Fall in the Valley is getting a creative upgrade as Desert Design Week returns to Phoenix and Scottsdale October 6-11 for its sixth edition. This year’s celebration will feature 19 events centered around art, design and architecture, giving locals and design enthusiasts plenty of opportunities to explore the people, places and ideas shaping the Southwest.
The 2026 theme, “Collected in Dialog,” looks at design as a collection of stories rather than a series of individual objects. Through exhibitions, talks, dinners, receptions and home tours, guests are invited to experience art and design in conversation with one another and with those behind the scenes.
“Arizona really comes to life in fall, as many of us are returning from summer travels or emerging from our homes after months of desert heat,” says Desert Design Week Creator Ruth Price. “When planning this series of events, I was intentional about creating several opportunities to interact meaningfully with designers, artists, and featured guests within beautiful settings on an intimate scale.”
The lineup includes several new partners making their Desert Design Week debut. Lauren Bailey, co-founder and CEO of Postino and Upward Projects, will host an informal conversation, lunch and tour of the Upward Projects headquarters inside the iconic midcentury Phoenix Financial Center rotunda on Central Ave.
The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art will host two community days, along with an after-hours evening featuring its Desert Perspectives exhibition. At The Global Ambassador, guests can explore pop-up experiences featuring fashion, Olea Fine Jewelry and handcrafted cowboy boots from Miron Crosby.
Architecture enthusiasts can get an inside look at Chen Suchart Studio, where architects Tommy Suchart and Patricia Chen will discuss the varied sources of inspiration behind their work. At RAY Phoenix, architect Sharon Johnston, founding partner of Johnston Marklee, will explore her approach to designing for the desert during a lecture and conversation.
Food and design also come together during the return of First Bites of Phoenix, an interactive reception and dinner hosted by hospitality design studio House of Form at the newly completed KUZA restaurant. And for those who would rather experience design, the One Century, One Desert home tour offers two Arizona home tours, each providing its own take on desert living.
“A few of our events are focused specifically on people who work in the design industry, but the majority are for those who have an appreciation for art and design and want to go deeper. I often describe Desert Design Week as a choose-your-own adventure experience,” Price said. Ticket prices range from free to $175, with the full schedule and ticket sales available at Desert Design Week.
