Asia, Authored: FIND Global Summit 2026 Brings ZHA, Snøhetta, UNStudio and WHY to Bangkok

Senior voices join Thailand’s most compelling studios for three days on authorship, place and the art of living.

In the last week of November, Bangkok will bring together the people deciding how Asia will be designed, built and lived in. FIND – Design Fair Asia has announced the programme for the FIND Global Summit 2026, featuring three days of keynotes, panel discussions and fireside conversations with architects, hoteliers, developers and makers. More than 60 speakers from 17 countries will take part, with free admission for trade visitors who pre-register.

Taking place from 26 to 28 November 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), alongside the fair’s fifth edition, the Summit will explore how design, cultural heritage and commercial ambitions intersect to shape the region’s built environment. The Governor of Bangkok, Chadchart Sittipunt, will officially open FIND – Design Fair Asia on 26 November at the Summit space, kicking off three days of discussions and exchanges between the city’s design community and international guests.

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Architecture takes centre stage at the start of the Summit. Shao-wei Huang, Associate Director and Head of the Shenzhen Office at ZHA, will deliver the opening keynote, “Designing Beyond Boundaries”, exploring architecture, intelligence and human experience in a new era. On the second day, Richard Wood, Managing Director Asia at Snøhetta, will open with “Liberating Laughter”, a keynote on the role of delight in design. Garett Hwang, Director at UNStudio, will examine the growing role of artificial intelligence in architecture, while Kulapat Yantrasast, Founder of WHY Architecture, will close the day with a keynote on the future of museums.

The speaker line-up also includes Massimo Iosa Ghini, Founder of Iosa Ghini Associati; Simon Yu, Director and Head of the Hong Kong Office at ZHA; Lionel Teh, Creative Director of Architecture at WATG; Marina Almeida, Senior Principal and Co-Head of Interior Design Asia-Pacific at Populous; and Boonserm Premthada of Bangkok Project Studio.

The Summit will also bring together industry leaders responsible for commissioning, developing and managing the spaces discussed. They include Mandar Zaware, Global VP Design and Project Management at Marriott International; Stéphane Lombard, VP Design Luxury Asia Pacific at Accor; Viri Kaur Chopra, Global Corporate Director of Residences at Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas; Krid Kusumawalee, Senior Director, Development at Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts; Arunwan Chantanavicharn, Group Director of Brands at Narai Hospitality Group; Nida Wongphanlert, Managing Director and Owner of 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts; Ian Hendricks, Creative Director at Central Pattana; Jariya Thumtrongkitkul, PhD, Head of Retail Leasing and Group Transaction Management, Thailand, at CBRE; and Viona Zhang, Deputy Managing Director at C9 Hotelworks.

The wider programme features professionals from 17 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, India, Singapore, the Philippines, Korea, Hong Kong and mainland China, alongside a strong Thai contingent.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) will be represented by regional leaders J Lee Rofkind, FAIA, of AIA Hong Kong; Cathy Saldaña, President of AIA Southeast Asia and Principal and CEO of PDP Architects; and Manon Koestoer, Immediate Past President of AIA Southeast Asia. Senior figures from Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) will also join the Summit from its Asian studios, alongside Ed Gaskin, Associate Director at ZHA and Secretary of AIA Hong Kong, and Monika Choudhary, Founding Partner and Chief Development Officer of ZH Collective | Habitat Architects. Representatives from international hospitality interior design consultancy Kristina Zanic Consultants will contribute to discussions on hospitality design.

Other participating organisations include Aedas, Fenn Designers, Concepti, greymatters, A Sharma Associates, TROP, HAS design and research, Inverse Lighting Design, EKAR, ENARI Architects, the Thai Furniture Association, C&R Thailand and the Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC).

The 2026 Summit brings together international design leaders, regional voices and key decision-makers in Asia’s hospitality, real estate and development sectors, creating a platform for cross-industry exchange and collaboration.

Early Bird Registration is now open, offering complimentary access to the exhibition, the FIND Global Summit and special features across all three days. Onsite registration will be subject to a THB 500 admission fee.

FIND – Design Fair Asia 2026, 26 – 28 November 2026

Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) Bangkok, Thailand

Thursday and Friday: 10:00-18:00, Saturday: 10:00-17:00

For more information, check out FIND – Design Fair Asia’s official website.