Every industry has its annual moment of union. In fashion, it's the runway shows. In art, it's the fairs. For the design world, Decorex has long served as that meeting point – a place where trends emerge, conversations begin, and the future of how we live starts to take shape.
This year, Decorex returns to Cape Town from 25–28 June at the CTICC before heading to Johannesburg's Sandton Convention Centre from 30 July–2 August, bringing together hundreds of exhibitors, designers, makers, and industry professionals across both cities. As Africa's leading design showcase, the events continue to act as a benchmark for where interiors, architecture, craftsmanship, and lifestyle design are heading.
For those working in the industry, Decorex is far more than just an exhibition. It is where suppliers launch new collections, designers reconnect with collaborators, and emerging creatives find themselves sharing a space with established names. It is one of the few places where the entire design ecosystem – from furniture makers and textile studios to kitchen specialists and lighting brands – can be experienced under one roof.
Beyond the business of design, Decorex has become an annual opportunity to understand the cultural shifts influencing the way South Africans want to live. The themes explored throughout the exhibition often reflect wider conversations taking place across society, and this year's "Soft Life" focus feels particularly timely. Rather than just celebrating excess, the concept centres on comfort, wellbeing, and spaces that support slower, more intentional living. It is a direction already influencing global design conversations, from hospitality and wellness interiors to residential architecture and furniture design.
At House & Garden, we will be watching closely to see how this idea translates into real-world interiors. Some of the most compelling interiors of the century are those that prioritise feeling over phenomenon, and Decorex has always provided an early glimpse into how these ideas are being interpreted locally.
We're also anticipating a continued celebration of African craftsmanship. In recent years, the continent's design language has become increasingly confident, with designers drawing on local materials, indigenous knowledge systems, and contemporary manufacturing techniques to create work that feels distinctly African without relying on clichés. Decorex has often provided the platform where these voices gain wider visibility, and 2026 looks set to continue that course.
Another area to watch is the growing intersection between design and lifestyle. The exhibition format has evolved considerably over the years, moving beyond traditional trade-show stands to include immersive installations, curated experiences, talks, workshops, and hospitality concepts. Visitors are no longer simply browsing products; they are stepping into fully realised environments that demonstrate how design influences the way we cook, entertain, work and unwind.
The Johannesburg edition remains particularly significant because of its scale and its connection to 100% Design Africa, which continues to spotlight both emerging and established designers from across the continent. Together, the events offer one of the most comprehensive snapshots of contemporary African design available anywhere.
House & Garden South Africa will also be part of the conversation at Decorex Johannesburg, where attendees can find us exhibiting throughout the show. We are also proud that our Editor-in-Chief, Catherine Mo, will be among the voices participating in the Future Talks programme, Decorex's thought-leadership platform that brings together designers, makers, editors, and industry leaders to explore the ideas shaping contemporary living.
To celebrate the launch of our latest issue, House & Garden readers can also receive a complimentary ticket to Decorex Johannesburg when purchasing a copy of the magazine. It's the perfect opportunity to experience one of Africa's most influential design events while discovering the people, products, and trends defining the future of design.
Perhaps that is why Decorex has been around for decades. While trends come and go, the exhibition's real value lies in its ability to bring people together around a shared curiosity about how we live. It remains one of the few places where a designer, architect, student, collector, and homeowner can all walk the same aisles and leave inspired by something entirely different.
In an era increasingly dominated by digital inspiration boards and trends driven by algorithms, there is still something powerful about experiencing design in person. Materials can be touched, artistry can be examined up close, and conversations happen organically.
For the South African design industry, Decorex remains one of the year's most important gatherings – not simply because it showcases what's new, but because it helps shape what comes next.
Credit
Images: Decorex Africa (2025), Instagram @decorexafrica
