EXPO REAL 2026: Real Estate Industry Expands Focus on Infrastructure and New Housing Concepts
Capital is being allocated more selectively, construction costs remain high, and at the same time, there is a growing investment need in energy, digitalization, and living space. For the real estate industry, it is no longer just about individual buildings. From October 5 to October 7, 2026, EXPO REAL in Munich will therefore bring together real estate, investments, and for the first time, investable infrastructure. Around 40,000 trade visitors are expected at the Messe München venue. The current registration level of the exhibitors is at the level of the previous year.
The fair covers the entire value chain of the real estate industry in seven halls: from project development and financing to operation and marketing, as well as technology and infrastructure. Key focus areas include housing, logistics, commerce, and hospitality. A new section has been added with InfrastructureNow dedicated to infrastructure investments.
Infrastructure becomes its own asset class
One of the most important innovations in 2026 is InfrastructureNow. The platform focuses on energy, digital, and social infrastructure as well as defense, bringing together investors, financiers, project developers, operators, municipalities, and political decision-makers. This is part of a development that increasingly links real estate and infrastructure. Data centers require energy and suitable locations, neighborhoods need efficient networks and mobility options, and the energy transition and digitalization require significant investments. Infrastructure is thus increasingly developing into its own asset class. At EXPO REAL, the focus will be on financing models, investment strategies, regulatory frameworks, and specific projects. For the fair, this means an expansion of its previous profile: not only the building itself is the focus, but also the infrastructure that enables its operation and economic use.
Housing Needs New Answers
An additional focus remains the tense situation in the housing market. In the Flexible Housing – Opportunities next door area, concepts for cost-effective, resource-saving, and flexible housing will be presented. It's not just about new layouts. Rising construction costs, scarce space, and changed living and working models are increasing the pressure to create housing more quickly and economically. The exhibition and conference program aim to connect practical approaches with discussions from politics, business, and research.
AI, Digitalization, and Decarbonization
The Transform & Beyond area shows how existing properties can be operated more efficiently and new projects developed more sustainably. This section focuses on future and transformation topics of the industry. The focus is on decarbonization, smart buildings, AI and robotics, digitalization, and new energy solutions for districts. Companies and startups will present applications and business models. The exhibition is complemented by the Transform & Beyond Stage, the Decarb Arena, and the Tech Talk Stage. Particularly in building operations, the economic benefits of new technologies are increasingly decisive. Sensors and data analysis can optimize energy consumption and maintenance, AI is intended to automate administration and management processes. However, what remains crucial is which solutions can actually be scaled in existing stock.
From Real Estate Finance to Data Centers
The conference program also addresses the changed market situation. Topics range from investment strategies and sustainable financing to residential construction and climate risks to data centers, artificial intelligence, geopolitics, and the real estate location Germany. Hotel, logistics, and office real estate are given their own focus. With a new Urban Future Stage, the fair expands the program to include a platform for future questions of cities and real estate. Additionally, there is the Grand Plaza for commercial real estate, the Decarb Arena, and the CareerDay on the third day of the fair. The EXPO REAL remains primarily a working fair. Last year, 42,000 participants from 70 countries and 1,742 exhibitors from 34 countries came to Munich. In 2026, around 40,000 experts are expected again. The EXPO REAL 2026 will take place from October 5 to 7 at the Messe München site. On Monday and Tuesday, the fair is open from 9 am to 7 pm, Wednesday from 9 am to 4 pm. For the industry, one question is likely to be crucial: Where is capital still flowing in a challenging market environment? The new focuses on infrastructure, flexible housing concepts, and technological transformation indicate that the answers are increasingly being sought beyond the traditional property.