Construction industry connects en masse at Futurebuild 2026

Construction industry connects en masse at Futurebuild 2026

As day one of Futurebuild 2026 (12-14 May at Excel) came to a close it was clear the strategic co-location with UK Construction Week London and the Stone & Surfaces Show generated a real industry buzz. This was evidenced in the bustling halls with almost twice the amount of built environment professionals attending and connecting across the three shows.

It was standing room only in the National Retrofit Arena as Energy Consumers Minister, Martin McCluskey, delivered a keynote on ‘Retrofit and Policy’, with talks from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) representatives, Selvin Brown and Deborah Chittenden, driving similarly strong interest.

Over in Futurebuild’s Main Conference Arena, high profile industry figures also drew in the crowds. RIBA president Chris Williamson, the UKGBC’s Director of Industry Transformation, Yetunde Abdul, David Greenfield from CIWM and the CIOB’s Saul Humphreys were all enthused by the response from spectators as they tackled some of the industry’s biggest challenges and opportunities during a series of thought provoking panel discussions.

“Futurebuild prides itself on being a purposeful platform advocating for cross-sector collaboration,” says Futurebuild Event Director, Martin Hurn. “Seeing visitors from across the entire built environment connecting in the aisles, on-stands and in audiences has proven that setting out to deliver the UK’s built environment super event is what the industry was crying out for and it’s been valuably received across the board.”

A talking point away from the main stages was the  range of interesting formats notably switching up this year’s running order. In the Futurebuild Connect Lounge lively workshops were well attended throughout the day in the space made by Material Index from reclaimed materials and designed specifically for high impact networking. While at the ACAN! Architects Climate Action Network theatre delegates were given the opportunity to participate in a ‘Construction Collage’ - a taster of a collaborative Climate Fresk specifically for the built environment.

With two days to go and valuable connections to be made, visitors are being urged to register now to gain free access to a highly acclaimed CPD-accredited knowledge programme running on 13 stages, across all three events.

Futurebuild highlights still to come include:

  • Competitions: Three shortlisted contenders battling out the ‘Big Innovation Pitch’ on Wednesday 13 May at 4pm and the Big Retrofit Challenge starting at 10.30am on Thursday 14 May
  • Speed mentoring: The Young Architects and Developers Alliance (YADA )’s rapid fire networking event in the Futurebuild Connect Lounge at 2pm on Wednesday 13 May
  • Much more in the main conference arena: Check out the Editor of Architecture Today, Isabelle Allen, and the Useful Simple Trust’s Will Arnold on ‘Practicing Regeneratively’ at 12.30 on Wednesday; also a panel on ‘Delivering Sustainable Housing at Scale’ led by The Sustainable Development Foundation’s Jon Bootland at 12 noon in the main arena on the last day
  • Retrofit and systemic change: Innovate UK’s Dr. Mike Pitts and the National Retrofit Hub’s Co-Director Sara Edmonds in a panel on ‘Transforming Retrofit’
  • Live demos: Studio Bark’s live demo of its U-Build modular system at the ACAN! stage at 11.15am Thursday and the chance to get hands-on with live interactive hemp casting on the Build with Hemp stand daily (G40)

With over 600 exhibitors, live demos, workshops and a fringe event to boot, this year’s Futurebuild is shaping up to be the UK’s built environment super event in more ways than scale.


Register now

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

About Futurebuild

Futurebuild is the UK’s leading built environment event, taking place at Excel London from 12 to 14 May 2026. The show brings together thousands of professionals from across construction, housing, local government and sustainability to share knowledge, showcase innovation and build partnerships.

By bringing together the entire supply chain, Futurebuild is a powerful platform to connect with the right people from senior specifiers and architects to major contractors and developers - all actively looking for innovative solutions to shape ambitious construction projects.

With a three-day CPD accredited knowledge programme and a dynamic, solutions-focused exhibition, Futurebuild is where meaningful conversations turn into impactful collaboration.

For more information visit: futurebuild.co.uk

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About UKCW

Organised by Media 10 - the multi award-winning events and publishing company, UK Construction Week (UKCW) is the UK's largest built environment event. Running twice per year in London (12-14 May 2026, Excel London) and Birmingham (Sep 29-Oct 1 2026, NEC Birmingham), the event attracts an engaged audience from all sectors of the construction industry to share knowledge, solve problems, and explore new, sustainable ways of working.

UKCW also plays host to hundreds of companies showcasing their latest innovation, products and services. For stand and sponsorship enquiries visit www.ukconstru  ctionweek.com/exhibit

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