collaborate, and explore the role of design in shaping the future.

Building on the success of the 2024 edition — which hosted over 100 designers, 150 exhibitors and 80 speakers — the 2025 festival aims to elevate Egypt’s position on the global design stage. It highlights Cairo as more than a historic city; it is an emerging cultural powerhouse.

Empowering the Next Generation

One of the standout additions this year is the CDW Universities Initiative — a dedicated program giving students and emerging designers unprecedented access to mentorship, networking and professional exposure. Participants will have the chance to pitch projects, collaborate with experts and engage in workshops that encourage experimentation and bold thinking.

This initiative marks a step toward nurturing Egypt’s future innovators while reinforcing Cairo Design Week as a platform that invests in long-term creative development.

A Celebration of Excellence: The Cairo Design Awards

The festival will conclude with the 7th Cairo Design Awards, a prestigious ceremony celebrating outstanding work across multiple design fields. From architecture and product design to interiors, fashion and digital arts, the awards spotlight both established creators and breakthrough newcomers who redefine what design can be.

Where Culture Meets Modern Vision

With its blend of ancient landscapes and contemporary ambition, Cairo becomes the ultimate backdrop for a design festival unlike any other. Visitors can wander between:

  • Historic landmarks

  • Modern design districts

  • Art galleries

  • Fashion studios

  • Concept cafés

  • Cultural hubs

All while experiencing a city that breathes creativity at every turn.

Cairo Design Week 2025 is not just an event — it’s an invitation to witness a city reimagined through imagination, innovation and identity. It’s where Cairo expresses itself, and where design becomes the lens through which the world sees it.