Melbourne Art Fair has announced the full exhibitor lineup for FutureObjekt, a new collectible design salon debuting at the 2026 Fair, alongside revealing the inaugural recipient of the Melbourne Art Fair x National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) Design Commission.
Running 19-22 February 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, FutureObjekt will bring together 20 leading studios, galleries and designers in a dedicated 600-square-metre space within the fair. Inspired by the great collectible design salons, FutureObjekt is conceived as a platform for innovative ideas in contemporary design, architecture and crafted objects. The salon will showcase work that challenges convention and explores new directions in materiality and form.
Exhibitors will present a tightly curated selection of pieces, including new collections created exclusively for the fair. Highlights include a limited-edition range of Murano glass lamps by Volker Haug Studio; rare vintage and new works from Don Cameron; a focused edit from Paris-based designer Joris Poggioli presented by Mobilia; and the Melbourne Art Fair debut of Studio Gardner, featuring works by Jumandie Seys, Pauline Esparon and Studio Utte. Christopher Boots will reimagine signature lighting pieces in new finishes, while Craft Victoria will showcase experimental material explorations by Isabel Avendano-Hazbun, Claire Ellis and Locki Humphrey. Several independent studios will join forces in a shared booth highlighting emerging Australian design voices.
In parallel, Melbourne Art Fair has named Melbourne-based artist and metalsmith Anna Varendorff as the recipient of the inaugural MAF x NGV Design Commission. Varendorff will create an ambitious installation expanding her signature tubular forms into a suite of ceiling lights, suspended vases and monumental floor vessels, premiering at the fair before entering the NGV's permanent collection. The commission, supported by the Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, offers the designer a rare opportunity to scale up her practice both conceptually and spatially.
The fair also revealed details of the 2026 VIP Lounge, designed by Broached Commissions. Centred on floral art and female artists' interpretations of nature across history, the space will feature living installations by Hattie Molloy, sculptural furniture by K5, Bang and Olufsen acoustics and an ambient soundscape by k8 mo55, with all artworks available for sale.
Rounding out the program, fair ambassador Brahman Perera will design the inaugural Champagne Bollinger Bar - an understated, sculptural intervention intended to provide visitors with a moment of calm amid the intensity of the fair.
