NYC Jewelry Week 2026 Is the Largest Edition Yet

New York—New York City Jewelry Week (NYCJW) has returned for its ninth and largest edition yet.

The annual citywide celebration of jewelry will feature more than 175 events from Nov. 16-22 across New York City and online via the NYCJW YouTube.

This year’s theme is Craftsmanship, chosen to invite audiences to get closer to the art of jewelry making, from the skilled hands and creative minds behind each piece to the traditions and techniques that keep the craft evolving, said NYCJW.

As part of the theme, the program will include live jewelry-making demonstrations for the first time.

These demonstrations will span diamond cutting, sculpting, chasing, polishing, sanding, and engraving in intaglio and relief.

NYCJW is also a participant of Handwork 2026, an American Craft Council initiative marking the United States’ 250th anniversary, celebrating the enduring value of handmade jewelry.

“NYC Jewelry Week has always been dedicated to celebrating the creators behind the jewelry. There has never been a more important time to champion their work and expertise,” said Bella Neyman, founder of NYCJW.

“We want to educate consumers about the true value of a jewel, which extends far beyond its materials to the skill, knowledge, and hands that bring it to life. These skills take decades to master, and we want to invite audiences to witness the process firsthand. By making craftsmanship visible, we help people move beyond the abstract idea of skilled making to truly understand and appreciate its beauty, complexity, and value.”

The NYCJW 2026 program includes live demonstrations, industry conversations, exhibitions, and initiatives.

Read on for standout events to attend during this year’s NYCJW.

Monday, Nov. 16
NYCJW will kick off with a virtual event at 9 a.m. on Monday.

In “A Sincere Workshop Tour with Joy Harvey,” Harvey, a goldsmith, and Marco Rossi, a photographer and engineer, bring viewers to their workshop in Italy and showcase their most prized tools.

The "Evolution of a Jewel: AJDC in Retrospect" exhibition—which is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. all week at the Pratt Institute library in Brookyln—will bring together finished works and archival materials from members of the American Jewelry Design Council, exploring how an idea evolves in an artist's hands.

Tuesday, Nov. 17
The virtual tour “A Chat with Lisa Walker” is slated for 9 a.m., welcoming viewers to Walker’s workshop in Wellington, New Zealand, as she discusses her life and work as a full-time jeweler.

A series of talks examining craftmanship across generations and creative disciplines will be hosted by the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in its Bob Fisch Presentation Hall throughout the day. Tickets are required for each talk.

First, writer and curator Melanie Grant will lead “Swallows, Eagles and Navajo Jewelry Art,” a conversation with Robert Whitehair Begay, from 10:30 to 11:40 a.m.

This session will explore the work of the third-generation jewelry artist, whose practice draws on Navajo mythology, traditional materials, and methods including tufa stone carving, metalsmithing, stone inlay, and diamond setting.

"Craft & Luxury in the Contemporary World" is slated from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. and will feature a conversation with Michelle Fisher of the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, Dana Naberezny of Tiffany & Co., and jeweler Heath Wagoner.

They will discuss how fine jewelry crafts remain integral to human life.

From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., “10,000 Hours or What Drives Craft?” will feature Neyman alongside contemporary artists Jamie Bennett, Marion Delarue, and Beau McCall in a conversation on the role of research, experimentation, tradition, and curiosity in developing artistic mastery.

“Forging the Future of Fine Jewelry” is slated for 3:00 to 4:15 p.m. and will include a discussion with industry leaders on initiatives to address the need for about 4,000 new bench jewelers annually in the U.S.

Wednesday, Nov. 18 
At 9 a.m., Makila Nsika will invite viewers inside her London studio for the virtual tour titled “Makila Nsika: An Open Studio.”

The film will show how Nsika turns discarded palm kernels into objects of adornment and meaning, moving between her studio and the Congo.

During “GIA VIP Tours & CAD Work-Along,” attendees will get a behind-the-scenes look at GIA’s New York laboratory and an introduction to computer-aided design.

This event will take place at GIA New York from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. RSVP is required.

Thursday, Nov. 19
Jewelers Mutual (JM) has partnered with the Jewelers Security Alliance for the “Expert Tips for Protecting Your Jewelry” session from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Jewelers Mutual Studio within the NYCJW Educational Hub located at 22 Wooster St.

They will offer practical guidance on protecting jewelry and valuables at home, out and about, and while traveling. RSVP is required.

JM is also hosting an exhibition that will showcase more than 250 pieces by emerging jewelers, including students from the Future Jewelers Academy and the Savannah College of Art & Design.

The “Celebrate Craftmanship at JM Studio” exhibit will be open Wednesday, Nov. 18, through Saturday, Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Also at the Jewelers Mutual Studio, there will be daily engraving and stone-setting demonstrations, a jewelry cleaning station provided by The Kingswood Company, custom lattes, a pop-up scarf and charm bar, take-home goodies, and giveaways.

Friday, Nov. 20
Open from noon to 4 p.m. is the “Between Extremes Minimalism & Maximalism” exhibition at Cre8ive NYC, where pairs of contemporary jewels explore the dynamic relationship between minimalism and maximalism.

The exhibition, which is also open on Thursday, is curated by Sydney Thompson, Gracie Klingbeil, Boneger Kwarteng, Morgan Scott, Olivia Marshall, and Lillian Miller.

Saturday, Nov. 21
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., UrbanGlass in Brooklyn will host “NYCJW x UrbanGlass: Handcrafted in Flame.”

Attendees will be able to join beadmaking sessions, jewelry construction workshops, and ongoing demos led by artists from The Bead Project.

There will also be a pop-up market. Tickets are required.

From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Iranian-Canadian artist Amir Sheikhvand will talk about the traditional Iranian techniques he uses in his jewelry craft in "Fire, Color + Memory" as part of the “Gardens in Glass” exhibition at the Pratt Institute’s Steuben Gallery. RSVP is required.

The exhibition, which is open all week, is put on by the Enamelist Society and the Enamel Guild Northeast and showcases the beauty of flowers expressed in enameled jewelry from 30 artists.

Sunday, Nov. 22
The “Pratt Institute Open Studios” event from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn will offer a tour of its BFA Jewelry studio where visitors can meet jewelry students and faculty as well as view demonstrations. RSVP is required.

From 2 to 4 p.m. at the MoCADA Culture Lab II gallery space at the L10 Arts and Cultural Center in Brooklyn, there will be “Worn Witness: Jewelry as Afro-Testimony and Book Signing” where artists Diana Baird N’Diaye and Elaine Robnett Moore draw upon African diasporic heritage while pushing possibilities of art jewelry.

Their conversation will be moderated by Dr. Joanne Hyppolite. RSVP is required.
 

NYCJW is also continuing its commitment to broadening access and representation in the industry through the Here We Are (HWA) initiative.

The HWA Exhibition Award, sponsored by Marla Aaron, recognized Lauren Newton this year for her show “Jewelry, Nature + the Art of Collecting,” presented at Page Sargisson.

The HWA High School Award, sponsored by Rio Grande, will recognize a young designer with a $750 cash prize and stocked toolkit. It will be presented at the Jewelers Mutual Studio.

The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts is slated to host three events during NYCJW, including the Rock the Jewels fundraiser on Thursday, Nov. 19, where the HWA Emerging Awards will be presented to Ghislaine Sabiti and Yard Sale Jewelry.

NYCJW also partnered with Pratt Institute Fine Arts Jewelry and Krainz Creation during the JA New York Show to present an exhibition of the Platinum Design DNA Competition.

The educational initiative was established with Platinum Guild International seven years ago to introduce jewelry students to the properties and possibilities of platinum.

It continues during NYCJW with a select group of JA New York designers hosting a designer showcase curated by Neyman and Becky Stone at Heritage Auctions.

To view the full NYCJW schedule, event details, and to register, visit the NYCJW website.

Most events are free and open to the public.