From Jakarta to Miami, the Salone del Mobile is forging partnerships abroad

Two years ago, the United States. Last year, Hong Kong and Osaka – where the World Expo was taking place. This year, Jakarta, with a major event that confirms the growing interest of Italian design firms in South-East Asia.

The Salone del Mobile in Milan officially launches its new international roadshow, which, for some years now, has not merely been a promotional tour to present the latest edition of the Milan event (which in 2027 will take place from 13 to 18 April), but a broader project which, for each stop, involves a communication strategy and a format tailored to that specific market, based on the connections and interests the organisers aim to foster.

We begin, then, in Indonesia, where, from 18 September to 18 October, the Townhall at the Indonesia Design District (IDD) PIK2 will host the ‘SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection Exhibition 1998–2026’, as part of Indonesia Design Week: a selection of the many products presented at SaloneSatellite (the Salone event reserved for designers under 30) from its inception to the present day. This will be followed by stops and events in all the major European and international cities considered strategic for the design and furniture sector: from London and Copenhagen to Shanghai, Lagos, Chicago and New York, Hong Kong, Baku, Miami, New Delhi, Bangalore and Mexico City. Early next year, the Salone’s organisers will also be in Riyadh, where the first Saudi edition of the Salone del Mobile was due to take place this coming November (following the success of the ‘zero edition’ held in November 2025), but which, due to the war in Iran and the crisis in the Middle East, has been postponed until autumn 2027.

“The programme will include a number of cities that have now become regular fixtures for us, alongside new destinations chosen either for the interest of the markets they represent or because they host specific events with which the Salone is forging strategic alliances,” explains Maria Porro, president of the Salone del Mobile. These partnerships are linked not only to the world of design, interiors and furniture, but also to the large-scale projects sector, which is experiencing strong growth for furniture companies and which, for this very reason, is at the heart of the Salone Contract, set to make its debut at the 2027 edition of the Milan event.

“This year, the international tour has three key aims: promoting the Contract project, engaging interior designers and interior decorators, and showcasing our world and its values to the press,” adds Porro. The Salone is a “complex ecosystem”, comprising many different entities and a diverse range of offerings. For this reason, its promotion can also be varied and tailored to specific markets and target audiences. This is why, for example, at events in cities such as Shanghai, New Delhi, London, New York and Chicago – home to some of the world’s leading architectural practices or the sites of major property developments – the focus will be primarily on the Salone Contract. This may involve partnerships with local events or organisations, as in the case of the Boutique Design Festival in New York (BDNY), where the Salone del Mobile will organise a talk. The same strategy has led to the signing of a three-year agreement with Art Basel (one of the most important international art fairs), meaning that, since last year, the Salone’s events have been taking place in Miami and Hong Kong during the fair: these two venues, as well as the one in Mexico City next February, will provide the perfect opportunity to showcase the Salone’s other new project, Raritas, which made its debut last April and which also opens the door to artistic and design initiatives with great potential but which are not yet established from an industrial perspective.