Under the headline theme of ‘Connect’, Futurebuild 2026 is shining a light on the need for collective action in order to drive sustainable change, strengthen competitive standing and support a thriving built environment. There are a raft of heavyweight partners on board to reinforce the message that now is not the time to stand still – or backtrack – on sustainability.
Bringing industry bodies together
High-profile industry bodies are getting behind Futurebuild’s mission to facilitate more purposeful collaboration and insightful debate in the main conference area sponsored by Mitsubishi Electric. This includes contributions from RIBA and CIBSE. addressing the business case for adaptive reuse, as part of Futurebuild’s hard-hitting main conference programme.
The CIOB, meanwhile, is chairing a panel that considers the industry’s collective and individual responsibilities to push back on projects that turn unethical. Leading industry representatives will also explore how to encourage culture change to embed the circular economy in a more concerted way.
Knowledge programme
While the bigger-picture political issues are being addressed in the main Futurebuild and National Retrofit Conference Arenas, the wider knowledge programme will bring a carefully curated balance of visionary and practical content.
Staying true to Futurebuild’s ethos to be an event that’s shaped by the industry, for the industry, it’s been a long standing strategy of the show organisers to elevate the content across all areas by inviting industry bodies to run a series of stage ‘takeovers.’ Several supply chain associations are enthusiastically on board compiling 133 hours of CPD content that equips visitors, exhibitors and attendees to take tangible action and address increasing design and safety standards, rising material and labour costs, and the ongoing challenge of meeting ambitious sustainability targets.
Seminar stage takeovers
Lead sponsor Holcim are fronting the Buildings & Materials stage where the Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF), Architects Declare, and Woodknowledge Wales are steering an agenda centred on the transition to a regenerative built environment – breaking down what this means for places, processes and supply chains.
The Association of Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) are shining a light on the scaling up of regenerative materials, and potential implications for fire safety, while the Traditional Sustainable Buildings Alliance are honing in on regenerative design from a retrofit perspective. Impact sessions on healthier buildings are also being held by The Good Homes Alliance and the Passivhaus Trust.
On the Placemaking stage speakers will tackle the theme of urban resilience and how to provide a healthier quality of life for all in the face of ‘future’ threats which are already occurring. Industry organisations including UKGBC, ICE and CIWEM will contribute to the resilience discussion, and recovery from adverse events.
Innovation at the heart
Innovation is central to the discussion across all areas of the show but the 2026 event is flipping the script and exploring how existing knowledge can be better used, rather than solely exploring novel technical solutions.
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Article supplied by Futurebuild
