From November 17 to 19, 2026, IFEMA Madrid will transform into a vibrant epicenter of optimistic innovation as interihotel MAD26 returns for its landmark sixteenth edition. Organized by the AMBIT Living Spaces Cluster, the premier event is set to bring together around 350 prominent exhibiting brands and more than 200 international speakers, solidifying its reputation as a crucial meeting point for global hospitality design professionals. Under the provocative theme of "Creative Rebellion," this year’s extensive program directly challenges established hospitality conventions, leveraging radical creativity, material experimentation, and forward-thinking discourse to spark fresh, enduring paradigms for hotels and restaurants worldwide.
The annual gathering has long served as a catalyst for industry evolution, but the 2026 edition takes a particularly bold stance. By confronting orthodox design models, interihotel MAD26 invites architects, interior designers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, and real estate developers to reconsider how physical spaces influence human emotion, environmental sustainability, and the overall guest journey. Rather than accepting incremental changes, the event champions a mindset of optimism and disruption, ensuring that the next generation of hospitality spaces is both deeply human-centric and radically inventive.
The Anatomy of a Rebellion: A Three-Day Journey Through Design, Green Futures, and Experience
Uniting meticulous craftsmanship with cutting-edge industry insights, interihotel MAD26 structures its multi-day narrative across three dedicated thematic pillars. Each day focuses on a distinct facet of the modern hospitality landscape, featuring keynotes, panel discussions, and collaborative debates led by some of the most influential figures in contemporary architecture, design, and gastronomy.
The opening day, themed "The Inside Rebellion," dives deeply into design identity and human emotion. It is headlined by renowned designer Stefan Sagmeister, whose highly anticipated presentation, "No Doom, no Gloom," blends sophisticated data visualization with human-centric design to champion a powerful message of optimism. Sagmeister’s keynote sets an energetic tone for the event, challenging designers to look beyond cynicism and use their creative platforms to foster positive emotional responses. Following the keynote, day one features engaging discussions with celebrated figures such as Nini Andrade Silva and Astet Studio, exploring the psychological dimensions of interior spaces and how identity shapes the guest experience.
Shifting the focus toward ecological urgency and systemic transformation, day two introduces "The Green Rebellion." This central program explores the intersection of circularity, environmental responsibility, and human wellbeing. Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu of the internationally acclaimed practice Neri&Hu join innovative designer Lucas Muñoz Muñoz, Studio Animal, and the Rockwell Group to reframe how the hospitality industry approaches sustainability. Discussions on this day move past superficial greenwashing, diving into tangible strategies for material lifecycle management, ecological stewardship, and the creation of healthier indoor environments that actively nurture both guests and the planet.
The final day of the forum, "The Future Rebellion," looks ahead to the next horizon of hospitality. Michelin-starred chef Dani García leads a vital discussion on reinventing the guest experience through the lens of culinary arts and spatial integration. He is joined by a cohort of industry disruptors, including Luca Pronzato of We Are Ona, Laura Vall of Axel Hotels, and Kike Sarasola of Room Mate Hotels. Together, this panel explores how changing consumer expectations, lifestyle shifts, and emerging dining concepts will redefine the hotels and restaurants of tomorrow, pushing boundaries to create immersive, memorable, and culturally resonant destinations.
Concept Rooms and Material Labs Explore New Guest Experiences
Moving beyond theoretical discourse, interihotel MAD26 bridges the gap between ideas and reality by translating concepts into tangible, spatial experiences on the exhibition floor. At the heart of the layout sits the Interiors Living Lab, a curated zone featuring two full-scale, walk-through physical prototypes that offer visitors a glimpse into the future of spatial design.
HBA presents "The Sensory Explorer Concept Room," an immersive guest room installation designed in collaboration with and inspired by the Barceló Hotel Group. This installation investigates how sensory design—encompassing lighting, acoustics, tactile finishes, and spatial flow—can profoundly enhance guest comfort, relaxation, and emotional connection. Adjacent to this, Livit unveils "The Social Playful Concept Restaurant," tailored specifically for the dynamic hospitality brand Lamucca. This prototype reimagines dining spaces not merely as places to eat, but as interactive, flexible environments that encourage social engagement, spontaneity, and playfulness.
Complementing these full-scale rooms, specialized interactive hubs expand the event’s experimental footprint across IFEMA Madrid’s Halls 1 and 3. The Materials Lab showcases sustainable material innovation led by the AMBIT Cluster alongside "Materialidad adaptable," an insightful installation curated by MATTER that dissects six evolving material families, offering visitors a tactile exploration of new finishes, textures, and ecological components.
Nearby, the Craft Lab, curated by Tachy Mora, highlights the enduring value of contemporary studio ceramics through eight selected makers, celebrating the synthesis of traditional craftsmanship and modern design sensibilities. For those looking toward technological frontiers, the Xperience Lab offers hands-on interaction with spatial AI co-creation agents, Virtual and Mixed Reality modeling, and industrialized modular building configurations, demonstrating how digital tools and advanced construction methods are streamlining the design and realization of hospitality projects.
Extending the energetic footprint of the event beyond the confines of the trade fair, the interi-off satellite program activates the city of Madrid from November 16 to 20. Through a series of exclusive architectural visits, site-specific installations, and evening networking gatherings held across various venues in the city, the satellite program ensures that the spirit of creative rebellion permeates Madrid’s broader cultural and design landscape.
Admission to interihotel MAD26 is reserved exclusively for industry professionals, including hoteliers, restaurateurs, architects, interior designers, and real estate developers. Professionals wishing to attend the event and secure their accreditation pass can register directly through the official interihotel website.
