Deadline: April 15, 2026
Organization: Gentler Futures Festival
Festival dates: June 5 and 6, 2026
Deadline: April 15, 2026
Apply here.
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About Gentler Futures Festival
Gentler Futures Festival is a not-for-profit initiative by BY THE END OF MAY, a research and design studio exploring the roles of manufacturing and crafts in creating a (non-linear), (post-consumerism) and (anti-alienation) economy. The festival is taking place in Lisbon, Portugal and this year's event is scheduled for June 5-6, 2026.
The new edition of Gentler Futures Festival, Towards Ecosystem Regeneration, envisions design as a form of advocacy for nature itself—a way to work with (and for) natural systems, rather than simply drawing from them. Honouring the countless other beings who have lived and adapted long before us, designers, architects and makers are invited to listen, learn, and find inspiration in their intelligence and in their wisdom. From designing with nature to creating for non-human species and embracing spiritual ecology, the theme Towards Ecosystem Regeneration poses an essential question: how can design go beyond “minimising harm” to become a true gift back to the Earth? The program, through workshops, talks, exhibits, and live performances, will present projects that aim to foster a new restorative relationship with the planet.
About the calls for proposals
Gentler Futures Festival is looking for individuals, collectives, studios, or community initiatives working at the intersection of design, architecture, and ecology. If your practice explores new ways of living and designing with the natural world, to take part in the new edition of Gentler Futures Festival, and present your project or initiative to a diverse audience of like-minded individuals.
Three different calls are available this year:
1) Open call for projects — Exhibition pieces, prototypes, and material explorations
The Festival is looking for new and emerging talents in design, architecture and ecology, to submit design pieces, prototypes, material samples, or other artefacts suitable for exhibition display, exploring one or more of the following topics. Read more and apply here.
2) Open call for projects — Installations, performances, live demonstrations, and other unconventional formats
The festival is looking for installations, performances, live demonstrations or other unconventional formats exploring one or more of the following topics: designing with natural processes, materials, or organisms; creating spaces, systems, or tools that support non-human life and more. Read more here.
3) Open call for design residency
Gentler Futures Festival is teaming up with JAM Lisbon to offer a one-week design residency to explore new ways of living and designing with the natural world. Learn more and apply here.
Deadline to apply for all three open calls is April 15, 2026. For more information visit Gentler Futures Festival official website.
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Main image: Courtesy of Gentler Futures Festival, photo Carmo Oliveira
