Futurebuild, the UK’s leading built environment event, in partnership with the National Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG) and Innovate UK, has launched the second Big Retrofit Challenge.

The competition first ran in 2025 and returns in 2026 to uncover innovative products, services and solutions that can support the decarbonisation of homes and non-residential properties, improve occupant health and accelerate progress towards net zero-carbon.

Up to six organisations will be shortlisted and invited to present their ideas live on stage at the National Retrofit Conference (NRC) 2026, part of Futurebuild, which takes place at Excel London from 3 to 5 March 2026.

They will also have the opportunity to showcase their solutions in the NHDG Pavilion, connect directly with NHDG members and potentially see their innovations trialled or piloted in real world retrofit projects. Finalists will gain post-event visibility through video interviews, press releases and thought leadership articles.

Building on the success of the 2025 Challenge, where entrants such as Indie Nature and Eyesea Green went on to collaborate with NHDG members, the 2026 competition introduces a refreshed brief with a new category for digital and AI solutions.

Eligible applicants must be UK-registered businesses with a turnover of up to £15 million, with priority given to less established organisations. Consideration of resident engagement will form part of the assessment process. Compliance with PAS 2035 or MCS is not required for shortlisting, though alignment with recognised standards will be encouraged.

Entries are invited from private, public and third sector organisations. Collaborations, such as between product manufacturers and housing associations or local authorities, are also welcome.

Martin Hurn, Event Director of Futurebuild, said:

“The National Retrofit Conference is the UK’s leading platform for housing and local government retrofit. The Big Retrofit Challenge is about creating a national stage where new ideas are tested, partnerships are forged and innovators can move from concept to delivery. We want this year’s challenge to showcase the very best thinking and provide a launchpad for solutions that will make a lasting difference.”

Laura Marks, Head of the NHDG Innovation Working Group, added:

“Last year’s challenge showed how powerful Futurebuild can be in driving collaboration. We have seen finalists progress from pitching to working directly with housing providers, shaping specifications and piloting solutions. For 2026, we want to go even further by inviting digital and AI innovations alongside technical approaches, ensuring we capture the full range of creativity and expertise needed to meet the UK’s retrofit ambitions.”

Applications for the Big Retrofit Challenge are open now and close on Monday 10 November 2025 at 11:00 GMT. Innovators can apply via the NHDG website: https://www.nhdg.org/retrofit-challenge-2026/

Editors’ notes:

Futurebuild is the UK’s leading built environment event, taking place at Excel London from 3 to 5 March 2026. The show brings together thousands of professionals from across construction, housing, local government and sustainability to share knowledge, showcase innovation and build partnerships.

The National Retrofit Conference (NRC), delivered as part of Futurebuild, is the UK’s leading platform dedicated to retrofit. It brings together housing associations, local authorities, industry bodies and innovators to explore practical solutions to decarbonising homes, tackling damp and mould, improving resident health and meeting net zero targets.

Futurebuild 2026 will bring together the entire supply chain to showcase, a full programme of talks and workshops and specialist pavilions including the NHDG Pavilion. The NRC will be a central feature of the show, providing a national stage for the most important discussions and solutions in retrofit.

For more information visit: https://www.futurebuild.co.uk/exhibit/the-national-retrofit-conference-and-expo/

National Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG):

The NHDG is a UK body made up of housing associations, local authorities and government partners, focused on accelerating the retrofit and decarbonisation of homes. The group facilitates knowledge sharing, policy advocacy and collaboration across its membership.

For more information visit https://www.nhdg.org

Innovate UK:

Innovate UK is the UK’s national innovation agency, investing in and supporting businesses to develop bold new ideas that will drive sustainable economic growth. It backs innovations in sectors including energy, housing, construction and digital technology.

For more information visit https://www.ukri.org/our-work/tackling-the-worlds-greatest-challenges/innovate-uk

About Easyfairs (Futurebuild’s parent organisation):

Easyfairs organises and hosts events, bringing communities together to visit the future.

We currently organise 110 market-leading event titles in 16 countries (Algeria, Austria Belgium, Demark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States) and manage eight event venues in Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden (Antwerp, Ghent, Mechelen-Brussels North, Namur, Gorinchem, Hardenberg, Malmö and Stockholm).

We are passionate about “easifying” the life of our customers and increasing the return on investment and return on time for professional communities through our all-in formulas, advanced technology and customer-centric approach. Our digital features and initiatives provide these communities with excellent opportunities to network effectively and do business throughout the year.

The Easyfairs Group employs 870 highly committed talents, deploys the best marketing and technology tools and develops brands with a strong appeal to our stakeholder communities.

For the sixth year running, Deloitte conferred “Best Managed Company” status on Easyfairs in 2024.

Visit the future with Easyfairs and find out more on www.easyfairs.com