Secrets and Shadows Descend on IIDA NY's Color Invasion® 2026

NEW YORK — August 14, 2026 — The New York Chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA NY) invites the design and architecture community to step into The House of Forgotten Whispers, the theme for the 24th annual Color Invasion®. Drawing on Victorian mystery and séance parlors, this year’s immersive event will transform Chelsea Industrial (535–551 West 28th Street, New York, NY 10001) into a night of secrets, alchemy, and chilling discoveries for more than 1,000 attendees on Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 7 to 11 p.m.

As IIDA NY's premier annual networking and social impact celebration, Color Invasion® is never just a party; it's a spectacle! Partygoers will sip signature cocktails, sample a decadent menu, and discover interactive installations and live entertainment designed to capture the haunting, opulent energy of the theme. Creative costumes are not just welcome; they’re highly encouraged.

“This year, we're pulling back the curtain on a world of secrets with The House of Forgotten Whispers,” said Brian Bates, Co-Chair of the Color Invasion® Committee. “Guests will wander through spaces where every creak tells a story, and not all whispers are meant to be heard. Think seance parlors, alchemy, and a house full of secrets.” Steven South, Committee Co-Chair, added, "Every year, Color Invasion® gives our community a chance to celebrate design in an entirely new world. We're inviting guests into a house full of secrets, and a night they won't forget.”

Since its debut in 2002, Color Invasion® has also carried a deeper purpose: supporting children in need. This year's event will benefit Beyond Bedtime—formerly known as Pajama Program—a New York City-based nonprofit that provides books, pajamas, and sleep wellness resources for children facing adversity, especially those in foster care or experiencing housing insecurity. 

Guests are encouraged to donate new, unwrapped pajamas and books for children from infancy to age 18. For added convenience, IIDA NY will also host an on-site Beyond Bedtime pop-up shop, where guests can purchase items to donate during the event. Monetary donations will be accepted through Giving Tuesday, December 1, 2026. 

For the first time, Color Invasion® 2026 will also support Blueprints for Hope, a foundation established by family and friends in memory of Lance Amato, a beloved member of the New York design community through his involvement in IIDA NY. The foundation shares information about pancreatic cancer and treatment, and recently awarded its first scholarship to a University of Miami student.

Early bird ticket pricing available through Monday, September 9th 2026. For tickets, visit IIDA NY’s Color Invasion® 2026 Eventbrite page.

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About IIDA NY
The International Interior Design Association’s New York Chapter (IIDA NY) is an inclusive community of design professionals, industry partners, and students. This professional networking and educational association provides invaluable resources to over 800 members throughout New York State, including four city centers. IIDA NY champions design advocacy, sustainability, civic engagement, student mentorship and professional development, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Reflecting its commitment to student development, IIDA NY earned the National IIDA Changemaker Award in 2023 for its Hazel Siegel Scholarship program, which directly inspired the creation of the Student Uplift Program (SUP). SUP went on to receive the National Chapter Award for Excellence in 2026. For more information, visit: http://www.iidany.org/.