Malaysia Reinforces Commitment to Future-Ready Cities with ARCHIDEX 2026 Launch

14 January 2026

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s dedication to developing smarter, more sustainable, and future-ready cities was reaffirmed  with the soft launch of ARCHIDEX 2026 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) yesterday.

Returning for its 25th edition under the theme ‘The Bold Future’, ARCHIDEX 2026 will be held from 29 July to 1 August 2026 at MITEC. This milestone marks a significant evolution for the event as Asia’s leading architecture business platform. The upcoming edition will see ARCHIDEX fully consolidated at MITEC, facilitating a larger, more integrated exhibition experience that promotes innovation, collaboration, and economic activity within the built environment sector.

Organised jointly by Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) and C.I.S, ARCHIDEX continues to serve as a vital platform connecting architects, designers, developers, engineers, manufacturers, and policymakers from across the region.

In his speech at the soft launch, C.I.S President Dato’ Vincent Lim highlighted ARCHIDEX's strategic role in the industry and its alignment with national priorities. He stated, “Under the theme ‘The Bold Future’, ARCHIDEX continues to bring together the business of architecture and its allied professionals — connecting industry leaders, enabling trade, and inspiring ideas that will shape our built environment.”

A strategic move reflecting industry growth, ARCHIDEX was previously held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), growing steadily alongside Malaysia’s expanding built environment sector. In 2025, the event reached a turning point when it expanded across two venues, KLCC and MITEC, for the first time, responding to increasing demand from exhibitors and visitors. This year, ARCHIDEX takes its next step by moving entirely to MITEC, allowing the event to scale up significantly in both size and scope.

The 2025 edition attracted over 36,800 visitors from more than 120 countries and regions, reinforcing ARCHIDEX’s position as one of the most influential platforms for the region’s built environment industry. With the move to MITEC, ARCHIDEX 2026 is poised for further growth, with plans to expand to approximately 37,000 square metres of exhibition space, almost a 20 per cent increase, host around 900 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions, and welcome an estimated 40,000 visitors from Malaysia and beyond.

The expanded venue will also allow for the introduction of three new thematic exhibition floors, curated to showcase innovation, lifestyle solutions, and design excellence within the broader ecosystem of the built environment. Dato’ Vincent Lim explained that this transition reflects ARCHIDEX’s maturity and the market’s demands. “The move to a larger venue caters to the industry’s growing appetite and ambitions. More importantly, it enables deeper engagement, clearer zoning, and stronger commercial outcomes for both exhibitors and buyers.”

PAM President Adjunct Professor Ar. Adrianta Aziz reaffirmed the professional and cultural significance of ARCHIDEX within the broader architectural landscape. He emphasised, “PAM’s role in KLAF ensures that ARCHIDEX is not merely an exhibition but a hub of thought leadership. Central to this is our flagship DATUM Conferences, organised by PAM, which has become one of the region’s most esteemed architectural gatherings.”

ARCHIDEX also plays a key role within the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival (KLAF), PAM’s year-round platform for architecture, design, and public engagement. As the festival’s principal industry and business touchpoint, ARCHIDEX complements professional discourse and supports wider city-based initiatives.

Beyond the exhibition halls, ARCHIDEX 2026 will extend its influence into the city with the return of Kuala Lumpur Architecture Week (KLAW), an initiative by ARCHIDEX that activates KL through architecture, arts, and heritage. Now in its second year, KLAW connects industry delegates and the public with Kuala Lumpur’s urban and cultural fabric through curated installations, heritage walks, cultural exchanges, and social programmes.

KLAW 2026 will span from KL Downtown to Petaling Street, activating heritage landmarks such as Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, Medan Pasar, and the River of Life, alongside modern urban spaces with views of Menara 118. Visitors are invited to explore, gather, and engage with Kuala Lumpur’s vibrant cultural scene. By linking the exhibition to the city, KLAW aims to strengthen public engagement while supporting tourism, the creative economy, and the broader visitor economy, aligned with the objectives of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026).

Industry engagement will be further deepened through co-located specialised zones, including Digital @ ARCHIDEX, which will showcase BIM, AI-driven design, smart buildings, and Proptech solutions shaping the future of architecture. A Hospitality Anthology (AHA), in collaboration with BluWater Studio, will explore design narratives and operational innovations within Asia-Pacific’s luxury and lifestyle hospitality sectors.

The World of Works (WoW), returning by popular demand in collaboration with Thinkscape Design Works, will feature the region’s first real-life office simulation, highlighting evolving work cultures and their impact on productivity, wellbeing, and urban life. The ASEAN Fenestration & Technology Exhibition (FENESTEX) will also return for its second edition, reinforcing ARCHIDEX’s commitment to sustainable, energy-efficient building solutions through windows, doors, glass, and façade technologies.

Digital @ ARCHIDEX aligns closely with national initiatives such as Ekonomi MADANI, the National 4IR Policy, MyDIGITAL, and the National Construction Policy, supporting Malaysia’s transition towards smarter buildings and future-ready cities.

Beyond the exhibition, ARCHIDEX 2026 will feature a comprehensive programme designed to foster business growth, thought leadership, and talent development. Initiatives include the DATUM Conferences, Biz Talks and Focus Forums, curated business matching and buyer programmes, the ARCHIDEX Star Awards recognising product excellence and innovation, and ARCHITALENT, supporting emerging design talent.

As Malaysia navigates ongoing urban, environmental, and economic challenges, ARCHIDEX 2026 remains a crucial platform connecting industry, innovation, and opportunity, while extending its influence into the city through initiatives like KL Architecture Week. The event will take place from 29 July to 1 August 2026 at MITEC, reaffirming Malaysia’s commitment to shaping the cities of the future.