Shaping the Future of University Estates & Facilities

Important Information! Congress will now take place on 20–21 October 2026 in Manchester.

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The European Universities Estates Congress is a new conference and networking event dedicated to real estate and facilities management in higher education. Bringing together professionals from across Europe, the UK and beyond, the Congress provides a unique platform to exchange knowledge, share best practices and explore innovative solutions to the challenges facing university leaders today.

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Originally scheduled for Amsterdam in January 2026, the Congress will now take place on 20–21 October 2026 in Manchester.

This change has been made in response to the ongoing economic constraints facing the higher education sector across Europe and the UK.

While the location and date have changed, the essence of the Congress remains the same.

It will continue as a dedicated two-day, pan-European conference, bringing together those responsible for real estate, facilities management and campus development across the university sector.

The programme remains unchanged – featuring the same expert speakers and insightful sessions, offering cross-border comparison and collaboration, and addressing key challenges such as sustainability, refurbishment & retrofit, good estate management, and technology and AI.

The event will be co-located with Education Estates® – the UK’s leading learning environments event, allowing for focused discussion while benefiting from the energy and connections of a broader event already established over 14 years as a key meeting place for the UK’s education community.

The European Universities Estates Congress will bring together those responsible for real estate, facilities management and campus development across Europe to collaborate, identify common challenges and discover solutions that transcend borders. 

Organised in collaboration with the University Design Forum and shaped by an expert Advisory Group, the Congress offers a dynamic platform to exchange ideas, share best practice and explore shared challenges.

We look forward to welcoming our pan-European community to Manchester in October 2026.

The Congress is organised by STEP CONNECT2, organisers of Education Estates®, the leading learning environments event in the UK, held in partnership with the Department for Education.  STEP CONNECT2 also organises four more nationally focused education events; Learning Places Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Government, Education Buildings Wales in partnership with the Welsh Government, Learning Environments Northern Ireland in partnership with the Department of Education and Education Buildings Ireland in partnership with the Government of Ireland, as well as several conferences that focus on key areas of interest for the sector.  

The event is held in collaboration with the University Design Forum - an independent organisation with a membership of over 190 organisations, which exists to promote high-quality design in university campuses, buildings and facilities, in the knowledge that this enhances teaching, learning, research and public engagement.