Maison et Objet: 7 reasons to visit

Paris called, and these are the 7 reasons you need to visit the hottest design and lifestyle fair in the world

13 Jan 2026

Paris hits reset on the design year with Maison&Objet 2026!

Every January, Maison&Objet sets the tone for the global design calendar, and this year is no exception. Spanning seven exhibition halls and six curated sectors, the Parisian trade fair once again gathers voices from across decoration, design, and lifestyle. Returning from 15 to 19 January, the fair looks inward this season, anchoring itself in a resonant theme: Past Reveals Future. Held twice annually, Maison&Objet has come to be regarded less as a trade show and more as a living, international community that convenes, disperses, and re-emerges with renewed relevance each year.

Here are seven reasons why you must visit Maison&Objet 2026:

Manifestos curated by GOODMOODS

Four lenses offering an intuitive way to read this year’s theme show how familiar references continue to inspire fresh directions in design. Curated by GOODMOODS, Metamorphosis, Mutation, Baroque Recomposition and Neo-Folklore bridge the old and new by bringing in narratives that are shaped by recent design approaches. Transformation, hybridisation, recomposition and local narratives tie the larger theme into one neat little bouquet.

Tressages Pas Sages; Photograph courtesy of Maison&Objet

6 tightly curated sections within 7 exhibition halls

Since its inception in 1994, Maison&Objet has shaped the rhythm of the global design year. This edition unfolds across six carefully defined sections ranging from signature hospitality projects and solutions to decoration and design, artisanal savoir-faire, fragrance, fashion and accessories, and finally, gift and play. Together, they occupy seven exhibition halls, offering you a clearly structured yet expansive view of the many ways design intersects with everyday life.

Designer of the Year 2026: Harry Nuriev

For 2026, the focus turns to Harry Nuriev, whose collaborations span brands such as Balenciaga, the Louvre and Baccarat, reflecting an ability to move fluidly between institutions, brands and audiences. For this edition, Harry will conceive an immersive scenography envisioned as a visual and sensory pause that invites visitors to reconsider the aesthetics of the everyday. Based between New York and Paris, Harry is the founder and creative designer behind Crosby Studios, and is widely regarded as a leading voice in contemporary minimalism. At the heart of his practice lies Transformism, a philosophy rooted in reworking what already exists, particularly within today’s culture of excess.

Designer of the Year- Harry Nuriev; Photography courtesy of Maison&Objet

Berangère Ceramique; Photograph courtesy of Maison&Objet

What’s New: Decor, Retail and Hospitality

This year’s What’s New space brings together three distinct voices: Elizabeth Leriche, François Delclaux, and Rudy Guénaire. Together, the three perspectives converge, offering a layered reading of Past Reveals Future across decor, retail and hospitality. Each one approaches the theme from a different vantage point.

Trend forecaster and scenographer Elizabeth Leriche sets the tone with an emotionally driven narrative that moves between memory and possibility, exploring how future-facing design often emerges from what already exists. François Delclaux turns the spotlight on the growing pull of ultra-localism, framing a renewed form of creative traditionalism where place, context and craft shape the very identity of a project. Completing the trio is restaurateur and creative director Rudy Guénaire, whose Suite 2046 anchors the Hospitality section. Known for immersive, story-led environments through his work with the PNY restaurant group, Rudy brings the same sensibility here, inviting visitors into a space designed to be experienced rather than observed.

The return of Thomas Haarmann’s Curatio

Following a widely appreciated debut in 2025, Thomas Haarmann’s Curatio returns this year in an expanded format, bringing together 60 international participants. Conceived as a village-like installation, the showcase draws visitors into an immersive world of collectible design where objects are contextualised rather than being merely displayed. Here, artistry and the artistic process find a place to stay, offering a slower, more contemplative way to engage with contemporary design.

In the city with Maison&Objet

Stepping beyond the exhibition halls, this city-wide extension of Maison&Objet opens up Paris itself as a living showcase. Bringing together over 100 locations across the city’s creative ecosystem (ateliers, studios, design-led stores), where you get to engage with the creators in their own spaces. The format encourages discovery in real-life settings, allowing visitors to absorb the city’s creative pulse while experiencing why Paris continues to hold its place as a global design capital.

Exhibition halls to haute gastronomie

Beyond the exhibition halls, Paris invites a world of experiences to extend your Maison&Objet day. Dine under the city’s iconic skyline with sweeping views of the Eiffel Tower at L’Oiseau Blanc or savour classic French gastronomy at La Tour d’Argent with panoramic views of the Seine, Notre-Dame and the Ile Saint-Louis. For a more spirited evening, toast cocktails at the glamorous Les Ambassadeurs, or drift along the Seine aboard Le Calife for a quintessentially Parisian dinner cruise.

In January, Paris shifts into exhibition mode, with galleries, museums and design studios opening their doors for viewing and more. It’s an ideal moment to experience Paris beyond the fairgrounds, absorbing the city’s design history in real time and understanding how culture, craft and commerce intersect across the city.