It’s cold outside! Very, very cold! And the biggest snowstorm in years! So what better way to warm up then by visiting the Interior Design Show 2026 (IDS) in Toronto. So that’s what thousands of people did! After the Trade Day Thursday, the IDS had its Opening Night that evening. With DJ’s, speakers, designers, drinks, snacks. Attendees were there enjoying themselves with friends, interacting with designers at their booths and learning about the newest designer furniture and decor. This is considered Canada’s largest design party of the year! And it lived up to its reputation again!
An amazing way to experience the Interior Design Show was with guided design tours taking you behind the scenes to discover new trends, innovative products and emerging talent from both local and global design leaders. These floor tours provided insider access to products and allowed expert commentary on the latest industry developments. In this way your IDS experience is both educational and inspiring. IDS ‘Where Design Meets’ Design Tours were available… Lighting Designer Julia Vandergraaf and a chance to Experience the brilliance of Furniture Forecast through the eyes of Eric Mutrie, Senior Editor at Azure Magazine, for an intimate, guided exploration of Toronto’s premier furniture showcase.
The District area – You could shop the show at this creative neighborhood featuring collections of design products for the home. It was a marketplace for designers to show and sell to both consumers and industry insiders. Among the marketplace were Lilliput Hats, Deconstruct, Mark Gleberzon, Lisa Ridout, Roncy Packs and Health Hut, to name a few.
In Studio North, independent product designers exhibited their custom and unique creations of furniture, lighting, glass and ceramics, textiles and décor objects. All within a gallery-like setting. Included were PH1 Studios, Peak Woodworking, Good Friend Furniture, The Studio Design Association (University of Alberta) , Vako Design among others.
Everyone works. And over the past years, how and where we work have changed. Going into 2026, we continue to work in a variety of ways. Shaped by technology, sped up by the 2020 pandemic and it continues to evolve. Whether it’s remote work, home office, at a laptop in a café or at the office or in the boardroom. The way we work is very diverse and is part of everyone’s lives. So this part of the IDS was innovative and relevant. Tours included this interesting aspect of How We Work . Asthe spaces in which we work now come in many shapes, sizes and locations, it often means that the home, office and hospitality have become one. This has a huge impact on interior design.
The Interior Design Show celebrates and promotes the best in global and Canadian design. We see emerging designers to legacy brands. IDS is a total design experience. Every aspect of designing a home, office space or event space is there!
The design industry is celebrated with beautiful exhibits, full seminars and keynote speaker programs on the centre stage. Plenty of opportunities for networking. The IDS website had a list of the exhibitors. Find your way around the show and make sure you don’t miss any of this year’s exhibitors with the show guide. Show’s agenda to make sure you see the speakers on stage.
Where? At the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) North Building. Steps away from Union subway station (GO Train, subway, streetcar GO Bus out of town connections). Plus parking available. Lots of restaurants and cafés in the area in addition to hotels, CN Tower & Ripley’s Aquarium and shopping. With its glass windows giving a skyview, the venue is uplifting and welcoming on a winter’s day. A day out with a friend or colleague or solo to explore at your leisure. Whether it’s a day or a few days at the Interior Design Show, it’s always a treat and a learning experience. Mark your calendars for next year’s IDS27 !
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