This year's Autumn Forum for Existing Buildings, an established specialist conference for experts in the field of building renovation, will take place on 19 November 2026 in Stuttgart. The event, held for the 28th time, focuses on the latest developments and strategies in energy-efficient building renovation. Around 1,000 trade visitors are expected from the fields of energy consulting, architecture, crafts, local authorities, politics, and media. The forum is organised by the Zukunft Altbau information programme, which is funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment. The venue is the Sparkassenakademie in Stuttgart, and virtual participation via livestream is also possible.
A new feature this year is the integration of the Autumn Forum for Existing Buildings into a double event by the KEA Klimaschutz- und Energieagentur Baden-Württemberg (KEA-BW). The event "Energiewende kompakt" (Energy Transition Compact), which deals with heating networks and renewable energies, will take place on 18 November at the same venue. This cooperation allows for a more in-depth look at the energy transition in the building sector. The entire event is designed as a Green Event and is recognised as a further training course by the German Energy Agency and the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Architects and Engineers.
Thekla Walker, Baden-Württemberg's Minister for the Environment, emphasises in her welcoming address the importance of decarbonising the energy supply as a contribution to climate protection, economic viability, and geopolitical independence. In her presentation, she will outline the state government's climate policy goals and highlight the need for an increased renovation rate in Baden-Württemberg's building sector. These aspects will form the framework for the forum's further specialist presentations.
The programme includes contributions from leading experts. Barbara Metz, Federal Managing Director of Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), will address the urgent need for a faster phase-out of fossil fuels in her presentation "To the Point! Bringing the Building Sector to the Finish Line" and push for the rapid implementation of existing solutions to increase building efficiency and future viability. Architect Mariette Beyeler, founder of Metamorph House, will discuss concepts for the qualitative further development of the single-family home stock under the title "Continuing to build instead of demolishing: How Switzerland develops single-family homes".
Jan Münster, a new member of KEA-BW's management board, summarises findings from the preceding "Energiewende kompakt" event, particularly with regard to heating networks and renewable energies. Professor Dr.-Ing. Michael Sterner from the Institute for Energy Storage at Regensburg University of Applied Sciences will illuminate paths to climate neutrality, from individual properties to the national economy. Felix Schweikhardt and Thabo von Roman from Zukunft Altbau will present solutions for successful renovation sprints in Baden-Württemberg, which can enable energy-efficient renovations within 22 working days. Another topic is serial renovation, where energy consultant Erol Ari will use the example of a multi-family house in Ostalb to demonstrate that serial renovation concepts can also be economically viable for smaller projects.
Participation fees for the Autumn Forum for Existing Buildings amount to EUR 100 per person for the in-person event. A digital single access pass is available for EUR 40. Regional groups of ten or more people can participate in the digital offering for a price of EUR 150. Accompanying the conference, a trade exhibition will present current products and trends in the field of energy-efficient modernisation.
