Munich, 02 March 2026 –«Handwerk & Design» is the trade show for the fine things in life. Environmental responsibility and social considerations are given equal prominence. From prosthetics to wall tapestries, from cargo bikes to silver spoons, it brings together the most diverse facets of craftsmanship and design.
Alongside the trade fair’s established highlights – such as the special show SCHMUCKmünchen and the livingworkshop areas, where visitors can watch various artists and craftspeople at work – this year also brings a number of new features. Among them is the Danner Expo, which will be celebrating its premiere at the fair.
Brand new at «Handwerk & Design»: the Danner Expo
For more than 100 years, the Danner Foundation has been supporting contemporary craftsmanship in Bavaria. The foundation’s initiatives range from the prestigious Danner Prize and smaller competitions for students at specialist colleges to scholarships, acquisitions, workshop funding and grants towards printing costs, among many other initiatives.
Now a new element is being added: the Danner Expo. Shown at a designated stand designed by Hubert and Matthias Sanktjohanser, the foundation is unveiling a curated special exhibition for the first time, featuring outstanding works in ceramics, glass and metal. For the exhibition’s debut, 25 artists from eight countries have been selected – bringing together established figures and emerging talents alike.
Among the participants is the artist Bibi Smit, for example. The Dutch maker creates large, mouth-blown forms in glass. Their natural hues and organic, asymmetrical shapes evoke inspirations drawn from nature – a rippling leaf, a shrivelled fruit, a fading colour: the natural cycle of growth and decay, captured in fragile glass.
Representing the field of metal is Ludwig Menzel from Berlin. The silversmith and jewellery designer is known for his experimental approach to the material; unpredictability and inspiration drawn from supposed imperfections play a decisive role in his work. At the Danner Expo, he is presenting vessels in cast silver – part endearing chicks, part model rockets, yet always exemplary works of contemporary craftsmanship.
«Handwerk & Design» on the Podcast
Also new this year: jewellery artist and podcaster Sarah Cossham will be accompanying the fair in her podcast “Others & Me”. In four special episodes, she speaks, among others, with Barbara Schmidt, Head of the Trade Fairs and Exhibitions Department at the Chamber of Crafts for Munich and Upper Bavaria. Barbara Schmidt reflects on the founding of SCHMUCKmünchen in 1959 by Herbert Hofmann and on the political significance of the international exhibition.
Michaela Braesel discusses the importance of the special exhibition TALENTEmünchen, the presentation platform for emerging designers from all disciplines. And Michael Härteis introduces the distinctive concept behind this year’s EXEMPLAmünchen, which, under the motto “Shaping the Future”, places the social and societal dimensions of craftsmanship centre stage.
Experience «Handwerk & Design» in conversation: with Sarah Cossham on “Others & Me” – available in German only wherever you get your podcasts.
https://www.podcast.de/podcast/3413201/others-me-der-schmuckpodcast
The spirit of EXEMPLAmünchen 2026 is reflected in the commitment of Life Bridge Ukraine. This non-profit organisation supports former Ukrainian soldiers whose war injuries have resulted in amputation on their journey back to an independent life. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, more than 100,000 amputations have been carried out since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
Life Bridge Ukraine not only provides these young men with prosthetic limbs; it also trains Ukrainians in prosthetics. The project is supported, among others, by the Munich-based company Streifeneder ortho.production GmbH. Here, orthopaedic technology, artisanal precision and technical innovation are combined with a strong sense of social responsibility.
For Over 150 Years: The Bavarian Arts and Crafts Association
Another absolute highlight of the fair is the stand of the Bavarian Arts and Crafts Association (BKV). Whether textiles, ceramics, jewellery, glass, wood, paper or toys, the BKV brings together artists and craftspeople from a wide range of disciplines. The association was founded in 1851 under the patronage of the Bavarian royal family. Its aim was to raise overall standards in the applied arts by promoting particularly high-quality works created by its members. In the past, customers included the Russian Tsar and the German Emperor. Admission remains subject to the decision of a rigorous jury to this day.
At «Handwerk & Design», not only are numerous members represented with their own stands, the association also presents a central stand. Almost 30 members will be exhibiting their work, among them the ceramic artist Sonngard Marcks, who won the prestigious prize at the Grassi Fair in Leipzig last autumn for her exceptional faience pieces. Her porcelain works combine the playful opulence of the Baroque with the cheeky wit of modernity.
Jewellery Connects: The Women Artists’ Collective “Astonish”
Visitors will once again discover truly distinctive pieces of jewellery this year at the stand of “Astonish”. “Astonish” is an international collective currently comprising seven jewellery artists from Germany, Iran, Colombia, Austria and Taiwan. The group celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. The artists first met while studying in Idar-Oberstein, a town with a long jewellery-making tradition and home to the University of Trier’s “Gemstones and Jewellery” campus.
Their shared passion for jewellery – and gemstones in particular – continues to unite these former fellow students to this day. Julia Obermaier, for instance, does not create elaborate settings for her stones; instead, she often simply bonds them together into relief-like compositions that resemble architectural models. Her latest series explores the theme of memory: erasers, pencil stubs and tiny notes evoke school days. The objects appear deceptively real, yet are in fact crafted entirely from gemstones in the corresponding colours.
Further information about the trade fair is available at www.ihm-handwerk-design.com.
About «Handwerk & Design»
As part of the Internationale Handwerksmesse the «Handwerk & Design» arose in 2008. The idea behind it was to combine outstanding performances in crafts, art handicrafts and design at the Internationale Handwerksmesse. During the Internationale Handwerksmesse, everything is about the incorporation of craftsmanship and good design in hall B1 on the Fairground Munich. «Handwerk & Design» is made up of numerous special shows such as EXEMPLAmünchen, SCHMUCKmünchen, TALENTEmünchen – Meister der Zukunft. You can find further information at www.ihm-handwerk-design.com.
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presse@ghm.de
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