CounterPlay ’26: And so we play…

At Kolding School of Design, we believe play is not a distraction from the serious challenges of our time, but a powerful way of engaging with them. By hosting CounterPlay, we aim to create a shared space of inquiry – a space where designers, researchers, educators, and practitioners come together to investigate how play shapes communities, sparks new thinking, and opens pathways towards more imaginative and sustainable futures.

CounterPlay is conceived as a living, breathing play laboratory – an extension of this shared inquiry and a collective arena for examining the nature, principles, values, and dynamics of play in all its diversity. Rooted in our academic and design-based approach, the festival brings together theory and practice, serious conversation and embodied exploration, ensuring that reflection and action continuously inform one another.

Within this laboratory, investigation unfolds both intellectually and physically. Even in moments of focused discussion, play remains close at hand – ready to take over, disrupt, and guide us in new and unexpected directions. In this way, play is not only the subject of our investigation, but the method that shapes it – inviting us to smile, laugh, let go, and discover new possibilities together.

Date: 7-9 May, 2026
Place: Kolding School of Design, Ågade 10, 6000 Kolding, Denmark

"The first CounterPlay I went to really changed my perspective, what I want to do, the sort of person I want to be, it fundamentally impacted my life () it was the cacophony of different people coming together, a sense of openness, a sense of energy, so much of what is contained and restrained in the world that we all operate in. Actually, there was a sense of, I would say more than connectedness, I would say a deep understanding of love, and I’m not talking about Hollywood romantic relationships, I’m talking about a sense of care, connection, generosity, appreciation, that kind of love."
– Sarah Huxley

"Outside of the actual events, just knowing that other people exist out there that I can sometimes connect with on social media or in these video chats () it made me realise that my mind switches into a different mode of interaction when I know it’s a CounterPlay person () so I’m like oh, it’s actually safe to be silly, it’s not going to derail the conversation, they will actually reflect that and it will still continue into a maybe even deeper place."
– Zack Wood

"I’ve always been playing as a girl scout, but it’s been in that compartment of my life, then I joined CounterPlay () since then I dared to take the play into my work life as well () I work in a hospital, with processes and problems () facilitating has now become a lot more playful me () I bring LEGO, I bring a doll house, I bring all sorts of things () it gave me the courage to take play out of just one compartment of my life and put it into others. Work was one, but actually I think also just in life in general."
– Susanne Kolle

"CounterPlay is one of the few public events that brings together people from widely divergent disciplines, and yet are united by their devotion to making the world a little more playful. Bringing them together like this, to play and talk and share each other’s vision, creates an unforgettably playful, creative and productive environment and helps all of them to find a larger and more inclusive perspective on their work."
– Bernie DeKoven

"I was inspired by the variety of people - ages, nationalities, interests, approaches - for whom playfulness and play are so key. There was such a powerful sense of a global community and a growing movement. I brought back renewed energy and enthusiasm and lots of happy memories."
- Mel Taylor

"It’s not possible to be disappointed with this group of people, because there will always be something going on and there’s always this amazing, inclusive energy. You will come away with things to take back into your work, but you will also come away with a personal opening up, at least that’s what I experienced the first time () I actually cite CounterPlay as one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, the lats time I was here, I felt like it breathed life back into me."
- Lily Higgins

"Ranks among the very best conferences/festivals I have attended (over a long professional life!). What inspired me most was the camaraderie, the ease of conversation and exchange as if we had all known each other for decades, the lack of pretension anywhere."
- Geraldine Katz

"Counterplay is the first conference I have that succeeds in engaging participants in activities and not just sitting around and listening. At Counterplay I learned, discussed and played with interesting subjects, music and people, and I left with new friends and inspiration. I would recommend all playful souls to participate in Counterplay."
- Martin Dyrman Hansen

"I was inspired by the variety of people - ages, nationalities, interests, approaches - for whom playfulness and play are so key. There was such a powerful sense of a global community and a growing movement. I brought back renewed energy and enthusiasm and lots of happy memories."
- Mel Taylor

"Counter play was an unusual and wonderfully playful mix of experiences. It is the only conference I've been to that involved Marimba dancing before the first talk of the day, a (genuine) clown giving a keynote, and a summary of the conference by a giant cardboard rabbit. Playful, inspirational and invigorating, Counterplay was an amazing event to be part of. By the way, tig, you're on."
- Andrew Walsh