EXPO Real 2026: 40,000 expected in Munich as infrastructure joins the fair

EXPO Real opens its doors at Germany’s Messe München this morning (Monday), with around 40,000 participants expected. The three-day international trade fair for real estate, investment and infrastructure runs from Monday 5 to Wednesday 7 October 2026.

This year’s event spans seven halls and expands its focus to include investable infrastructure. Alongside housing, logistics, retail and hospitality, the fair will explore opportunities in energy, digital and social infrastructure, bringing investors and financiers together with developers, operators and public authorities.

The event takes place against a backdrop of cautious sentiment but renewed investment activity. The latest EXPO Real trend index found that 40% of respondents were cautious or very cautious about the market, while housing and data centres led expectations for asset classes gaining in importance.

Participants can expect more than 200 panels and over 650 speakers across the three days. Geopolitics, infrastructure and transformation are central themes, reflecting the challenges facing investors as they assess market prospects and allocate capital.

The new InfrastructureNow forum will feature a dedicated conference programme and special show presenting investment strategies and projects. Topics include renewable energy, data centres and defence infrastructure, with discussions covering development, financing and operation.

The main conference programme opens at 11:00 today with international investors examining whether Europe remains an attractive real estate market. Speakers include Martin Towns of M&G Real Estate, Michael Neal of Savills Investment Management and Brad Gries of LaSalle Investment Management.

Wolfgang Ischinger, long-time chairman of the Munich Security Conference, will address geopolitical risks on Tuesday 6 October. His presentation will examine how wars, strategic rivalries and shifting power dynamics affect markets.

Housing will also feature prominently. The Flexible Housing area explores new housing concepts and responses to demographic change, changing lifestyles and resource constraints. The Grand Plaza provides a hub for retail, while Transform & Beyond showcases solutions in decarbonisation, artificial intelligence, robotics, smart buildings and energy.

Real Asset Media is again contributing to the programme through its Investment Briefings at the International Investors Lounge. Discussions on the INSIGHT Stage will also be available through a dedicated live stream.

Today’s lounge programme begins with Real Asset Media’s launch breakfast at 09:00, followed by a briefing on the key drivers of cross-border investment at 10:00. Senior Housing & Healthcare follows at 11:00, with European Logistics Investment at 13:00 and Germany Investment Outlook at 14:00.

Afternoon highlights include AI, Data & Data Centres at 15:00, European Debt Finance & Investment at 16:00 and REAL FDI – Top Investable Projects at 17:00. The International Investors Lounge celebrates its tenth anniversary with a reception at 18:00.

Tuesday’s lounge sessions include Logistics Trends at 10:00 and Global Real Estate Trends & Investment Outlook at 11:00, followed by Investable Cities at 11:45. Living-sector sessions follow at 12:30 and 13:15, covering Dutch residential investment and wider investment trends and opportunities.

Infrastructure Investment 360°, covering data centres, parking and energy, takes place at 15:00, with Decarbonisation and social impact at 16:00.

Real Asset IMPACT, Real Asset Media’s quarterly journal on sustainability in the built environment, will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Tuesday at 17:00 on the INSIGHT Stage.

The teams from Real Asset INSIGHT, Real Asset IMPACT and REAL FDI will be reporting from across the fair. Together, they will again produce EXPO Day, the show’s principal English-language daily publication, printed for distribution in Munich and available online as downloadable PDFs.

Visit Real Asset Media at the International Investors Lounge in Hall A1, Booth 132, where the INSIGHT Stage will host Investment Briefings and networking events during EXPO Real.