Life at home has never been more important. So, on Thursday 16 September, IKEA will host its first global 24-hour festival.
Well-known artists, designers, DJs, chefs and more will turn their homes into virtual stages, opening the door to new experiences.
As many Australians continue to spend increased time at home, IKEA is hoping to reignite a new energy by inviting people to take part in a retail-first festival around the world.
The program will feature intimate concerts and DJ relays, home visits with people like Virgil Abloh, food demos with popular chefs, livestream gaming sessions, behind the scenes at IKEA, and kitchen talks on all things life at home.
The IKEA Festival will take place in more than 50 countries across the world, and is free and open to everyone.
The festival set up and programme
For IKEA Australia, the festival will be completely digital as more Australians continue to spend increased time at home. Now more than ever, our home is the most important place on earth, working harder than ever before. The festival will kick off at 4.00pm AEST on ikea.com.au.
In additional to the global program, IKEA Australia is putting the spotlight on their interior designers who will be showcasing tips and tricks for Aussies including styling with plants, getting a better night’s sleep and cooking to reduce food waste.
Throughout the festival, visitors will see headline acts like MØ (pictured) perform intimate concerts from their homes and neighbourhoods or join DJ sets with the likes of Kaytranada if they’re missing the club scene. Interior design fans are invited through the doors of different countries for home makeover inspiration and see the unique spaces of designers like Virgil Abloh and Ilse Crawford.
People can experience cook-offs with Flynn McGarry, Pasta Queen and Oliver English. There will be discussions around the kitchen table on important topics like circularity, air and play.
Gamers can jump into a home visit to see the new IKEA gaming range. IKEA will open its doors and give access to what is happening in IKEA right now, from the factory floor in Zbąszynek, Poland, to the prototype shop in Älmhult, Sweden.
IKEA fans can also travel back in time in a digital IKEA museum to explore the diverse history of the brand over the decades.
“At a time when so many Australians understand the importance of their home, we’re excited to be able to bring a new energy into people’s lives and spaces through this 24-hour cultural experience. There’s something for everyone at IKEA Festival, and to make it even more relevant for Aussies, we’ll be sharing a range of tips and tricks from our local IKEA Australia designers on how to enhance different areas of their homes,” said Christine Gough, country home furnishing and retail design manager for IKEA Australia.
“Life at home has taken on a whole new meaning for every one of us over the past year, and by being virtually connected, we can open the door to many more lives around the world – exploring how we all live, celebrating individuality and creativity. Our first IKEA Festival will be our biggest global home tour yet and will bring people together around life at home in a new way, both online and in our stores, and will be the beginning of a longer-term movement of real homes and real lives,” said Olivia Ross Wilson, communications director, Ingka Group (IKEA Retail)
The festival is inspired by the IKEA vision to create a better everyday life for the many people.
“This is a new kind of experience IKEA wants to offer, celebrating, connecting and engaging around life at home. Home tours around the world will open doors to new experiences and new inspiration,” said Erika Intiso, managing director of IKEA Marketing and Communication AB.
“We want to spark a conversation on the more sustainable and affordable life at home of tomorrow. And just as with any festival, you can expect a few surprises.”
The Festival room sets:
My Home Turf
Home is anywhere that feels like…well, home. Join artists such as MØ, Kanis, Niki and Masego as they show their cities, neighbourhoods, and communities – and treat you to a performance.
Home Concerts
Turn up the volume and enjoy concerts – straight from the most personal, intimate stage around the world: people’s homes.
Home Cooking
Open the door to delicious-smelling kitchens all over the world and be inspired by chefs cooking up old and new favourites. Chefs are among others Pasta Queen and Paul Svensson.
DJ Relay
Don’t stop the music – you’re invited to a marathon set of club music, straight from the DJ’s own home. DJ´s playing is Kaytranada, Loraine James and Zuli, to name a few.
Home Visits
Welcome to a global tour, as strangers and some well-known personalities like Ilse Crawford share what’s inside the most important place in the world: their home.
IKEA Museum
Go back in time and explore everything that has made and shaped IKEA: the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly.
IKEA News
Travel the world and meet our co-workers and collaborators right now – in-store, at the factory, at the office or in the studio, such as former collaboration partner Virgil Abloh.
Home Makeovers
Ideas and guidance for creating better storage, a more cooking-friendly kitchen or simply accessorizing in a fun, vibrant way.
Shopping with …
Who would you like to go shopping with to get new ideas for your home? They’re here, ready for you to join them for a full day of shopping at the local IKEA store.
Kitchen Talks
Join a conversation about the joys and frustrations that make up everyday life at home. IKEA co-workers meet with profiles like surfer Kassia Meador, astronaut Christer Fuglesang and adventurer Renata Chlumska.
To access the IKEA Festival and get the full programme, you can visit the festival page ikea.com/festival. The festival will open its doors from 4.00pm on Thursday 16 September on IKEA.com.au/festival. No sign up is required – it´s for free! All content will be available to re-watch following the festival.
