29th Berlin Zeughaus Fair

Around 80 designers and artists will present their work, including nine from the “Frische Talente” support program. The Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin will showcase its exhibition “seefashion26.” In addition to artisans from Germany, participants from Lithuania, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, and Luxembourg will be represented.

The Zeughausmesse Berlin has been part of Berlin’s Cultural Autumn since 2004 and is one of the most important platforms for applied art in Germany. The focus is on one-of-a-kind pieces and small-batch productions that combine artistic merit, craftsmanship, and functionality. The applied art fair serves both as a sales exhibition and as a meeting place for designers and the public.

Visitors can learn about the creation of the works, the materials, and the techniques used, and speak directly with the artists. Over the course of four days, the KühlhausBerlin becomes a hub for contemporary applied art in Berlin—bridging the gap between traditional craftsmanship and experimentation, between utility and free expression. Admission: 10 euros, reduced rate 5 euros, free for those under 18.

Applied Art for Everyday Life

From jewelry and ceramics to glass and wood, and on to metal and textiles, the Zeughausmesse 2026 showcases the full diversity of contemporary applied art. The works combine material expertise and traditional craftsmanship with distinctive artistic visions. Visitors can discover extraordinary objects, engage in conversation with the artists, and purchase the works on site.

Stephanie Jendis has been at the forefront of contemporary jewelry for many years. Earrings Im Wald. Buffalo horn, uvarovite, oxidized silver. Photo: Oliver Mann.

Beate Leonards: Traditional silversmithing techniques in precise and dynamic forms. Tins, tombac (with powder-coated interiors), Corian. Photo: Beate Leonards.

Up-and-Coming Talent in the Applied Arts

The “Fresh Talents” support program offers a platform to nine young artists and designers who have been working in the field for no more than five years. The selected artists represent new perspectives, experimental approaches, and individual interpretations of materials and design. In this way, the Zeughausmesse creates a space for current and future developments in the applied arts.

Jasmin Knedeisen, one of the “Fresh Talents,” impresses with exquisite woodworking craftsmanship. Desk made of air-dried Mecklenburg ash. Photo: Jasmin Knedeisen.

Karl Lobo, also featured as a “Fresh Talent” at the Zeughausmesse. Vessel. Stoneware, engobe, drawing, glaze. Photo: Paul Altmann.

Hazal Azeri is also featured as a “Rising Talent.” The patterns on her ceramics explore identity and cultural memory. Vessel The Quilt. Stoneware, hand-built. Photo: Adria Chilcote.

Graduate Fashion Show at 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 show will feature selected works from the Class of 2026. 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.

Fanny Hensel from the Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin. An example from the Seefashion26 – Graduate Fashion Show. Photo: Charlotte Hensel.

Two Awards for Applied Arts

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

The Klingenstein-Zuschke Foundation’s Prize for Applied Arts is endowed with 5,000 euros. It is awarded for outstanding achievement in the field of artistic craftsmanship. In the design and artisanal production 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, thanks to their design language, excellent craftsmanship, and appropriate use of materials.

In 2026, the Professional Association of Applied Arts Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. (AKBB) 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 award honors artists whose work harmoniously combines an idea or concept—in a previously unseen way—with its artisanal, artistic, or technical execution.