We Design Beirut returns for its second edition from 22 to 26 October. The five-day event will bring together designers, architects, artisans, students and visitors for exhibitions, talks and activations set across some of Beirut’s most significant historic landmarks. The event is anchored in three pillars: empowerment, preservation and sustainability. This year’s edition explores themes of legacy, revival and continuity.
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Exhibitions & Locations
Union Building by Marwan Harmouche
We Design Beirut 2025 will feature eight exhibitions across five locations.
At Abroyan Factory, “Threads of Life” will highlight textile arts while “Métiers d’Art” will bring together artisans and designers in a living atelier that explores material and form. The factory will also host “Skin of a City,” a photography exhibition by Patrick Baz and Anthony Saroufim that reflects on liberated expression through the human body.
Burj El Murr will host “Design In Conflict”, curated by Teymour Khoury and Yasmina Mahmoud in collaboration with Tarek Mahmoud and Youssef Bassil with the support of Solidere. The youth-led exhibition will feature students from nine Lebanese universities and explore how conflict shapes space and form.
Villa Audi will present “Totems of the Present and the Absent,” curated by Gregory Gatserelia. The exhibition pays tribute to SMO Gallery, which has supported and nurtured generations of Lebanese designers.
At the Roman Baths, “Of Water and Stone” curated by Nour Osseiran and produced by Stones by Rania Malli will reinterpret the site’s ancient rituals of cleansing and connection through marble design.
Immeuble de l’Union in Sanayeh will spotlight Beirut’s architectural evolution. The modernist landmark, designed in the 1950s, is being renovated by Karim Nader and will host two exhibitions: “Union — A Journey of Light” with Atelier33 and “Rising with Purpose,” a showcase of young Lebanese designers under 30.
Open Studios
Open Studios will give visitors the opportunity to discover the work of independent designers and artists in their own creative spaces across the city. The program encourages direct interaction, collaboration and exchange between the public and Beirut’s creative community.
Panel Talks
Burj El Murr by Dia Mrad
Panel talks will take place throughout the week, creating a platform for discussion between designers, curators and the public. Some of the panels include Craftswomanship – The Place and Power of Women in an Evolving Cultural Realm, exploring women’s impact in the artisanal space, and Conflict as a Spatial Condition, examining how ongoing conflict shapes urban life in Lebanon. Sessions will take place at exhibition sites including Burj El Murr.
Educational Hub
The Educational Hub, led by ALBA, will feature screenings, talks, round tables and workshops focused on the theme Lebanon’s Revival. It will create opportunities for students and professionals to engage with the festival’s themes through learning and discussion.
International Fair Tripoli by Karim Sakr
Architectural Tours & Excursions
The program will include a bus tour of 49 modern architectural buildings around Beirut, led by architect and professor Dr. Omar Harb. Additional excursions will take visitors to Tripoli’s Oscar Niemeyer International Fair and the Saloua Raouda Choucair Foundation in the mountains.
Opening Night
The opening night will pay homage to Oud maker Nazih Al Ghadban in collaboration with Michael Ibrahim, founder and music director of the National Arab Orchestra, with guest artist Mirna Mallouhi.
For the full program and tickets, visit wedesignbeirut.com
If you enjoyed reading this check out our article on the locations of We Design Beirut 2025.
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