Housing:

Tackling the global housing crisis within
Smart City Expo World Congress 2026

GLOBAL THOUGHT LEADERS AND POLICYMAKERS ADDRESSING THE MOST CRITICAL QUESTIONS IN URBAN HOUSING

Housing is a core urban system that shapes competitiveness, social cohesion, talent attraction, and territorial balance. It is more than real estate: it is essential urban infrastructure. The future of cities depends not just on how much they build, but on how they plan, finance, manage, and evolve their residential models.

Explore real solutions transforming how housing is built

Learn from housing pioneers, government officials, and social cooperatives

Access premier networking with authorities shaping housing policy and urban strategy

HOWS Barcelona | Housing World Summit

A SUMMIT TO CHANGE THE HOUSING EQUATION

HOWS Barcelona | Housing World Summit is an international platform where governments, cities, investors, and developers converge to redefine urban housing, from planning and finance to construction and regulation.

Within the framework of Smart City Expo World Congress, HOWS is the space where urban strategy, capital, innovation, and regulation connect – with the singular objective of building more livable, affordable cities.

HOSTED BY:
ORGANIZED BY:

Highlights from Housing Discussions

Housing Land & Availability

Urban Densification & Mixed-Use Development

Affordable Housing

Global Housing Crisis

Rental Market Distortion

Housing Financialization

Public Housing Systems

Housing & Climate Transition

Neighbourhood Regeneration

The urban ecosystem in motion

1000 +

ATTENDEES

500 +
EXHIBITORS
50 +
SPEAKERS
50 +

CITIES

20 +
COUNTRIES

Join the Housing Program at the Smart City Expo 2026

KEY ISSUES AT THE CENTER OF THE DEBATE

Urban Planning & Land Policy

Smart land use, inclusive growth
Cities are expanding housing capacity by activating land, accelerating planning, and enabling mixed-use development — driving urban regeneration, and the right to the city.

With a focus on: Housing Capacity, Spatial Planning, Densification, Land Banking, Mixed Use Developments, Urban Regeneration, Vulnerable Neighborhoods.

Housing Regulation

Protecting affordability and cohesion
Balanced housing regulation through smart policies, public‑private partnerships, and fair land managing rents, and strengthening social cohesion.

With a focus on: Housing Policies, Institutional Funds, Rent Regulations, Tax Incentives, Short-Term Rental Regulation, Gentrification, Inclusionary Zoning, Public-Private Partnerships.

Social and Affordable Housing

Innovative models, collective action
New housing models are transforming affordability combining public policy, innovation, and collaboration to secure housing as a fundamental right.

With a focus on: Affordability, Innovative Housing Models, Social Housing Policies, Subsidized Housing, Homelessness, Land Banking, Right to Adequate Housing.

Building Innovation

Transforming how homes are made
Building sustainably now depends on digital innovation, industrialized construction, and collaborative models that rethink how housing is delivered.

With a focus on: Digital Building Innovation, Modular Construction, Off-site Fabrication, Net Zero Carbon Construction, Nature-based Solutions, Auto-Construction.

Renovation, Retrofit & Reuse

Upgrading existing housing
Improving housing quality demands scalable retrofit solutions and inclusive design to deliver dignified living conditions for all.

With a focus on: Adaptive Architecture, Energy-Efficient Renovation, Public Housing Rehabilitation, Scalable Retrofit Solutions, Urban Regeneration, Gender Perspective Housing

EXPLORE ALL SMART CITY EXPO TOPICS

Enabling Technologies

Energy & Environment

Mobility

Governance & Economy

Living & Inclusion

Infrastructure & Building

Blue Economy

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PROJECT AWARDS

The different Project Awards consider successful implemented projects developed in a specific area

Enabling Technologies
Energy
& Environment
Mobility
Governance
& Economy
Living
& Inclusion
Infrastructure
& Building
Housing