The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) has announced the 24th Green Building Congress 2026, to be held from 26–28 November 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. The three-day international conference and exhibition will bring together over 3,000 delegates, 10,000 business visitors, 150+ thought leaders and 100+ institutional and industry partners to advance India’s sustainable built environment agenda.

Being organised under the theme “Forging a Sustainable Future-Do Good, Feel Good. Building Greener Worlds Together,” the Congress comes at a landmark moment as IGBC completes 25 years of driving India’s green building movement. India today has over 20,620 IGBC-registered projects covering 16.55 billion sq. ft., establishing its position as the world’s second-largest green building market.

Established by CII in 2001, IGBC has been instrumental in mainstreaming sustainable construction across residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and infrastructure sectors. With 33 Green and Net Zero rating systems, IGBC continues to provide a comprehensive framework for advancing resource-efficient, environmentally responsible and healthier built environments across the country.

C Shekar Reddy, National Chairman, CII Indian Green Building Council and Chairman, Green Building Congress 2026, said: “India’s green building movement has evolved from an emerging idea into a nationwide transformation over the last 25 years. With more than 20,620 registered projects covering 16.55 billion sq. ft., India has established itself as the world’s second-largest green building market. The impact is increasingly measurable: IGBC-rated buildings are estimated to save about 64 billion units of electricity and 199 billion litres of water, while avoiding around 53 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year. Green buildings can also deliver tangible benefits to communities through healthier living environments, better access to essential resources and more resilient neighbourhoods. As India faces rising temperatures and growing cooling requirements, buildings must become a central part of the solution to climate risk and energy security. The government should actively encourage the mainstreaming of green building practices across cities and communities. The next phase must move beyond individual green buildings to Net Zero buildings, campuses, townships and sustainable cities. Green Building Congress 2026 will bring together stakeholders from across the country and the world to turn this ambition into practical, measurable action.”

Accelerating the Transition Towards Net Zero

A central focus of the Congress will be accelerating India’s transition towards Net Zero buildings and climate-resilient cities. IGBC’s Mission on Net Zero, launched in 2021, focuses on four key dimensions-Net Zero Energy, Net Zero Water, Net Zero Waste and Net Zero Carbon. More than 350 organizations in the building sector have committed to achieving Net Zero status for their new and existing buildings.

The deliberations will address energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, water conservation, waste management, sustainable materials, circularity and lifecycle carbon reduction. The Congress will also highlight the role of green buildings in strengthening India’s energy security by moderating electricity demand through efficient building design, advanced cooling systems, smart energy management and renewable energy integration.

M Anand, Executive Director, CII Indian Green Building Council, said: “Over the last 25 years, IGBC has continuously strengthened its green building framework to respond to the evolving needs of India’s built environment. Our portfolio of 33 Green and Net Zero Rating Systems addresses virtually every building typology and covers both new green building projects and existing buildings – from homes and offices to factories, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, airports and large infrastructure projects. The future of sustainable development will increasingly be defined by Net Zero performance, climate resilience and healthier indoor environments. Achieving this will require efficient design, renewable energy integration, responsible resource management and the retrofitting of existing buildings. Technologies such as AI, IoT-enabled monitoring, smart building management systems, advanced cooling and low-carbon materials will further improve building performance. Green Building Congress 2026 will provide an important platform to share expertise, showcase innovation and translate sustainability commitments into measurable impact.”

Green Finance to Unlock Investments in Sustainable Buildings

Green Building Congress 2026 will also place significant emphasis on the role of green finance in accelerating the adoption of sustainable buildings and infrastructure. While green buildings offer long-term economic benefits through lower electricity and water consumption, improved resource efficiency and reduced operational costs, access to affordable financing remains an important enabler for wider adoption.

The Congress will explore opportunities for financial institutions, housing finance companies, developers and investors to strengthen green financing mechanisms, including preferential interest rates for certified green projects, green home loans, green mortgages, green bonds and ESG-linked investments.

Innovative financing models and financial incentives can help bridge the gap between initial investment and long-term operational savings, making green buildings more affordable and accessible to homebuyers, businesses and institutions. With India’s real estate and infrastructure sectors poised for continued growth, sustainable construction also presents significant business opportunities for manufacturers of green building materials, energy-efficient equipment, renewable energy technologies, smart building systems and low-carbon construction solutions.

Mumbai to Spotlight Maharashtra’s Green Building Leadership

The Government of Maharashtra is a partner in the Congress and is actively encouraging stakeholders across government, industry and the wider built-environment ecosystem to advance green building practices. Its support underscores the State’s commitment to making sustainability central to Maharashtra’s development agenda. Hosting the Congress in Mumbai further highlights Maharashtra’s growing contribution to India’s green building movement. As India’s financial and commercial capital, Mumbai has an important role in demonstrating how urban development and infrastructure expansion can be aligned with sustainability.

With the Government of Maharashtra encouraging all stakeholders to embrace sustainable development, the Congress will provide an important platform to build partnerships and accelerate action. Green buildings offer significant opportunities to address the city’s challenges relating to energy consumption, water security, waste management, urban heat and climate resilience. The focus will extend to new developments as well as retrofitting existing buildings, metro infrastructure, railway stations, healthcare facilities and public buildings.

Chitranjan Kaushik, Chairman, IGBC Mumbai Chapter and Co-Chair, Green Building Congress 2026, while welcoming the delegates, said: “Mumbai and Maharashtra are uniquely positioned to lead India’s transition towards sustainable urban development. With significant investments in housing, transport and public infrastructure, the State has an opportunity to embed sustainability in development decisions and accelerate the green retrofitting of existing buildings. The Congress will bring together policymakers, developers and technology providers to build partnerships and advance green building practices across the region.”

Prashant Khandelwal, Co-Chair, IGBC Mumbai Chapter, in his vote of thanks reiterated the role of Maharashtra and Mumbai in helming the green building movement in India. He said: “Green buildings are a growth strategy for Mumbai and Maharashtra, improving resource efficiency, lowering operating costs and strengthening resilience to climate risks. The IGBC Mumbai Chapter will continue working with stakeholders to make green building practices accessible across developments of all sizes, including existing buildings. We invite all stakeholders to join us at the Congress and help shape India’s green and Net Zero transformation.”

Three Days of Knowledge, Innovation and Partnerships

The Congress will feature a three-day international conference and Green Building Expo, showcasing innovative products, materials, technologies and solutions from Indian and international companies. The programme will include technical sessions, expert deliberations, product launches, B2B meetings and opportunities for international knowledge exchange.

The IGBC Project Awards 2026 and IGBC Leadership Awards 2026 will recognize excellence and leadership in sustainable building practices. Other initiatives will include the IGBC Green Design Competition, Performance Challenge for Green Built Environment, Green Your School Programme and Green Education Conclave.

As IGBC marks 25 years of impact, Green Building Congress 2026 will seek to build on this momentum by strengthening collaboration between government, industry, financial institutions, technology providers and the wider building ecosystem. The objective is to accelerate the adoption of green and Net Zero solutions and position India as a global leader in sustainable buildings and cities.