Melbourne to host World Sustainable Built Environment Conference

Slated for June 10–12, 2026, the conference will provide an interdisciplinary platform for leading academic scientists, researchers, practitioners, and educators to present on all aspects of sustainable built environment and discuss the latest innovations, trends, and practical challenges in the field.

The bid for the conference was spearheaded by the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) in collaboration with RMIT University and with support from the Victorian Government and Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Program. It is expected to bring together more than 1,000 delegates at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

Action and impact

RMIT University Professor of Sustainable Built Environment Dr Usha Iyer-Raniga says bringing together the best expertise and the latest research will support sustainable development and management of the built environment at all scales.

“We are excited to showcase our cutting-edge research and development and to encourage innovative thinking to address these critical issues,” she says. “The city of Melbourne, known for its iconic green buildings and pioneering energy efficiency regulations, will provide a fitting backdrop for this global event.

The theme for the event is “Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals: Who, What and How?” – and Dr Iyer-Raniga believes the timing is ideal.

“As we approach the 2026 event, there is a growing need to plan beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) timeline of 2015–2030. This conference provides an opportunity to take stock and move from inaction to action, addressing important challenges such as the triple planetary crises. We aim to chart a new course for humanity, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking and accelerating solutions for both the Global North and the Global South.”

Seeking submissions

The conference will seek to address the following critical questions related to the built environment:

• Who are the key actors needed to drive change?
• What are the most promising approaches for achieving our goals?
• How can we foster collaboration across disciplines and sectors?
• How can we accelerate the transition to a more sustainable built environment?

The organisers welcome submissions that are aligned with the conference’s selected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Two options are available for abstracts: academic submissions that will go through a full peer-review and publication process; and abstract submissions only, suitable for presentations from industry.

For industry-based special tracks, some ideas the organisers have flagged for consideration are:

• Going beyond the minimum: Industry’s commitment to embodied carbon
• Industry leadership in Australia for net zero: How is Australia dealing with net zero for the built environment
• The industry/research nexus: Engaging industry in academic research
• Bridging the gap between industry and scholarly research: How can research imperatives support overall sustainability outcomes for the built environment?
• Replication and upscaling: Industry case studies considered as good models for replication and upscaling.

The deadline for submissions is August 20, 2025.

For more information, visit the WSBE26 website.

Image courtesty of Taso Katsionis on Unsplash

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