ETRECA 2026: Real Estate Leaders Gather to Shape the Future of the Sector
The fifth edition of The Economic Times Real Estate Conclave & Awards (ETRECA) 2026 recently took place in Mumbai, bringing together senior policymakers, developers, investors, and industry experts to discuss the most pressing trends and challenges in India's property sector. This annual event serves as a platform for knowledge exchange and the recognition of excellence in the real estate industry.
During the full-day event, participants engaged in discussions covering a wide range of topics, including housing affordability, urban redevelopment models, sustainable development, the evolving nature of office spaces, capital markets, and technology adoption in real estate operations. Experts highlighted that urban land scarcity, financing gaps, and outdated redevelopment norms are major challenges, and stressed the importance of resident-centric planning, cluster-led redevelopment, and bank-supported financing for inclusive housing solutions.
One of the key areas of focus was the evolving demand patterns for housing, particularly in tier-1 and tier-2 cities. Participants discussed how global capability centres are influencing the office leasing market and the growing role of REITs, private equity, and other funding channels in meeting development requirements in both commercial and residential segments.
The conclave also provided a stage to recognize industry achievements through The Economic Times Real Estate Awards (RECA) 2026. Entries underwent rigorous evaluation, including independent screening, shortlisting, and jury assessment, to ensure credibility. Awards were presented to outstanding projects and individuals in residential, commercial, mixed-use, shared spaces, and PropTech innovation categories. Leadership categories such as Lifetime Achievement, Woman Achiever, Young Achiever, and Person of the Year recognized individuals who have significantly contributed to the sector's growth.
Among the top recognitions, M R Jaishankar, Executive Chairman of Brigade Group, received the Lifetime Achievement Person of the Year award for his long-term contributions to large-scale real estate development in India. Adani Realty was named Developer of the Year, and Eldeco Infrastructure & Properties received jury recognition in the same category. Individual leadership honours went to Pradeep Aggarwal of Signature Global (India) Ltd., Preeti Chheda of K Raheja Corp Investment Managers for Woman Achiever of the Year, and Karan Virwani, CEO of WeWork India, as Young Achiever of the Year.
Shared workspace brands, including WeWork India, Table Space, and Awfis Space Solutions, were recognized for their excellence in flexible workspaces. PropTech awards went to Square Yards and HouseEazy. Residential and mixed-use projects from developers such as Godrej Properties, Casagrand, Smartworld, and Rustomjee received accolades. Commercial real estate leaders, including DLF, Mindspace REIT, and Capitaland India, were honoured for their notable developments that have enhanced urban infrastructure and workplace experiences.
The event underscored the importance of combining innovation, finance, sustainability, and design to meet India's evolving urban and real estate needs. Experts emphasized that adapting to changing market trends, leveraging technology, and adopting modern redevelopment models are essential to creating resilient and future-ready urban spaces.
Overall, ETRECA 2026 provided a comprehensive overview of the current state and future prospects of the real estate sector in India, fostering collaboration and innovation among industry leaders.
