The theme of the year 2026
Plot Twists
The Habitare 2026 theme embraces change, surprise, and the unexpected
The theme of Habitare 2026, Plot Twists, invites us to see living environments as evolving stories rather than finished outcomes. It encourages us to welcome unpredictability, chance encounters, and shifts in direction as meaningful parts of both life and design. When plans change, perspectives shift – and something new can emerge.
A spontaneous decision that reshapes the way a home is used. A colour choice that alters the mood of an entire space. A piece of furniture that unexpectedly becomes the centre of daily life. A design process that starts in one direction and ends somewhere entirely different. Our surroundings move with us through life’s phases, sometimes quietly supporting, sometimes boldly taking the lead. Often, it is the unplanned moment that gives a space its true character.
The theme of Plot Twists reflects a world where certainty is rare and adaptability is essential. Rather than resisting change, it invites us to work with it – designing spaces and solutions that can evolve, respond, and surprise. In this sense, interior design becomes an active participant in life, not a static backdrop.
“When plans shift and something unexpected appears, that is often where meaning is created.”
“Unpredictability is not a flaw in either life or the creative process—it is often its driving force. Accidents, detours, and sudden insights can lead to the most significant turns. By accepting uncertainty, we make room for curiosity, courage, and entirely new narratives to unfold,” says Habitare’s Creative Advisor, Päivi Helander.
Plot Twists encourages designers, brands, and visitors alike to value openness over control. When spaces are allowed to change and stories are allowed to evolve, design becomes more human, resilient, and personal.
The theme calls for embracing change as part of design
“At the moment, we see a growing need for solutions that are not fixed or final, but adaptable and open-ended. Materials, structures, and spatial concepts are increasingly expected to evolve alongside their users. This creates room for reinterpretation, reuse, and surprising new roles,” Helander notes.
She hopes interior design is understood not as something rigid or prescriptive, but as flexible and alive. The theme invites us to approach spaces with curiosity and to accept that they may change meaning over time. If we treated homes, objects, and environments as stories in progress rather than finished products, could we allow for more freedom, joy, and unexpected beauty?
Theme imagery for 2026 coming soon
