Futurebuild’s acclaimed Knowledge Programme is now ‘live’ and significantly expanded for 2026 (12 – 14 May at Excel London).
The event’s strategic co-location with UK Construction Week London and the Stone & Surfaces Show brings together over 700 speakers, across 13 stages to deliver more than 250 hours of accredited CPD Content.
Martin Hurn, Futurebuild Event Director, comments: “Our industry partners and curators have a real ability for connecting strategic thinking to application. Across the Main Conference and National Retrofit arenas, seminar sessions and fringe events, we collaborate with the most influential bodies to bring together policy, practice and innovation in a way that feels grounded in delivery.”
This connection between policy and practice is underscored by Futurebuild 2026 offering a timely platform for industry professionals to address the implications of the Government’s Warm Homes agenda for the first time.
Martin McCluskey MP, the UK’s Minister for Energy Consumers, will deliver a keynote address on the second day of the National Retrofit Conference, tackling Labour’s Net Zero promise as retrofit moves from strategy into large scale implementation.
What to look out for in the programme
Over on the dedicated Energy stage, sponsored by Allume, John Allison, Deputy Director of Heat Networks at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, will contribute to a complementary thread discussing the future of energy policy. Additional sessions from the Energy Saving Trust and National Energy Action will also bring a critical social perspective, highlighting the links between decarbonisation, affordability and fuel poverty.
Martin Hurn adds: “The Knowledge Programme is structured in such a way to help attendees translate big picture frameworks into the practical realities of supply chains, specification, policy and performance. Across all three seminar stages – Buildings and Materials, Energy, and Placemaking – there’s a clear shift in focus this year. Net zero remains a central driver but the conversation is evolving beyond targets towards regenerative thinking, systems integration and measurable outcomes.”
On Holcim’s Buildings and Materials stage, regeneration emerges as a defining theme as industry bodies, including The Sustainable Development Foundation and Architects Declare, explore what it means to do less harm and actively restore ecosystems. While the Passivhaus Trust and Good Homes Alliance place occupant wellbeing and building performance at the centre of design thinking. The programme also addresses the challenge of scaling up regenerative materials, with the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) asking how solutions for niche applications can become more mainstream.
The Placemaking stage broadens the conversation further, examining frameworks for regenerative places, green infrastructure and climate resilience. Contributors include Anna Hollyman, Co Head of Policy and Places at UKGBC and Asha Tomlin-Kent, Senior Policy and Programme Officer at the Greater London Authority – aligning environmental performance with social value and long term resilience.
Explore the full programme here to discover the breadth of sessions, speakers and themes.
Secure your free pass to Futurebuild and start connecting today, courtesy of registration sponsor Barbour ABI.
