Design Museum presents Nigo retrospective as part of program for 2026

London’s Design Museum is hosting the first museum retrospective and exhibition outside Japan as part of its 2026 exhibition program. It is dedicated to the Japanese designer Tomoaki Nagao, better known as Nigo.

The exhibition “Nigo: From Japan with Love” runs from May 1 to October 4, 2026. It traces the designer’s career from the 1990s in Harajuku, Tokyo. The exhibition explores the founding of the streetwear brand A Bathing Ape through to his current role as artistic director at Kenzo.

Nigo is considered one of the minds behind the most influential designs, ideas and trends in streetwear. The exhibition gives visitors an insight into his world. On display are pieces from his personal collection of vintage clothing and Americana ephemera, as well as work from his close network of collaborators.

In the press kit, the Design Museum explains that the exhibition will show the influence of his career. It also shows how far-reaching and relevant Nigo is to this day. It also highlights his way of working and his ability to draw from a wide range of disciplines and cultural references to help shape some of the most well-known brands.

Design Museum announces program for 2026

In addition to the Nigo retrospective, the Design Museum also celebrates contemporary black design with a groundbreaking exhibition. This is guest curated by Charlene Prempeh, author of Now You See Me: An Introduction to 100 Years of Black Design.

The exhibition “The Nue Black Aesthetic” opens on November 6, 2026. It honors the work of contemporary Black designers in the fields of furniture, architecture, fashion and installation. The aim is to show “the lasting influence of black design on the contemporary design industry”.

The exhibition highlights the complex practices of designers. These draw directly from identity and culture, building communities and redefining design systems far beyond the Black community. Highlights include work by fashion designers Samuel Ross and Bianca Saunders. Also on display are works by Nigerian-American artist and designer Ini Archibong, Lagos-based designer Nifemi Marcus Bello and British-Ghanaian artist and architect Giles Tettey Nartey.

The Design Museum describes the exhibition as a “thought-provoking show.” It is intended to encourage visitors to reflect on how today’s Black experience is central to the practice of designers. In addition, assumptions about what black design looks like and who is allowed to shape design culture should be reconsidered.

Other exhibitions taking place at the Design Museum in 2026 include “Es Devlin”. This is the first museum exhibition in the UK dedicated to the London-based artist Es Devlin. She is known for her immersive art installations and monumental stage sets for famous musicians, Olympic ceremonies and Super Bowl halftime shows. The exhibition aims to give visitors a look behind the scenes of some of her iconic designs. New, large-scale sculptures and installations designed specifically for this important retrospective will also be on display.

There will also be free exhibitions showcasing the work of London designer Simone Brewster. Her work plays with forms and spans different scales and disciplines. Another exhibition is dedicated to emerging design thought leaders whose research addresses the climate emergency.

“2026 will be a landmark year for the Design Museum. We have an extensive program of design talent being showcased in a museum context in the UK for the first time,” Tim Marlow, Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Design Museum, said of the 2026 program in a statement.

“The works are creative, disruptive, visionary, boundary-pushing and groundbreaking in the fields of fashion, furniture, set design, installation art and architecture. I am confident that it will continue to attract new audiences for contemporary design and build on the creative momentum here at the Design Museum,” adds Marlow.