On September 17, the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality held a press briefing on preparations for the World Design Cities Conference (WDCC) 2026. Zhang Ying, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Municipal Government, briefed the media on the preparations and other related developments. Sun Xing, deputy director of the Center for Industrial Culture Development of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; Lou Yongqi, president of Shanghai University of Engineering Science; Qiu Wei, chief engineer of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization; and Wang Huai, deputy chief of Huangpu District, also attended the press briefing and answered questions from reporters.As a globally connected international metropolis, Shanghai has seen rapid growth in creative design and fashion consumer industries since joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2010. The idea that “design is everywhere in the city and in everyday life” has also become increasingly embedded in the public consciousness. This year, Shanghai will host the fifth WDCC.The WDCC 2026 will be jointly hosted by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government and UNESCO. It will take place from September 28 to 30, with the main venue in Huangpu District. The main exhibition will open to the public earlier, on September 26. Under the theme “Design Generates,” this year’s conference will serve as a global platform for emerging design trends and a hub for industrial innovation, while showcasing new possibilities for design-driven quality living. It will also bring together players across the international design ecosystem and foster collaboration and shared development among creative cities worldwide.The WDCC will follow a “2+1+3+X” structure. The “2” refers to two core elements: the opening ceremony and the main exhibition. The “1” refers to the Industrial Culture Development Conference, hosted by the Center for Industrial Culture Development of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The “3” covers three key components: three thematic forums, including the Global Creative Cities Design Forum, World Green Design Conference and International Design 100 Forum; four featured events, including the Design Night high-level showcase, Shanghai GALA fashion gala, U35 Young Design Talent Roadshow and “Eastern Fashion” show; and a series of forums spanning five major design fields: industrial, fashion, architecture, digital and service design. The “X” represents more than 50 citywide events held across Shanghai. More than 100 events in total will take place during the conference. The WDCC will feature three major highlights:1. Bringing Together Global Expertise to Set the Agenda for DesignThe WDCC will focus on emerging trends in intelligent and green design, bringing together nearly 1,000 experts, scholars and industry leaders from China and abroad. Discussions will center on AI-powered design, green and sustainable design, cultural heritage and innovation, and the development of Shanghai as a Design City. Four major events will anchor the program:First, the Industrial Culture Development Conference. Hosted by the Center for Industrial Culture Development of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the conference will focus on how industrial culture can drive the development of new industrialization. It will feature a main forum, three parallel forums and an event on entrepreneurship. New initiatives and outcomes, including the Guidelines for Brand and Culture Development in Industrial Enterprises and the first group of sites under the Industrial Culture “Starry Sky” initiative, will also be unveiled.Second, the Global Creative Cities Design Forum. Representatives from UNESCO and more than 30 Creative Cities, including London, Paris, Zurich, Dubai, Doha, Geelong, Busan and Kuala Lumpur, will share experiences in building Design Cities and jointly launch the development of publicly available standards for Design Cities.Third, the World Green Design Conference. Speakers will include Academician Wang Jinnan, president of the World Green Design Organization; Alfred Pitterle, recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award; and Academician Wang Hualin. The conference will unveil international standards for green design and launch initiatives including the “Green Leaf Mark MA” certification for green design products and certification for green design engineers.Fourth, the International Design 100 Forum. Global experts from the International Design 100 think tank, including former MIT Media Lab Director Dava Newman and architect Stefano Boeri, will explore topics ranging from designing for the future and bringing intelligent manufacturing into everyday life to reimagining human habitation. Five additional forums will examine the integration of AI and design, covering areas such as human-AI collaboration in future design, intelligent interaction design and AIGC-driven transformation.2. Bringing Together Fashion Trends to Shape New Models of Quality LivingThe WDCC will feature a 15,000-square-meter exhibition, a series of fashion shows and citywide CityWalk routes, alongside the launch of innovative products under the “Shanghai Fashion Collection” initiative to promote fashion consumption.First, a flagship main exhibition. Nearly 500 brands will showcase more than 3,000 products. The main exhibition area, covering about 8,000 square meters, will feature dedicated exhibitions on AI design, green design and U35 design talent, highlighting the latest trends and innovations in the design industry. More than 20% of participating brands will be international, including the French Craft Innovation Exhibition, Italian Excellence in Design Exhibition, Factor bicycles and DJULA jewelry. Emerging and trend-driven brands will account for more than 40%, including fashion labels such as Feng Chen Wang and Jun by Yangun, beauty brands including Forest Cabin and Judydoll, home brands such as Yeswood and Pusu, and collectible-toy brand Blokees. The exhibition will also feature a “Shanghai Fashion Collection” flagship store, offering curated, limited-edition, co-branded and first-release products, as well as digitally enhanced experiences, to showcase Shanghai-designed fashion products as city gifts. A dedicated “Shanghai Custom Made: Huangpu” section will focus on fashion, jewelry and other consumption scenarios. A 3,000-square-meter themed exhibition area will feature the “Shanghai Design 100+” exhibition, Yangtze River Delta Industrial Design Exhibition and Shanghai University section, while a 4,000-square-meter outdoor carnival will include a creative market and urban furniture experience zone.Second, Shanghai GALA and the “Eastern Fashion” show. Shanghai GALA will present the Heritage Next fashion show, showcasing how traditional craftsmanship can be reinterpreted and transformed through AI creative tools, while launching an “AI + Fashion” industry co-creation initiative. The “Eastern Fashion” show will feature more than 60 cutting-edge looks, demonstrating how AI-powered design can bring technology and aesthetics, innovation and quality together.Third, citywide events. More than 20 distinctive locations across Shanghai will be selected for four CityWalk routes focused on industrial development, fashion consumption, fashion customization and urban renewal. District-level events will also be held in Huangpu, Yangpu, Minhang, Jiading, Jinshan and Songjiang, creating a citywide atmosphere for design and innovation.3. Bringing Together High-End Resources to Drive Industrial InnovationThe WDCC will focus on key resources including companies, projects, technologies, talent and capital. A series of professional forums and ecosystem-focused events, including investment promotion, supply-demand matchmaking and new product launches, will help accelerate the commercialization of promising projects and foster new products, brands and businesses.First, Design Night investment and project showcase. Huangpu, Changning and other districts will highlight investment opportunities and showcase growth-oriented companies in creative design and fashion consumer products, providing a platform for exchanges among industrial investors, business parks, companies and universities.Second, the U35 Young Design Talent Roadshow. The first group of U35 design talent introduced at last year’s conference have made notable achievements in their respective fields. This year, the WDCC will introduce its second group of U35 talent and organize project roadshows focused on areas including advanced equipment, smart devices, sustainable fashion, digital content and urban renewal. Investment institutions, industrial parks and leading companies will be invited to connect with promising projects and support their commercialization.Third, the 2026 “Shanghai Design 100+” Global Competition. More than 2,000 outstanding entries from over 10 countries, including China, the UK, France and Italy, will compete across four categories: empowering industries, enhancing everyday life, serving cities and envisioning the future. The Top 300 finalists include the IM L6 limited-edition model, Fisher & Paykel premium kitchen appliances, XREAL smart glasses and Shanghai Vive skincare products. Projects from the competition have so far generated nearly 50 billion yuan in industrial conversion. Four annual awards and the Top 100 projects will be unveiled during the WDCC.Fourth, a series of industry trend forums. Drawing on the expertise of leading companies, industry organizations and academics, the WDCC will hold nearly 40 professional forums across five major design fields: industrial, architectural, fashion, digital and service design. Topics will include smart mobility, smart homes, cruise design, Shanghai-style craftsmanship, beautiful rural development, service design and city branding, bringing industry leaders together to exchange ideas and explore cooperation.