On 30 July 2026, Malaysia welcomed the architecture, building, and real estate industries to one of the region’s most significant gatherings for trade, innovation, and collaboration as ARCHIDEX 2026, Malaysia’s Largest Architecture and Building Exhibition, and the ASEAN Real Estate Conference (AREC) 2026 were officially opened by the Minister of Housing and Local Government, YB Tuan Nga Kor Ming.
Bringing together architects, designers, developers, manufacturers, suppliers, investors, policymakers and built environment professionals, the two platforms demonstrate the importance of collaboration across the entire ecosystem—from planning and policy development to design, construction, technology and real estate investment.
Held from 29 July to 1 August 2026 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), ARCHIDEX 2026 marked its 25th edition as Asia’s Leading Architecture Business Event, continuing its role as a key platform where businesses discover opportunities, professionals exchange knowledge and industry partnerships are formed.
An event of Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival (KLAF), ARCHIDEX is jointly organised by the Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) and C.I.S, bringing together a powerful combination of professional expertise, industry engagement, and business opportunities for the architecture and building community.
Complementing ARCHIDEX, AREC 2026, organised by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), provides a strategic platform for policymakers, developers, investors, and industry leaders to discuss the future of housing, real estate and sustainable urban development across ASEAN.
ARCHIDEX welcomed 860 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions across more than 39,000 sqm of gross exhibition space (6% increase compared with 2025), alongside approximately 40,000 trade visitors from over 100 countries and regions. The exhibition was expected to generate approximately RM1.4 billion in business transactions, reinforcing its position as Malaysia’s largest architecture and building exhibition and a significant platform for the region’s built environment industry.
Officiating the opening of ARCHIDEX 2026, Minister of Housing and Local Government, Yang Berhormat Tuan Nga Kor Ming said, “While the government sets policy directions, achieving our vision of Housing with Heart requires collaboration across sectors. It is in this spirit that we are hosting AREC, and ARCHIDEX itself embodies this same spirit of collaboration and innovation.
“Our strategic location, strong connectivity, competitive business ecosystem, stable economic fundamentals, and highly skilled workforce continue to attract investors and businesses seeking opportunities in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions. ARCHIDEX showcases these strengths by bringing together industry leaders from across Asia and beyond to collaborate, innovate, and invest.”
ARCHIDEX serves as a strategic meeting point where ideas, expertise, and business opportunities converge, where architects discover new possibilities, businesses connect with decision-makers, manufacturers engage directly with specifiers, and industry professionals gain access to knowledge-sharing sessions.
With nearly half of ARCHIDEX visitors comprising industry specifiers and decision-makers, including architects, interior designers, developers, engineers, and quantity surveyors, the exhibition provided exhibitors with direct access to the professionals who influence projects, drive specifications, and shape industry demand across Malaysia and the region.
On the growth of ARCHIDEX, Dato’ Vincent Lim, President of C.I.S, said, “What stands out is not just how much ARCHIDEX has grown, but what the growth truly represents. These milestones reflect the confidence that local and international businesses continue to place in Malaysia as a destination for trade, investment and collaboration. The expansion of ARCHIDEX represents a bigger platform for our industry. Because a larger platform means more innovation to discover; more connections to make; and more business opportunities to create impact.”
As a key component of ARCHIDEX and the KLAF, DATUM (organised by PAM) served as one of the region’s largest and most influential architectural conferences, providing a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and professional advancement.
Held under the theme “Future Culture”, DATUM 2026 brought together renowned architects, designers, and industry thinkers to explore how the profession is responding to evolving challenges, including climate change, digital transformation, material innovation, and changing urban needs.
Ar. IDr Dexter Koh, President of PAM, commented, “As PAM’s flagship architectural conference since 2003, DATUM brings together thinkers and innovators to explore emerging ideas and challenge perspectives. This year’s theme, ‘FutureCulture’, feels particularly timely. As we embrace new technologies, how do we ensure our architecture remains anchored in local culture and identity? The answer lies in balance—between innovation and tradition, progress and context, technology, and humanity. Together, ARCHIDEX, AREC, and DATUM form a complete ecosystem: ARCHIDEX connects ideas with industry; AREC connects development with national aspirations; and DATUM connects the profession with critical dialogue.”
The ASEAN Real Estate Conference (AREC), organised in collaboration with the KPKT, further strengthened ARCHIDEX’s role as a structured policy-to-market platform where government, industry, and investors come together to align national urban development priorities with regional investment and implementation.
Beyond the exhibition floor, ARCHIDEX continued to strengthen its position as an industry platform through curated experiences, thought leadership programmes and initiatives that shape the future of the built environment.
World of Works (WoW), curated and designed by John Jong of Thinkscape Design Group, explored how technology, workplace culture, and human experience are reshaping the future of workplaces.
A Hospitality Anthology (AHA), curated and designed by IDr Lai Siew Hong of Blu Water Studio, debuted this year as a dedicated platform for professionals to explore emerging trends in hospitality.
Digital @ ARCHIDEX, featuring smarteX in partnership with Messe Frankfurt, brought expertise to the region while showcasing how digital technologies, Building Information Modelling (BIM), artificial intelligence, and smart building solutions are transforming the way buildings are designed, delivered, and managed.
These curated showcases reflected ARCHIDEX’s commitment to staying ahead of industry trends while creating meaningful opportunities for professionals to discover new ideas, exchange expertise, and forge lasting collaborations.
Complementing the exhibitions were the business matching sessions, buyer programmes, specialised conferences, Biz Talks, and Focus Forums. ARCHIDEX lined up more than 100 knowledge-sharing sessions featuring over 170 local and international speakers to deliver valuable insights for its architecture and allied professionals.
ARCHIDEX also continued to champion innovation and talent development through the ARCHIDEX Star Awards, recognising outstanding product innovation, and ARCHITALENT, which provides emerging architects and designers with opportunities to connect with established professionals while providing a platform to showcase the next generation of creative talent.
Beyond MITEC, Kuala Lumpur Architecture Week (KLAW) brought architecture, arts, and heritage into public spaces around the River of Life and Kuala Lumpur Downtown through architecture and art installations by emerging local architects and artists to enrich Kuala Lumpur’s cultural vibrancy, strengthening KL’s position as a UNESCO Creative City of Design and a key destination for Visit Malaysia 2026. This initiative encourages exploration of the city, strengthens connections with the wider community and contributes to the local visitor economy.
