Futurebuild 2026 has unveiled an unashamedly provocative main conference programme, placing resilience firmly at the centre of the built environment conversation.
Taking place from 12-14 May 2026 at Excel London, big hitters representing UKGBC, RIBA, ACAN, Architects Declare and The Sustainable Development Foundation, among others, are set to explore how construction can move beyond business as usual and deliver genuinely resilient outcomes.
“In education, the ‘Three Rs’ define the fundamentals of learning: reading, (w)riting and (a)rithmetic. As the built environment faces accelerating climate, social and economic pressures, the question becomes more urgent. What are the critical Rs for our future?” says event director, Martin Hurn.
For Futurebuild 2026, the Arena Conference answers that question by focusing on Resilience, examined through the lens of Reuse and Regenerative design in the built and natural environment. Together, they form a deliberately challenging framework that asks whether the industry is prepared to fundamentally rethink how it designs, builds and operates.
“For Futurebuild, resilience means facing the realities of climate, nature and social change head on,” adds Martin Hurn. “In 2026, we’re doubling down on sustainability and innovation in the arena – and across the entire show – to connect strategy with delivery and ambition with action.”
Mitsubishi Electric are supporting the Arena Conference as the main sponsor and reinforcing the role of advanced building technologies in delivering resilient outcomes. The programme will address everything from circular economy policy and ethical practice to cultural change, innovation and the role of communities in delivering on decarbonisation and broader sustainability issues.
Day one sets the tone with a high-level exploration of the circular economy as a driver of growth, chaired by David Greenfield, President of The Chartered Institute of Wastes Management (CIWM) and featuring Yetunde Abdul, Director of Industry Transformation at UKGBC. Speakers from Mace Group, the Green Alliance and the Green Construction Board are also joining the panel.
Other opening day line-ups include Chris Williamson, President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), leading a headline discussion on reuse as a first principle in design, alongside the acclaimed architect, author and environmental campaigner, Duncan Baker-Brown.
Day two shifts the focus to regenerative design, exploring both mindset and method. A series of curated sessions will unpack what it means in practice, moving beyond static definitions towards systems thinking, circular resource flows and net positive outcomes for people and nature.
Day three broadens the lens to the economic and policy context shaping delivery, with sessions on climate action as the new normal, sustainable housing at scale, the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard and visionary thinking from the next generation of built environment professionals.
Alongside the Main Conference and The National Retrofit Conference arenas, three seminar stages dedicated to buildings and materials, placemaking and energy will also be hosting a CPD-accredited knowledge programme packed with insightful content and curated by leading industry bodies. What’s more, with organisers strategically collaborating with UK Construction Week London and The Stone & Surfaces Show, visitors can access 700+ high profile speakers across 11 stages – making it Futurebuild’s richest content programme yet.
To register for your ticket, please scan the QR Code.
Article supplied by Futurebuild
