WE ARE THE NEXT GENERATION 2026 OPEN CALL
WE ARE THE NEXT GENERATION showcases the new generation of Belgian design talent.
The exhibition presents an overview of the strongest student projects from creative (higher) design education, selected by a professional jury.
In 2026, WE ARE THE NEXT GENERATION will take place at two venues: from 3 to 11 October during the festive reopening of the Design Museum Gent and from 27 October to 8 November at the WONDER Festival in Kortrijk, in a scenography by 22222 (Karel Burssens) and graphic design by Nana Esi (Atelier Brenda, in collaboration with Septian Priyatna).
Students can submit their entries NOW!
Two exhibitions in 2026: Ghent & Kortrijk
In 2026, WE ARE THE NEXT GENERATION will take place at two venues:
1. 3 to 11 October 2026 in Ghent
As part of the festive reopening of Design Museum Gent, WE ARE THE NEXT GENERATION will feature as a key exhibition within the programme.
Under the banner of Design Fest Gent, Design Museum Gent will take to the streets during the grand reopening with a multi-day festival that connects design with today’s social and environmental challenges. Throughout the city, visitors will discover workshops, talks, exhibitions and encounters.
Location: Ghent
The Ghent exhibition takes place at Broei, Nieuwland 69. Broei is an open-house venue where organisations working with young people are given space and support to create, experiment and explore.
2. 16 October to 2 November 2026 in Kortrijk
WE ARE THE NEXT GENERATION is once again part of the WONDER Creativity Festival, which from 27 October to 8 November 2026 brings together creative talent from across Belgium in an inspiring journey through Kortrijk, a UNESCO City of Design.
WONDER is a vibrant platform and connector for design, technology, innovation and art. In 2025, 65 exhibitions and installations across 34 venues attracted more than 18,000 visitors. With over 500 designers, creatives, companies and artists, the festival explored how imagination, courage and enthusiasm can contribute to a more human and sustainable vision of the future.
WONDER is organised by Designregio Kortrijk, in collaboration with numerous partners.
Location: Kortrijk
As in previous years, the WATNG exhibition will be held on the ground floor of the Budafabriek, Dam 2a. The exhibition is one of the festival’s main exhibitions.
Design Nation
A limited selection of projects chosen for the exhibition in Ghent or Kortrijk will also be presented at Design Nation on 15 and 16 October 2026. Design Nation is a leading interior design fair at Kortrijk Xpo where design professionals can discover innovations from the world of interior design.
One concept, two exhibitions
Although there are two separate exhibitions, they are based on a single shared concept. The selected projects will be presented as part of a spatial and visual installation, with scenography by 22222 (Karel Burssens) and graphic design by Nana Esi (Atelier Brenda, in collaboration with Septian Priyatna).
The jury will decide which work goes to which location. Your work will therefore be shown in Ghent OR in Kortrijk. The jury will also decide who is eligible for presentation at Design Nation.
Who can participate?
Students from the following programmes at Belgian colleges and universities:
Product design
Industrial product design, textiles, fashion, accessories, furniture design
Architecture
Interior, buildings, public space and landscapes
Visual design
Graphics and illustration, advertising design, web and digital
Game design
Lise Van Tendeloo
Every year, Lise invites promising international designers to Kortrijk for exciting residency projects. She is also responsible for the research and experimentation part of the organisation.
