Berlin Zeughaus Fair 2026

These include nine emerging artists from the ‘Frische Talente’ support programme. The Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin will present its exhibition ‘seefashion26’.

The Zeughausmesse Berlin has been part of Berlin’s Cultural Autumn since 2004 and is one of the key platforms for applied arts in Germany. The focus is on unique pieces and small-batch productions that combine artistic merit, craftsmanship and functionality. In 2026, alongside designers from Germany, artists from Lithuania, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark and Luxembourg will also be represented.

Applied art for everyday life

From jewellery and ceramics to glass and wood, right through to metal and textiles, the Zeughausmesse 2026 showcases the full diversity of contemporary applied art. The works combine an understanding of materials and traditional craftsmanship with distinctive artistic approaches. Visitors can discover extraordinary objects, engage directly with the designers and purchase the works on site.

Three artistic approaches: form, material and memory

Three selected approaches exemplify the different perspectives on applied art at this year’s Zeughausmesse.

Monika Jakubec creates jewellery from basic geometric shapes such as cones, spheres and cylinders. She brings an originally abstract design concept to life. Through combination, multiplication and reduction, she creates clearly designed, wearable objects that simultaneously retain their own vitality.

Hazal Azeri is featured as a ‘Rising Star’ at the Zeughausmesse. She uses a building-up technique with ridges, one of the oldest techniques of hand-shaping. Here, she combines

combines ancient traditions with contemporary interpretations. Patterns and ornaments reflect questions of identity and cultural memory.

Beate Leonards creates applied art from silver, the brass alloy tombac and bronze. Simplicity and the interplay of form, material and function are essential. Traditional silversmithing techniques are reflected in precise and dynamic forms.

‘Fresh Talents’: Up-and-coming artists in the applied arts

The “Fresh Talents” support programme offers a platform to nine young artists and designers. It is aimed at creators who have been working professionally for no more than five years. The selected participants represent new perspectives, experimental approaches and individual ways of engaging with materials and design. In this way, the Zeughausmesse creates a space for young voices and current developments in the applied arts.

seefashion26 – Graduate Fashion Show by the Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin

A highlight of the Zeughausmesse 2026 is ‘seefashion26 – Graduate Fashion Show’ by the Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin, Department of Fashion Design. The exhibition will showcase selected works from the 2026 graduating class. To mark the university’s 80th anniversary, Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates will present a variety of creative approaches – ranging from free experimentation to analytical design. Social, ecological and historical issues play just as significant a role as the exploration of form and material.

Two prizes for applied art

In 2026, the Zeughausmesse will once again be awarding prizes for outstanding achievements in the applied arts. A specialist jury will present two awards to promote and further develop the heritage of arts and crafts.

The Klingenstein-Zuschke Foundation’s Prize for Applied Art is endowed with 5,000 euros. It is awarded for outstanding achievement in the field of artistic craftsmanship. In the design and craftsmanship of their works, artists undergo a creative process that lends their pieces a unique character and special appeal. The objects enrich the everyday lives of their users. This is ensured by their design language, excellent craftsmanship and appropriate use of materials.

In 2026, the Berufsverband Angewandte Kunst Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. will present the AKBB Innovation Prize for the first time. The prize is endowed with 1,500 euros and free participation in the Zeughausmesse 2027. The prize honours artists whose work harmonises the interplay of an idea or concept with its artisanal, artistic or technical realisation in a previously unseen way.

Experience and buy art up close

The Zeughausmesse is conceived as a sales exhibition and a meeting place for designers and the public. Visitors can find out about the creation of the works, the materials and techniques used, and speak directly to the artists. Over four days, the KühlhausBerlin becomes a hub for contemporary applied art in Berlin – bridging the gap between traditional craftsmanship and experimentation, between functionality and free expression.

• Zeughausmesse 2026
• Date: 12–15 November 2026
• Venue: KühlhausBerlin, Luckenwalder Straße 3, 10963 Berlin

Opening hours:

Thursday, 12 November 2026: 2 pm–6 pm

Friday, 13 November 2026: 12 noon–7 pm

Saturday, 14 November 2026: 12 noon–7 pm

Sunday, 15 November 2026: 12 noon–6 pm

Admission:

10 euros, concessions 5 euros, free for under-18s.