• Munich trade fair will host a flexible housing forum and a panel with federal construction minister Verena Hubertz

Housing shortages and new construction will be central themes at EXPO REAL 2026, the international trade fair for real estate, investment and infrastructure, which takes place in Munich from 5 to 7 October.

The event will again include a special exhibition on the housing shortage, alongside lectures and discussion forums where experts will present solutions.

The "Flexible Housing – Opportunities Next Door" forum will be the main meeting point for the housing industry. It will focus on converting commercial properties into residential units, municipal and state incentives for new construction, and the potential of simplified building standards. An exhibition on affordable, resource-efficient and sustainable housing will accompany it.

Federal Minister for Construction Verena Hubertz will join the panel "Future of new construction in Germany – reality, capital and feasibility" on 5 October,  in the Discussion and Networking Forum.

Delegates will also discuss the planned reform of tenancy law, for which Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) presented a new draft bill in February, and plans for the socialisation of housing stock in Berlin. Economists and market experts will assess the opportunities and obstacles for housing construction.

The annual EXPO REAL Trend Index, conducted by opinion research institute IfaD for Messe München, points to strong interest in residential. Some 67% of exhibitors and visitors surveyed see it as by far the most important asset class for investment decisions, while 74% expect it to gain more importance than any other asset class in the coming years. Most respondents named lower construction costs and the removal of expensive building standards as key to creating more affordable housing.

Claudia Boymanns, exhibition director of EXPO REAL, said: "More housing is a key prerequisite for economic growth and the attractiveness of Germany as a business location. It requires the collaboration of the housing industry, investors, and, last but not least, policymakers, because reliable framework conditions for investment and new construction are crucial. At EXPO REAL, we bring these stakeholders together and discuss concrete approaches and creative solutions for how more housing can be realised more quickly and new investments can be enabled."

Boymanns added: "The results of our trend index show that the industry clearly sees a need for action regarding housing. The crucial task now is to create the conditions that will translate into actual new housing. EXPO REAL brings together the key players in the housing sector, from project developers and investors to municipalities and policymakers. We want to promote this exchange, and that is precisely where the trade fair's special value lies."