Frankfurt 2026: The opportunity for a creative future in Rhine-Main!

Frankfurt 2026: The opportunity for a creative future in Rhine-Main!

Great excitement in the Rhine-Main region: Frankfurt will be named World Design Capital (WDC) in 2026. This is not just a title, but a real opportunity to lead the city and its surroundings towards a more sustainable and equitable future through design. The focus here is clear: design should be used as a systemic tool to address social challenges and develop innovative economic concepts. Project manager Carolina Romahn emphasizes that it is about much more than just stylish design. It's about solving real problems.

However, there is criticism: many activists complain that the concrete activities and initiatives have so far been little visible. The final program is scheduled to be published in autumn 2023, but the anticipation is already palpable. Claudio Montanini, President of the Federal Association of Marketing Clubs, sees the WDC award as an opportunity to shine a new light on the region. The decision was officially announced in November 2023, and now the provisional calendar of events, which could include up to 2,000 events, is a major challenge. However, a large part of it is currently heavily culture-oriented, which IHK President Ulrich Caspar views critically.

Community and networking

In order to further bring the community together, the. takes place every third Wednesday of the month WDC regulars' table take place at different locations in the region. Networking and informal exchange are the main components here. The meetings are free for everyone, and what's particularly nice is that people without their own ideas are also welcome. This brings a breath of fresh air and new perspectives into the discussion. The aim is for the regulars' tables to become embassies of the WDC 2026 in the respective locations in the long term.

These get-togethers should not only take place during the preparations for the WDC, but also promote and strengthen the community after 2026. Through constant networking, innovators and creative minds can contribute and further develop their ideas.

Prospects for the creative industries

A particularly exciting topic is the economic impact of the WDC award. Hesse's Economics Minister Kaweh Mansoori hopes to strengthen the creative industry, which generates around 17 billion euros regionally and employs around 150,000 people. In Frankfurt alone, around 35,000 people work in this area, and half of the turnover of the creative industries in Hesse is generated here. Given the success of other cities that received the WDC title, such as Valencia, whose tourist numbers increased by 120,000 visitors in 2022, the hope for a similarly positive development for Frankfurt is easy to understand.

The WDC organizers in Hesse have the goal of attracting around two million people to the Rhine-Main region by 2026. Preparations are in full swing and the anticipation in the community is palpable. “There’s something going on,” says Romahn modestly. It remains exciting to see how Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region will develop in the coming years and what creative ideas will sprout in the WDC phase.