We are an industry fuelled by ideas. We’re not just talking about ideas that spark creativity and design to create connections between consumers and brands, but ideas that drive real change, create measurable impact and have the potential to shape the world we live in, for the better.

This year, the Pentawards Festival, sponsored by Tilt Beauty , is all about 'Fuelled by Ideas'. Through our keynote speakers, panels and gallery display, we cannot wait to celebrate and share the ideas that have fuelled the packaging design industry for the past 20 years and will continue to fuel the next 20.

Check out the full schedule here.

And here’s a teaser of what our speakers will be diving into on the day:

Iconic Design

It wouldn’t be the Pentawards 20th anniversary without talking about iconic design from iconic designers. Enter David Carson , one of the most influential graphic designers of our time, renowned for his rule-breaking approach to typography and layout, he needs no introduction.

Joining us from the Pentagram New York office are design leaders Paula Scher and Piotr Woronkowicz – between them they have lead some of the most landmark design projects for some of the world’s biggest brands – think MoMA, Microsoft, Tiffany & Co. & Google. Join them as they talk through some of their most important work.

At a cross section of the iconic design theme and authentic storytelling, Kilian Hennessey , Master of Scent, Founder of Kilian Paris and Franck Basset , Creative Director and CEO at Carré Basset will be sitting down for a fireside chat discussing luxury, legacy, creative design and a story of fragrance.

Seeing icons of the design & brand worlds, at one event, with your community, for free. It’s a no-brainer – register now.

Storytelling and Authenticity

It’s not just the design ideas that we’re focusing on, it’s the people behind those ideas.

For the first live podcast on the Pentawards Festival stage, you won’t want to miss the session with My Life In Design host Claire Blyth as she talks to Davide Mosconi , Partner & Executive Creative Director at the award-winning design agency Auge . Davide will discuss his journey from discovering design, to leading Auge, an agency that’s regularly named as ‘design agency of the year’.

In our Fuelled by Ideas panel on day 2, design agency giants, lead by John Glasgow, Co-founder at Vault49, including Juan Campderá Lozano, CEO & Founder at We Are Aktivists, Katie Conovitz, Founder & CEO at Twelve and Sebastien Ehert, Chief Executive Officer at Servaire & Co , will talk through how human-centered thinking, storytelling, and innovation are redefining packaging.

Creativity & Brand Experience

For over 90 years, the LEGO Group has turned a simple square box into an iconic launchpad for creativity, imagination, and endless play. Catch Helle Rasmussen, Senior Creative Manager at Lukas Brza, Structural Packaging Manager at The LEGO Group on the Pentawards Festival stage as they unpack this magical box.

Having worked with some of the biggest brands in the world – from LinkedIn and Dell to Adobe and Tate. Designer and Artist Tina Touli will explore the inspiration in everyday life, with an exciting live-streamed art performance, right on the Pentawards Festival Stage, Sponsored by Tapi x Delage.

Inclusivity & Accessibility

You’ll get to experience The Google Accessibility Discovery Centre (ADC) in action as the ADC Google team Hans Zimmermann and Praneeth Reddy Chada share how the centre serves as a platform for change, and stay for the break to get interactive as they bring the ADC equipment to Paris!

Sam O’Donahue, Founder and Creative Director at Established – our diamond winners in 2025 with the incredible Tilt Beauty Design - will also be discussing designing with accessibility in mind, this time in the beauty industry, with his keynote: Designing for Every Body: Innovation, Inclusivity, and the Future of Beauty.

Sustainability & Innovation

No one does Innovation like Diageo, and we’re thrilled to welcome Jo Smith, Design and Visual Identity Leader at DIAGEO for her first keynote. She’ll be giving us glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes, and how the right leadership matters when designing innovative packaging.

And join our panel on day 1 featuring experts from the design agency world, lead by Uwe Melichar, VP at epda and TOUCH agency with Andrea Rizzardi, Director at Gentlebrand, Curtis Ju, Founder and Global Initiative Director at Design Lab K Laser and Jane Struk, Creative Director at ARD , as they explore how creativity, technology, and sustainability are shaping packaging design.

Technology, AI and the Future of Design

All the way from San Francisco, we’re thrilled to welcome Federico Casalegno, Executive Vice President of Design at Samsung Electronics to the Pentawards Festival for 2026. Driving multidisciplinary teams to imagine the next wave of human-centered AI and design meaningful experiences that enhance everyday life, his session is not one to be missed.

Kicking off the show, Jennifer Clements, Senior Project Manager and Chloe Scanlan, Marketing Manager from the Pentawards Team take a deep dive into the 2025/26 Trend Report, a glimpse into what’s to come for packaging design in 2026 and beyond.

It's set to be a jam-packed two days filled with inspiration, insight and knowledge to take-away. Don't miss out, register now and join for free.