Sadiq Khan says £2.2m for London Design Festival unlocked £1.23bn

London's mayor says £2.2 million in City Hall support for the London Design Festival helped unlock £1.23 billion for the economy through jobs and investment. Sadiq Khan gave the figures in an interview about the festival and what to see this year. He said the event now welcomes more than 600,000 visitors. Dezeen

The interview, conducted by Amy Peacock, was published on 14 September 2026. The 2026 festival runs from 12 to 20 September. It is the 24th edition of the city-wide showcase.

Khan said the £2.2 million was invested over the past 10 years. That money, he said, helped to unlock £1.23 billion through jobs and investment. That is a big return on a small outlay.

The claim sits inside a wider push for creative work in the capital. In March 2025 the Mayor announced more than £10 million to support creative businesses, jobs and events including festivals and trade shows. Mayor of London

So what should people see? Khan picked out The Pangolin Shield on the Strand. He named one to watch.

The installation was created by Studio Saar and Atelier One for this year's festival. It sits among international installations and projects across the city, alongside 11 design districts — neighbourhood hubs that stage their own shows — and an expanded Global Design Forum.

The Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington, London, continues its long-running link with the festival in 2026 with a project titled Awakenings, Khan said. The museum link is one of the festival's most familiar fixtures. The districts spread the action across 11 neighbourhoods.

Khan called London design "an international success story". He described the London Design Festival as one of the world's leading design events. He said it has served as the blueprint for design weeks and festivals globally.

He also pointed to pressure after the UK's departure from the EU. He told Dezeen it had become harder for London's design industry to trade, collaborate and recruit talent across Europe. He cited increased paperwork, barriers to movement for creative workers and reduced access to EU funding.

For anyone heading out this week, this means a trail rather than a single venue. Eleven neighbourhoods, large street installations and museum shows all run under one banner. Pick a district and start walking.