Italian Design Day Belgrade 2026: Bringing Italian Design Culture to the Balkans

Date: 04/05/2026

A remarkable day for Alba Dominante—and a powerful opening to Italian Design Day in Belgrade, hosted at the Embassy of Italy.

The day began at our showroom in Belgrade with the visit of Giovanna Bassino and Antonella Adriani - respectively the Compasso D’Oro award coordinator and the Vice president of ADI Design. Their presence brought not only energy, but also a shared vision: how to further expand and strengthen the culture of Italian design in Serbia and across the Balkans.

A key moment of discussion was the opportunity to bring, for the fist time to Serbia, the prestigious Compasso d’Oro—widely considered the highest recognition in Italian design, with only around 20 awards assigned each year.This would mark a major step in connecting the region with the most authoritative institutions of Italian design.

In the afternoon, the program continued at the Embassy of Italy, where more than 120 architects, designers, and distributors gathered for the official opening of Italian Design Day.It was a clear demonstration of how Italian institutions are able to create, even in a short time, high-value platforms for dialogue and collaboration.

The opening featured Antonella Adriani, who emphasized the importance of engaging with the Compasso d’Oro, alongside internationally recognized architects such as Francesco Lucchese and Davide Angeli.

The central theme—Re-design—explored how Italian know-how, products, and creativity can contribute to the transformation of the Balkan region, particularly in view of Expo 2027 Belgrade and the future redevelopment of its infrastructure.

The closing remarks were entrusted to Alba Dominante, representing Italian furniture dealers and architects as a key link between Italian creativity and final clients in the region.

Maurizio Valla presented the vision behind the initiative: an event inspired by Fuorisalone and the unique energy that defines Salone del Mobile.

Rather than concentrating everything in a single venue, the concept is to develop a distributed format across Belgrade, activating multiple locations throughout the city.

The objective is to bring design into the streets—just as it happens in Milan—making Italian design culture more accessible, visible, and engaging.

At its core, this initiative is about storytelling: about lifestyle, identity, and the emotional connection that defines Italian design.

We are proud to be not only witnesses, but active contributors in shaping what has the potential to become a defining platform for the region.

The journey has just begun.