Futurebuild 2026 closed on a remarkable high after delivering one of the most vibrant, energetic and connected gatherings the built environment industry has ever seen, with overall visitor numbers across the co-located shows doubling year-on-year.
For the first time, Futurebuild co-located with UK Construction Week (UKCW) and Stones & Surfaces at Excel London (12 – 14 May), transforming the venue into a thriving hub of innovation, collaboration and opportunity.
The scale and energy across the halls created a genuine sense of momentum throughout the three days, with packed seminar theatres, crowded exhibition stands and constant movement between the connected events creating one of the busiest and most dynamic industry gatherings of the year.
The seamless connection between the three shows unlocked a completely new visitor experience, dramatically increasing cross-show discovery, networking opportunities and access to innovation across the entire built environment supply chain.
Architects, specifiers, contractors, developers, manufacturers, policymakers and innovators explored the events side-by-side, creating a level of collaboration and cross-sector interaction rarely seen within the industry.
The connected format brought together every corner of the built environment in one destination, allowing visitors to discover new technologies, exchange ideas and make valuable business connections at every turn.
Luke Vargas, Podcast host at the Wall Street Journal, who attended in search of transferable technologies to help tackle the US housing shortage, comments: “Three hours at Excel gave me more insights into the trends affecting the UK building sector than I could’ve gathered in days of calls and site visits.”
Across the three days, Futurebuild’s Main Conference and National Retrofit Arena delivered a packed programme of thought-provoking discussion and industry insight. Keynote speakers included Rt Hon Chris Skidmore OBE, MP Martin McCluskey, Minister for Energy Consumers at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, Mete Coban, while Sir James Cleverly, the Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, also appeared on stage at UKCW.
Martin Hurn, Futurebuild Event Director, comments:
“As ever, our curators have done a phenomenal job of delivering a highly acclaimed knowledge programme that is truly for the industry, by the industry.
“The decision to connect Futurebuild, UKCW and Stones & Surfaces delivered something far bigger than three co-located events. Together they transformed Excel London into a single destination for the entire built environment industry, creating new opportunities for collaboration, innovation and commercial connection across every corner of the sector.
“The energy across the halls over the three days was incredible. Every theatre was full, every networking space was active and there was a genuine sense that the industry had come together with purpose, optimism and ambition.
“We continue to invest heavily in our conferences, seminar stages and networking opportunities because meaningful connection and knowledge sharing are at the heart of what Futurebuild stands for.”
Throughout the event, attendees repeatedly pointed to the ingenuity on display and the industry’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and collaboration as reasons for optimism about the future.
