Service Design Global Conference 2026

About the event

SDGC26 is the annual conference of the Service Design Network, a nonprofit founded in 2004, held this year in cooperation with World Design Capital 2026. Its 2026 theme, “Beyond Boundaries: Enabling Solutions that Shape Tomorrow”, asks how public and private organizations, and the communities they serve, can move past current limits and build more resilient, meaningful futures through service design. The wider World Design Capital programme is titled “Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life.”

What to expect

The conference runs over three days. The first day is given to hands-on workshops run by practitioners and organizations, plus an opening event for Service Design Network members. The next two days are the main conference programme, and the final day closes with a Closing Event. Open Sandbox events, immersive content and networking sessions round out the week, although some of them need an extra ticket or prior registration. You can join onsite or follow the main programme online. The working language is English, and one workshop is held in German.

Who it’s for

The organizers describe the content as aimed at pioneers and practitioners who want to help organizations transform, and partners say they want to meet service designers and business leaders. It suits service designers, public-sector innovators, researchers and managers who want to see how others are tackling real service challenges. Students can join the virtual programme at a reduced rate.