BUILD UP highlights the EUSEW 2026 sessions most relevant to buildings, with a focus on implementation, affordability, and decarbonisation. Public voting for the EUSEW Awards is also open until 31 May, including the new category ‘SMEs Driving Energy Efficiency’.
With more than 50 sessions on the programme, the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) will bring together policymakers, industry, researchers and local stakeholders to discuss how to accelerate the energy transition in Europe, strengthen the resilience of the energy system and ensure clean and affordable energy for all. The agenda is structured around five main thematic strands: Competitive and Secure Energy Union, Energy Affordability, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Framework in the EU and Globally, reflecting the current priorities of European energy policy.
At BUILD UP, we have selected the most relevant sessions for building-sector professionals, focusing on those addressing policy implementation, energy renovation, the integration of renewables, and the new financing models needed to advance the decarbonisation of the building stock.
In the field of energy affordability, the EUSEW 2026 programme places a strong focus on one of the key challenges of the energy transition: ensuring that the decarbonisation of the energy system is socially fair and accessible to all. The selected sessions explore how European policies — from the Social Climate Plans to the implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) — are evolving to address energy poverty, improve access to energy-efficient housing, and mobilise new financing solutions. They also highlight the role of energy communities, the electrification of heating, and innovative models that can reduce costs without increasing the financial burden on households, particularly the most vulnerable.
9 June | 14:30 - 16:00 | Key lessons from the social climate plans on targeting vulnerable households
9 June | 16:30 - 18:00 | Cross-Border Energy Communities and interregional cooperation: fostering the development of energy communities across borders
10 June | 9:30 - 11:00 | Driving down costs: opportunities for competitive heat pump deployment
10 June | 11:30 – 13:00 | The Citizen Energy Package: empowering and protecting consumers for more affordable energy
10 June | 14:30 - 16:00 | Affordable energy efficient housing: past, present and future
10 June | 16:30 - 18:00 | Europe’s powerhouse: energy communities and affordable housing for a just Energy Union
11 June | 11:30 - 13:00 | From policy to practice: inclusive urban energy communities
11 June | 14:00 - 15:30 | Empowering and protecting vulnerable households on the path to decarbonisation
11 June | 16:00 - 17:30 | A new social contract: delivering a fast and fair decarbonisation for EU buildings
The sessions dedicated to renewable energy focus on the key factors that will enable the effective integration of these sources into the European energy system. Beyond technological deployment, they address issues such as grid planning, collaboration between cities and system operators, and the role of public funding in accelerating a more decentralised and resilient energy transition. They also highlight the importance of strengthening the technical and professional skills needed to sustain this growth, as well as promoting new models of local governance that allow cities and communities to play a more active role.
11 June | 9:30 - 11:00 | Unlocking the potential of EU funds to drive a community-led, clean and competitive transition
11 June | 14:00 - 15:30 | Building skills for a competitive renewable energy future
Energy efficiency plays a central role in the selected sessions, with a clear emphasis on moving from regulatory frameworks to their effective implementation on the ground. The focus is on accelerating the renovation of the building stock, improving local energy planning, and mobilising large-scale investments to meet the EU’s climate and energy targets.
Concrete tools are also highlighted — such as renovation passports, energy performance certificates, and new financing models — alongside the importance of reliable data and effective governance structures to support decision-making. These sessions reflect a shift towards a more operational approach, where delivery, financing, and institutional capacity will be key to advancing the decarbonisation of the building sector.
9 June | 14:30 - 16:00 | Plugging the gap: how to make local heating and cooling plans investable
10 June | 9:30 - 11:00 | From transposition to delivery: how local and regional authorities drive public building renovation
10 June | 11:30 - 13:00 | Big, simple, attractive: how energy efficiency contributes to a clean, secure and competitive Union
10 June | 11:30 - 13:00 | What's the story? New narratives for energy transition
10 June | 16:30 - 18:00 | European Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition: scaling up energy efficiency investments through three-party cooperation
11 June | 9:30 - 11:00 | Boosting the potential of building renovations through renovation passports, EPCs, and the SRI
11 June | 14:00 - 15:30 | Local heating and cooling plans: operationalising the EPBD and the Energy Efficiency Directive
This selection highlights some of the most relevant moments of the EUSEW 2026 programme, which features many additional sessions and activities in the full agenda. Further information and registration are available on the official EUSEW platform.
Throughout the week, BUILD UP will serve as a meeting point for the building sector community, offering opportunities to exchange ideas, explore initiatives, and connect with professionals driving the energy transition.
Public voting for the EUSEW Awards 2026 is open from 5 to 31 May. Selected by a high-level jury, this year’s finalists are recognised for advancing Europe’s clean energy transition across three categories: Women in Energy, Local Energy Action, and for the first time, SMEs Driving Energy Efficiency, an award that honours Small and Medium-sized Enterprises that have developed and deployed innovative business or financing models to advance energy efficiency solutions, notably in buildings and industry.
Discover the initiatives and individuals driving innovation, sustainability, and energy efficiency across Europe, and vote for the finalists making the greatest impact.
