RIBA brings back annual conference as RIBA27 at Olympia in July 2027

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is reviving its annual conference as RIBA27, a two-day event with Montgomery Group at Olympia in London on 7 and 8 July 2027.

RIBA said the event, which it described as a new flagship format, would combine a conference programme, continuing professional development (CPD) and networking with a curated industry exhibition. The event website says the conference is accredited by RIBA for CPD.

The 2027 RIBA National Awards will be announced live at the event, RIBA said. According to the event website, the awards will close day one.

Chris Williamson, RIBA President, said: "The former RIBA Annual Conference played a really important role in my own career, bringing people together from across the profession to exchange ideas, challenge perspectives and build lasting connections."

The awards

RIBA announced the 32 National Award winners for 2026 on 9 July 2026 in a news release.

RIBA said projects are judged first for the Regional Awards and then the National Awards, which in turn feed into the Stirling Prize shortlist. In 2026 the Stirling shortlist was announced on 16 July and the Stirling Prize on 15 October.

The venue

The conference will be held in Olympia's newly developed International Convention Centre (ICC), which RIBA said forms part of the venue's £1.3bn transformation.

Olympia said the ICC offers about 3,000 square metres of flexible conference and event space. Its main auditorium on level 1 can host 800-plus guests, a large conference room on level 2 holds up to 400 people theatre-style, and there are six breakout and seminar rooms.

The wider redevelopment is led by Yoo Capital and Deutsche Finance International, according to Olympia. Heatherwick Studio said it developed the masterplan and designed selected buildings and a rooftop route, with SPPARC acting as lead architect for new structures including the music venue, school and hotel.

Olympia said the scheme includes a 4,000-capacity music venue operated by AEG Presents and a 1,575-seat theatre led by Trafalgar Entertainment, which it described as the largest purpose-built theatre in London in 50 years. The venue said it expects to host around 800 events a year once fully operational, support about 7,000 direct jobs and draw annual footfall of about 10 million across the destination.

Heatherwick Studio said Olympia's buildings are opening in stages across 2026 and 2027. The venue first opened in 1886.

The partnership

RIBA said its relationship with Montgomery Group dates back to the organiser's first exhibition in 1895, which focused on the building trades and, according to RIBA, was held in partnership with the institute before later finding a home at Olympia.

Montgomery Group's own history page says the company is named after Henry Greville Montgomery, who in 1895 staged a Building Trades Exhibition at the Royal Agricultural Hall and later Olympia to help struggling West Country clay traders during a depression.

Damion Angus, Chairman and CEO of Montgomery Group, said: "Montgomery Group's first exhibition in 1895 was dedicated to the building industry, so joining forces with RIBA and launching this event at Olympia feels like a wonderful continuation of our story."

Williamson began a two-year term as RIBA President on 1 September 2025, succeeding Muyiwa Oki. He was elected with 45% of votes at the second stage on a turnout of 9.3%, or 4,462 votes.

What happens next

RIBA said details of the conference programme, keynote speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and National Awards activity would be announced in the coming months.

Architects, practices and businesses interested in attending, exhibiting or sponsoring can register their interest at ribaconference.com, RIBA said.