Pictured: UNLOCKED Shoreditch
Material Matters London will relocate to Shoreditch from September 2026, becoming part of Shoreditch Design Week and taking over the industrial event space UNLOCKED Shoreditch from 15- 17 September. The move marks a new chapter for the design fair as it continues to expand its audience and explore new contexts for material innovation.
Founded as an extension of the Material Matters with Grant Gibson podcast, the fair first launched at Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf in 2022. It quickly established itself as a fixture of the London Design Festival calendar, bringing together designers, brands and researchers to explore the role materials play in shaping the built environment.
The upcoming edition shifts east from its previous central London venues to Shoreditch, a district with deep roots in the city’s creative industries. By joining Shoreditch Design Week, Material Matters will sit within a broader cluster of exhibitions, talks and installations taking place across the neighbourhood during the festival.
The event will be staged at UNLOCKED Shoreditch, a multi-level cultural venue on Curtain Road. The former warehouse offers around 24,000 sq ft of flexible space designed to host exhibitions, pop-ups and large-scale creative events.
According to Material Matters co-founders Grant Gibson and William Knight: "This is a hugely important move for Material Matters. It seems to us the focus in September is shifting east to Shoreditch and we’re delighted to be working with the team behind Clerkenwell Design Week to create the best ever edition of the fair. UNLOCKED Shoreditch is a wonderful space for our exhibitors to illustrate the importance of materials. We believe it can be our home for the foreseeable future.’
Duncan Riches, creative director of Shoreditch Design Week adds: "We are delighted to have Material Matters in the Shoreditch Design Week programme this year. Their editorial approach to developing shows is a perfect fit for us and will ensure we have a platform in Shoreditch for designers, companies and brands focused on the materiality of things."
While the venue has changed, the essential components of the event remain the same. Material Matters London brings together a curated mix of international brands, emerging designers and material innovators. Previous editions have showcased everything from biomaterials and recycled composites to advanced manufacturing techniques, alongside a talks programme featuring leading voices from architecture and design.
Positioning the fair within Shoreditch also reflects the neighbourhood’s contemporary role within London’s design scene. Once a centre of furniture production, the area now hosts galleries, studios and design events that highlight the city’s evolving creative culture.
Material Matters London takes place 15-17th September 2026. For further information please visit the London Fair page.
