The Living Future Conference seeks bold ideas and breakthrough solutions that advance a just and regenerative built environment.

We invite architects, engineers, developers, policymakers, manufacturers, and change agents from around the world to co-create what’s next for regenerative buildings, products, and organizations.
Share your insight. Inspire action. Help shape the future.
Submit your proposal and be part of building a Living Future.

Event Dates & Location:
Late April, early May 2026 (exact date to be announced soon) | Seattle, WA USA

Due Date:
Proposals due September 21, 2025

Start Proposal

CONFERENCE THEME & TRACKS

Designing the Next 100 Years

For 20 years, the Living Future Conference has convened the boldest minds in architecture, development, engineering, and policy to reimagine what’s possible. Now, in this milestone year, we turn our sights forward - 100 years forward.

Designing the Next 100 Years challenges today’s leaders to stretch their vision: to consider how the choices we make now will shape lives, landscapes, and legacies for generations to come.

In an era defined by climate disruption, volatile markets, accelerating AI, and cultural transformation, the built environment demands more than yesterday’s sustainability solutions. It calls for long-arc thinking, deep collaboration, and design leadership rooted in purpose and place. If you're shaping places, driving policy, influencing systems, or investing in the future - this is where you belong.

The first 20 years laid the foundation - now let’s design a 100-year legacy that brings our shared vision of a just and regenerative world to life.

Track #1: Radical Climate Action

What would it take to make climate-positive design the baseline for every project?

Shifting from net-zero to net-positive futures goes beyond carbon neutrality to explore regenerative climate strategies like carbon drawdown, carbon positive materials, district scale solutions, and climate-positive buildings that give more than they take.

Track #2: Thriving Communities

How do we design buildings that dismantle injustice and nurture belonging and wellbeing?

Designing for health and equity goes beyond technical specs to explore community-led development, culturally responsive architecture, inclusive engagement, housing justice, Red List free materials, and public health integration.

Track #3: Nature as Co-Designer

Must we always trade nature for progress - or is it time to demand both?

Restoring ecosystems and ecosystem services through the built environment centers nature not just as a backdrop, but as an active participant in design. This track explores biophilic placemaking, biomimicry, biodiversity corridors, and radical integration of ecology into urban life.

Track #4: Catalysts of Transformative Change

What innovations and systemic shifts will rewrite the rules of development?

Let’s take a deeper look at the innovative tools, policies and financial models that are successfully driving change and celebrate the bold innovations -  in technology, governance, and finance - that can dismantle barriers and accelerate a regenerative future at scale.

Start Proposal

ABOUT

Living Future Conference

This is where the most ambitious minds in regenerative design connect and shape what’s next. It’s the flagship event of Living Future and the global stage for breakthrough ideas, game-changing partnerships, and the boldest solutions for climate, health, equity, and nature in the built environment.

If you’re driving transformative change - or ready to - this is your moment.

Living Future Conference Call for proposals

Everything You Need To Know

How to Submit a Proposal

1) Review the Call for Proposals, including theme, tracks, important dates, what we're looking for, etc.

2) Click "Start Proposal" anywhere on this page to go to the Proposal Submission Center

3) Enter speaker(s) and session details:

  • Speaker bios, headshots, and contact info
  • Session title, description, and focus area
  • Four learning objectives + audience learning level
  • Description of interactive elements

4) Accept terms & policies

5) Review and submit your proposal

Who Should Participate

We welcome submissions from professionals and practitioners in architecture, engineering, construction, urban planning, real estate, manufacturing, product innovation, policy, business, academia, and advocacy. First-time speakers, emerging leaders, and underrepresented voices are especially encouraged. 

Please note that Living Future staff do not participate in the Call the Proposals and must decline any invitation to be included on a session proposal.

Session Format

All sessions are 60 minutes, in-person only, and must be designed to engage, not just inform. Each session may include up to four speakers and should include:

  • Brief presentation(s)
  • At least one interactive element (e.g., poll, small group discussion, design activity)
  • Guaranteed time for audience Q&A

Living Future sessions are known for being unconventional, participatory, and inspiring. Think beyond the standard panel.

Speaker Registration Benefits

If selected, speakers are responsible for registering for the conference. We offer a discounted speaker rate, with additional savings for early registration:

  • 50% off through December 31
  • 35% off through March 31
  • 20% off through April 15

You have two options for participation:

  • Session-Only Access: Attend just your session at no cost (no access to other programming).
  • Discounted Full Access: Take advantage of staged speaker rates above.

Past speakers have found Living Future to be an unparalleled platform to showcase bold ideas, connect with a high-quality, mission-aligned audience, and build meaningful partnerships that advance regenerative change.

Important Dates

July 28, 2025: Call for Proposals opens

September 21, 2025: Proposals due by 11:59 PM PT (no extensions)

September – October 2025: Review period

By end of October 2025: Acceptance notifications sent

November 2025: Sessions and speakers announced on event website

Late April, early May 2026 (exact date to be announced soon): Living Future 2026 in Seattle, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

We keep our Frequently Asked Questions updated throughout each Call for Proposals cycle here.

Contact Info

Good news! 90% of the questions we receive are already answered in the Frequently Asked Questions above - check it out!

If you have reviewed the FAQ's, and still have questions or need support, we're here to help. Please reach out to the Living Future Events Team:
events@living-future.org

Start Proposal

Tips for Preparing a Strong Proposal

Follow this guidance and best practices to help reviewers quickly see the value of your session and boost your chances of scoring high, getting selected, and filling the room at the conference.

PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

Expertise & Perspective

Relevant experience and subject matter insight. Strong sessions include speakers from multiple organizations, backgrounds, and lived experiences.

Interactivity & Engagement

We’re not looking for passive panels. Prioritize activities that spark conversation and participation.

Inspiration

Can your session ignite bold ideas and new thinking? If your proposal inspires us, it will likely inspire our audience.

Content Value

Sessions must advance the regenerative movement. Be clear about the value you're offering and why it matters now. Strong preference given to open-source or widely accessible tools and solutions over proprietary approaches.

CRAFTING PROPOSALS THAT RISE TO THE TOP

An intriguing session title

If you want to increase attendance at your session, the best way to do it is by piquing reader interest with a compelling session title. It’s your first - and possibly only - chance to make an impression on a potential attendee.

Which of these two session titles makes you want to read the session description to learn
more?

  • What’s Next for Climate Policy in the US
  • The Big Changes You Need to Know About in US Climate Policy

The second title works better because it leverages the curiosity gap - big changes are coming, but what are they? - and, using “you,” speaks directly to the reader.

Once you’ve created curiosity in your reader, you increase the likelihood of them reading further down into your session description.

Compelling session descriptions

Session descriptions often fall into the trap of sounding generic - don’t let yours be one of them. A strong description not only reinforces your session’s relevance but helps reviewers and attendees quickly understand the value.

  • Be specific: Who is this session for? What does this session offer?
  • Start strong: Lead with the “why now?” - what makes this topic urgent or inspiring in today’s context.
  • Be concrete: Mention unique takeaways -frameworks, tools, case studies, perspectives, or breakthroughs.
  • Avoid fluff: Skip buzzwords and vague promises. Show, don’t tell.
  • Remember: Your learning objectives appear alongside your description, so use this space to highlight what’s engaging or distinctive.

Make it easy for reviewers to score your session highly by writing with clarity, precision, and purpose.

Clear learning objectives

Your learning objectives should list what conference goers will be able to do as a result of participating in your session in a way that could be observed and measured. For example, which of these two learning objectives works better?

After attending the session, participants will be able to:

  1. Increase average daily attendance at their schools by 10 percent.
  2. Identify five ways to improve average daily attendance.

The first one makes a bold promise it probably cannot keep, and it’s ultimately misleading because the connection between the session and any increase in attendance cannot be measured. The second learning objective meets the characteristics laid out above.

Ready to Get Started?

Start your Living Future Conference session proposal today!

Start Proposal

If you have questions or need support, reach out to the Living Future Events Team: events@living-future.org