Design festivals and conferences started to recover after the pandemic this autumn. With the fair season coming to an end for another year, here are the 10 most popular events of 2021 according to visitors to Dezeen Events Guide.
Dezeen Events Guide lists hundreds of international architecture and design exhibitions, talks, trade fairs and more. To enquire about getting your event listed, contact [email protected].

1. Milan design week
Cancelled last year and postponed from April to September this year, Milan reestablished itself as the world's design capital this year with a smaller offering than usual that attracted a surprisingly large and vibrant crowd.
The shift of dates for Milan's design week was led by the anchor event, Salone del Mobile (below), with fuorisalone events around the city following suit. Highlights this year included a student reinterpretation of the Korova Milk Bar from the movie A Clockwork Orange (pictured) at the Alcova show and a spectacular installation by luxury brand Hermès. Read more about Milan design week on Dezeen ?

2. London Design Festival
London's annual festival had to compete with a packed September calendar this year with many events rescheduling in the hope of avoiding the ravages of the pandemic. Despite Brexit making travel to the UK more difficult than before, LDF's popularity among Dezeen Events Guide readers shows the enduring appeal of both the festival and the city.
Highlights this year included 18 rainbow-hued pede...