From September 18 to 28, 2026, the Second Life Design Festival takes over Polygone Montpellier as part of French Design Week. Around twenty creators, designers, artists, and craftspeople will reinvent existing seating, transforming it into unique contemporary pieces. A free exhibition that asks a simple question: what if what we already have were our most beautiful raw material? “Giving an object a second life should not be a compromise. It can become an act of design.” REINVENT RATHER THAN REPLACE We produce, consume, and replace. The Second Life Design Festival invites us to see things differently: rather than starting from scratch, create from what already exists. Over eleven days, visitors will discover creations from a wide range of disciplines: eco-conscious design, illustration, textiles, tufting, painting, sculpture, crafts, and creative material repurposing. Each creator begins with an existing piece of seating and imagines a new identity for it. The aim is not simply to restore, but to reinvent—to make reuse a realm of creativity, beauty, and emotion. THREE WORLDS, ONE SHARED AMBITION The festival brings together recycling manufacturers developing new materials and processes; eco-conscious designers rethinking objects and how they are used; and visual artists transforming existing items into one-of-a-kind works. Diverse approaches united by one ambition: to make reuse desirable and inspiring. A FREE EXHIBITION IN THE HEART OF MONTPELLIER Held at Polygone Montpellier, the exhibition is free and open to all generations. Visitors can explore the creations and vote for their favorite piece. The Prix Seconde Chance du Public will be awarded on the final day of the exhibition. Organized as part of French Design Week, the festival showcases the talent, expertise, and initiatives shaping a more circular and creative future. Free exhibition · 10 a.m.—8 p.m.* *Hours are subject to change.
Event from Montpellier's official calendar; venue: Office de Tourisme Montpellier; address: Centre Commercial Polygone, 34000, Montpellier.
Source: Agenda Montpellier