Art, Design & Architecture Events New York 2020

As the anchor to the citywide Armory Arts Week, the Armory Show centers on the world’s most important 20th- and 21st-century art. In 2019, the event celebrated its 25th anniversary with 198 exhibitors from 33 countries, nine large-scale projects, and four days of talks from renowned artists, curators, and collectors. This year’s show at Piers 90 and 94 will once again feature four days of programming, including 30 first-time exhibitors and an expanded curatorial program chaired by Jose Carols Diaz of the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. New York’s Kai Matsumiya will receive the Gramercy International Prize. Next: March 5-8, 2020

Hosted by theMart, the four-day Architectural Digest Design Show at Pier 94 offers access to the latest products and innovations from hundreds of luxury brands selling everything from furniture and lighting to flooring and bathroom hardware. Some 50,000 architects, interior designers, developers, and other industry professionals are expected at this year’s show, which will honor Architectural Digest’s centennial anniversary with special programming and installations. The event is also set to feature new activations like culinary demos by top chefs, private book signings, behind-the-scenes V.I.P. tours, and more. Next: March 19-22, 2020

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair showcases what’s next and what’s best in commercial and residential interior design. The 2020 fair will be co-located with WantedDesign Manhattan at the Jacob K. Javits Center, and the two shows are expected to feature a combined program of more than 800 exhibitors. In addition to gaining access to new products, attendees also can participate in networking events, explore global trends, and learn from industry leaders. Next: May 17-20, 2020

In 2019, galleries from 26 countries participated in Frieze New York, a gathering of artists, curators, collectors, and other key players in the art world. Over the course of three days, the show saw sales ranging from $10 to $10 million. Event highlights included new exhibitions exploring virtual reality and the significance of self-taught artists, a celebration of Latin American and Latinx art, and the launch of Frieze Sculpture at Rockefeller Center. The show returns to Randall’s Island in 2020 and will expand to include five days of programming, exhibitors from 30 countries, and five themed sections where attendees can discover up-and-coming talent. Next: May 6-10, 2020

Design Pavilion attracted 25,000 visitors when it debuted in Greenwich Village in 2016 and has since grown to attract an audience of nearly five million—that’s roughly 400,000 visitors per day. Set across five plazas in Times Square, this free public event features nine days of conversations, pop-ups, markets, and immersive activations from around the world. Highlights in store for this year include a chapel-like tree for meditative contemplation amidst the energy of the city, the return of the Design Talks NYC conversation series, and the first Design Pavilion Guide. Next: May 12-20, 2020

Last year marked the 20th anniversary of the Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards Gala, which celebrates the power of design to change the world and recognizes the people who are making progress happen. Honorees at the 2019 ceremony included graphic designer Susan Kare, architect Mark Chambers, fashion designer Derek Lam, and typeface designer Tobias Frere-Jones. Five hundred guests attend the benefit dinner and award ceremony, which will return to the museum’s Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden this year. Proceeds from the event support Cooper Hewitt’s ongoing programming. Next: October 15, 2020

After years of co-locating with the Architectural Digest Design Show, Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS is moving its By Design event to Center 415 this year for multiple days of inspiring installations and insightful conversations. About 6,000 visitors are expected to attend this showcase, which typically raises $1 million to support grants to benefit people affected by HIV and AIDS. The scope of the event expands this year to encompass not just dining-theme installations, but a variety of interiors that reflect the theme of unity, along with a preview gala, a happy hour for emerging design professionals, and a cash-and-carry market. Next: March 26-28, 2020

See more: 18 Dining and Tabletop Ideas From Diffa's 2019 Dining by Design

Each October, Open House New York Weekend invites visitors to take a behind-the-scenes glimpse into hundreds of New York City’s most important and interesting buildings, including iconic sites like City Hall, the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice, and the Hunters Point Library. Throughout the event, 85,000 attendees take part in tours, talks, performances, and other engaging programming, all with the goal to help people understand the urban landscape and explore ways to build a better New York. This year programming will once again include Factory Friday, during which visitors get the chance to tour more than two dozen working factories. Next: October 16-18, 2020