Salone del Mobile: 9 Must-See Events

Milan’s Salone del Mobile is the world's largest design fair. In multiple locations across the city, the Salone hosts over 2,000 furniture and design brands that travel to Milan once a year to showcase their newest collections. Brands like Kartell or Edra, and even luxury houses such as Gucci, Prada or Hermès, all partake in what is also known as Milan’s Design Week.

The Salone is an event of international importance, and it brings to the city over 300,000 experts and lovers of design. Here, you can discover new designers, explore the newest collections or, simply, be amazed by the latest interior design innovations. All of this makes the city of Milan a true hotspot for the design industry, where some of the world’s biggest design trends come to life.

For all those reasons, traveling to Milan for Design Week can be a wonderful opportunity, but can also become overwhelming. That's why we've compiled a list of top must-see events at Salone del Mobile 2023 you should be on the lookout for.

What to see at the Salone del Mobile 2023

From the biggest international brands or smaller furniture producers, as well as newcomers and established designers, the Salone del Mobile has a space for everyone. And that is why you’ll find plenty to discover in all areas of design. Here are some of the various brands, events and exhibits you shouldn’t miss in this year’s Salone.

Acerbis

A Salone staple, Acerbis is an Italian furniture brand where beautiful heritage meets an innovative approach to design. Exceptional materials, beautiful finishes and sculptural shapes bring an element of luxury to any and all Acerbis pieces, making them a perfect addition to any interior.

Visiting the Acerbis showroom provides the opportunity to discover the brilliant work of designers such as Massimo Mariani or Giacomo Moor, something you wouldn’t want to miss out on. Last year, the Acerbis Showroom was one of our top picks, and we have high expectations for their presentation this year.

Hermès

Far from the main fairgrounds, in Milan’s city center, luxury fashion and lifestyle brands set up tents for their Design Week events. And one of those brands is French fashion and lifestyle luxury-house Hermès. Dating back to the 1800s, Hermès is well known for its leather goods and printed silks, but among the design crowds their beautiful home collections are easily recognizable.

Last year, Hermès literally set up tents in Milan by building four spectacular wood and paper structures in different colors. The displays featured some of their home pieces, including the brand’s latest release at the time: Soleil d’Hermès, a beautiful printed porcelain tableware collection. The spectacular display certainly set a high standard for this year’s celebrations.

Alcova

On a very different note, and straying away from the Rho Fiera (where the main fairgrounds are held), we have Alcova. Alcova is a platform for independent design that has been a significant part of Design Week since 2018. Each year, Alcova takes over a different dilapidated building in Milan, bringing life to it through all sorts of events, such as exhibitions, performances or different types of art installations.

In 2023, Alcova will take over Porta Vittoria Abattoir, a vast industrial space long neglected by the city. Here, the exhibits will spread throughout indoor and outdoor spaces, showcasing the work of emerging designers from all over the world. For those in search of groundbreaking design, disruptive ideas and exciting creations, Alcova is an absolute must visit.

Glas Italia

Glass, glass and more glass. As see-through furniture grows in popularity, the exceptional glass pieces produced by Glas Italia come more and more into the spotlight. This brand’s spectacular pieces are a true example of exquisite craftsmanship and innovative techniques.

At the Salone, Glas Italia introduces a selection of furniture, panels and wall partitions, everything produced in the most beautifully manufactured glass. In 2022, Glas Italia’s iridescent glass furniture, and set of Murano blown glass auxiliary tables (their striking handcrafted wavy shapes mimicking the flow of water) were some of our absolute favorite pieces from the entire Design Week. We can’t wait to see what Glas Italia has in store for this year’s edition of the Salone.

Molteni&C

Molteni&C is an absolute classic in the world of design, known for its attention to detail, luxurious finishes and exquisite taste. Part of the Molteni Group, Molteni&C offers sophisticated designs, with simplistic yet elevated silhouettes and exceptional materials.

Last year, Molteni&C presented a showroom that represented Vincent Van Duysens (creative director of the brand) ideal home. This ideal space — full of dynamic lines and multifunctional spaces that are always in contact with nature — speaks to the core essence of the brand, and will surely have continuity in 2023.

Euroluce

This year, for the 61st edition of the Salone, you can attend Euroluce. Euroluce is an International Lighting Exhibition that is held every two years as a part of the Salone. And, in relation to Euroluce, the whole fair will include a very interesting theme: The City of Lights.

Specifically, we are excited to check out Aurore, a large arena that will be the center of the event, and will house different immersive and reflective experiences. Also, this is were the annual programme of talks and expert panels at the Salone will take place. Definitely a must visit.

Karimoku

Japanese brand Karimoku was introduced at the Salone for the first time in 2022. Founded just three years before, the brand presented a beautifully curated storyline of mainly organic-shaped, wooden furniture. The artisanal craftsmanship, the tactility of the materials, and the Nordic-Danish and Japanese inspirations, made for the most exquisite furnishing.

All in all, Karimoku’s 2022 showroom felt just like home for us, and made for an incredible first encounter with the brand. Clearly, this time, we’ll be looking forward to getting to know them a little bit more.

SaloneSatellite

A yearly event, Salone’s Satellite is a section within the main fairgrounds where up-and-coming talent gets to showcase their designs to the entire industry. These designers under 35, after all, are the true future of the industry. Additionally, the three best projects shown during the exhibition will receive the SaloneSatellite Award. Don’t miss out on SaloneSatellite, as it is the best space to find new ideas, discover the new names in the industry and encounter some of the most inspiring stories.

Edra

What is there to say about Italian powerhouse Edra? Born in the late 1980s, the brand has always injected its designs with a high dose of artistic and irreverent fun. Whether it is creating a sofa that looks like a polar bear, or an armchair that recreates a rose, Edra’s pieces are brilliant yet completely extravagant. And of course, that energy makes it onto the showrooms.

At the 2022 Salone del Mobile, Edra’s space was a backlit hall of mirrors of sorts, where the furniture became the true protagonist. Discovering these brilliantly crafted pieces, in such an intriguing space, made for an amazing experience, and we can’t wait to see what the brand has prepared for this year’s Salone.

Where and when is the Salone del Mobile 2023?

As Design Week takes over Milan, you can encounter events and celebrations all across the city. However, the main fairgrounds are held at Rho Fiera Milano, an extensive exhibition space with multiple pavilions that host almost 2,000 designer showrooms. The space is open to visitors, press and other professionals from April 18 to 23, but many other celebrations around the city extend over the whole week.

All in all, the Salone del Mobile is a truly exciting space for all design lovers. And as countless brands and designers from all over the world converge into one singular arena, it becomes the space to be if you want to discover the latest trends, products and innovations. If you ever get the opportunity to visit, don’t miss out!