Stockholm Furniture Fair: Highlights 2023

In 2023 we have more than 400 exhibitors from 31 countries booked for the fair, and we expect 30.000 international visitors. These are some of our fair highlights for 2023.

The Guest of Honour 2023 is the design studio Front, making it the first time the distinction goes to a Swedish design studio. Front work in art and research-driven way and move freely between the industry and the gallery world. They exhibited at the Greenhouse area for young talents early in their careers. In February their Guest of Honour installation will set the tone for the 71st edition of the Stockholm Furniture Fair.

Älvsjö Gård is a new platform for experimental, research-driven and collectible design, set in a building right next to the fair. Amongst the 2023 exhibitors is Tableu from Denmark, Pyton Gallery and Kiosken from Norway and a curated SFF space showcasing a selection of Swedish artists and designers. Dating back to the 16th century, Älvsjö gård is one of Stockholm’s oldest still-existing manors. The number of visitors is therefore regulated and there is no wheelchair access.

The designer and interior architect Jonas Bohlin – behind many of Sweden's most iconic restaurants and bars over the last 30 years – has designed the bar Underbar in Hall B in close collaboration with Christine Ingridsdotter. The bar is made from carefully selected materials which will be reused after the fair, and the furniture and new lighting showcased and used in the bar will continue to other restaurants after the fair has ended. Jonas Bohlin is one of Sweden's most highly regarded designers. Ingridsdotter produces much of his work, made in Sweden only.

Stockholm Furniture Fair offers a dedicated program with keynote speakers and inspiring design and architecture talks throughout the week. Among the speakers on the main stage in Victoria Hall you will find designers such as Sabine Marcelis, Stephen Burks and Raw Edges as well as architects such Anders Lendager, Victoria Millestrup from BIG, and Ukrainian architect Slava Balbek, who is behind a number of volunteer initiatives in his country.

Greenhouse is Stockholm Furniture Fair’s platform for young emerging designers. This year 32 designers and 30 design schools from 18 countries will exhibit in the area. The Greenhouse Bar by Nola, designed by urban furniture brand Nola in collaboration with designers Mia Cullin and Anki Gneib, offers a bar and stage area for panel debates and talks.

The Gallery Edition is a new exhibition space at Stockholm Furniture Fair with a set design by Sophia Bratt, showcasing selected news from brands exhibiting in the city. With the aim to strengthen the links and synergies between the fair and Stockholm Design Week, it offers brands an opportunity to be present at both places.

The Nude Edition is a new exhibition area with pre-built stands made of recycled material. The stands are small, measuring only 15 square meters, and the material will return to be recycled after use. The area is a step towards a more sustainable way of exhibiting and exhibitors in Nude Edition 2023 include Herman Miller and Reform Design LAB. The material partners for construction and flooring are Recoma and Tarkett.

The exhibition platform Ung Svensk Form – Young Swedish Design – returns to Stockholm Furniture Fair to celebrate their 25th anniversary. Ung Svensk Form is an annual award and touring exhibition that showcases young Swedish talent, organised by Svensk Form. The exhibition will be centrally located in Greenhouse.

What impact does our furniture have on the climate? The guest exhibition Now or never – 1 kg CO2e shows how different materials affect our surroundings – and what difference our choices make. The exhibition is organised by Emma Olbers, designer and sustainability strategist, together with the design and innovation agency EY Doberman. Form us with Love, Polestar, Doconomy and Nrep are also participating.

The Scandinavian Design Awards is a new award initiated to celebrate the best design, architecture and interiors in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. The awards consist of eight categories, including Architecture of the Year and Sustainability Award of the Year. The winners are presented at a ceremony and dinner in the Stockholm City Hall on February 6 and displayed in an exhibition in Hall B at Stockholm Furniture Fair. The award is a collaboration between the publishing house It Is Media and Stockholm Furniture Fair.

The exhibition Closing the Loop by the Solaris community – a circular-chain platform initiated by the United Nations ESCAP in 2019 – put a spotlight on the 11 million tons of plastic that end up in our oceans every year. With upcycling as a key circular economy driving force, the exhibition showcases art, furniture, lighting and fashion created by designers and brands such as Karim Rashid, Pierre Balmain, Swarovski and Julia Koerner. The exhibition Closing the Loop is made by Solaris Community in collaboration with Materialbiblioteket.

Stockholm Design Week is organised by Stockholm Furniture Fair and in 2023 more than 100 furniture brands, design studios and museums open their doors to a global audience in the city. The design week is open for professionals and design enthusiasts alike and the free SDW interactive app provides a list of daily activities and events. From 2023, Stockholm Design Week is held twice a year on February 6–12 and September 5–9 in 2023.

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