Stone Federation has outlined a full programme of activity for 2026, with a year of seminars, trade shows, networking events and training opportunities planned for members.

The organisation is playing a key role in what we hope is a stone renaissance with a growing interest from architects, interior designers, structural engineers and clients. That interest is not only in the aesthetic qualities of natural stone, but also in its sustainable versatility and its potential role in decarbonising the built environment. Stone Federation’s focus for the year ahead is to build on that momentum by pairing inspiration with practical information and education.

A central tenet of that work will be the continued development of the Guide to Structural Stone, an online resource library that has already been accessed by hundreds of architects, engineers and designers. In 2026, several new chapters are due to be added, including content on testing, reuse and spolia. The guide is intended to provide a growing knowledge base to support the use of natural stone as a mainstream construction material.

Education around structural stone will also be supported by the fourth edition of The Stone Symposium, which is set to bring together leading voices on stone’s sustainability story and further develop the conversation around its structural use.

Alongside this, Stone Federation will continue to grow its sector groups and forums, including the Interiors & Surface Materials Focus Group, Landscape Forum, Stone Heritage Forum and Quarry Forum. These groups are open to all Stone Federation members and are designed to give companies a direct role in shaping the direction and activity of the Federation within their sector.

Training will also be delivered through the Stone Academy, which is planning a range of courses for 2026. These will run from the Industry New Starters course through to specialist training in stone for interiors. All courses are exclusive to Stone Federation members.

The Women in Natural Stone Group (WINS) will also be expanding its programme, building on the success of recent years with a series of networking and education events for women in the industry. These will be hosted across the UK, with details available via the group’s mailing list.

The year will culminate in December with the 2026 Natural Stone Awards. The event is expected to bring together architects, interior designers, clients, local authorities and developers to celebrate outstanding projects from the natural stone sector. Entry for the Awards is now open and will close on Friday 20 March 2026.