Constructions, the market returns to growth in 2026: which segments are driving investments

From the boom in building bonuses to a new market equilibrium

In recent years the construction sector he went through a difficult phase. The introduction of the Superbonus and other tax incentives has generated extraordinary growth, fueling investments, construction sites and demand along the entire supply chain.

Those working in the sector have seen orders increase rapidly, requests and opportunities. At the same time, But, that growth was strongly linked to extraordinary measures that, by their nature, they couldn't last forever.

Il 2025 it represented a moment of transition. With the progressive reduction of incentives, the market recorded a slight decline which for many observers was widely expected. It was not a crisis in the sector, but rather of an adjustment phase after exceptional years.

The data of theANCE Economic Observatory 2026 in fact, they show a sector that is redefining its balance. The difference compared to the past is that today growth no longer depends almost exclusively on tax bonuses, but from more diversified and potentially more stable factors over time.

This change is particularly significant because it marks the transition from growth driven by incentives to demand supported by public investments, urban transformations and new housing needs. A less spectacular path than the Superbonus years, but probably more sustainable in the long run.

Public works and PNRR: the main engine of growth

If there is one element that is supporting the return to growth of the market in 2026, it is undoubtedly the role of public works.

According to analyzes by ANCE, the final phase of implementation of PNRR continues to generate a significant demand for interventions throughout the national territory. These are investments that concern very different areas, but they share a strong impact on the construction supply chain.

Among the most dynamic segments we find mobility infrastructure, the interventions of urban redevelopment, school buildings, strategic public works and projects linked to the modernization of territorial services.

Just look at what happens in many Italian cities. The redevelopment of a railway station, the construction of a new school center or the recovery of a degraded urban area do not generate work only for construction companies. They involve a much broader network of operators.

In fact, each intervention triggers a question of interest building materials, plant engineering, windows and doors, energy efficiency systems, digital technologies, lighting and specialist supplies. It is precisely this multiplier effect that makes the growth of public investments particularly relevant.

As also highlighted by Edilportale, the forecast of increase of construction investments In the 2026 finds one of its main explanations precisely in the push coming from the works financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

For many companies in the supply chain, Therefore, the issue does not only concern the increase in construction sites. It concerns the possibility of inserting oneself into increasingly complex projects, where innovation, sustainability and quality of supplies become decisive elements.

Home and redevelopment: a market that remains central

Alongside public investments, the theme of the home continues to be central to the future of constructions. According to ANCE, the housing issue will have an increasingly greater weight in the coming years. The possible return of a Piano Casa and the difficulties in accessing properties, especially in big cities, are bringing attention to this issue.

We're not just talking about construction. Housing is also an issue linked to the development of territories and the quality of life of people. Today the challenge does not only concern the construction of new homes. In many cities the main point is to recover and enhance existing buildings. Many neighborhoods built in past decades are in need of interventions. Modernization works are needed, energy improvements and spaces better suited to current needs.

In these cases, building from scratch is not always the best choice. Recovering what exists may be a more effective solution. It can reduce costs and limit the consumption of new land. For this reason the urban regeneration continues to be one of the most interesting sectors of the market. The interventions do not only concern individual buildings. They often involve entire neighborhoods. The goal is to improve services, livability and sustainability of urban spaces.

Even theenergy efficiency maintains an important role. The season of large incentives has shortened, but the need to consume less energy remains a priority. Families, businesses and administrations continue to look for solutions to reduce waste and costs. For this reason, interventions on buildings and systems remain a central theme.

In the meantime, the ways of living are also changing. Especially in big cities, new formulas are growing, come student housing, temporary residences, co-living and integrated housing projects. They are solutions that try to respond to different needs. More flexibility, new services and a different way of experiencing spaces.

What opportunities for companies, designers and manufacturers

When it comes to market growth, it is natural to ask which segments are destined to benefit the most. The answer is that the opportunities are not just for large infrastructure companies. The entire supply chain can benefit from this new phase.

For the producers of building materials and building technologies open up interesting perspectives. The increase in public investments and redevelopment interventions are increasing the demand for more efficient solutions, resistant and sustainable.

Companies operating in the finishing and covering sector can also benefit from the growth of urban recovery projects. In these interventions the quality of internal and external spaces becomes increasingly important.

A similar discussion concerns the food sector windows and doors and the building envelope. The energy performance of buildings is now a central element in design. This is driving demand for products capable of improving insulation, efficiency and living comfort.

New opportunities also come fromtechnical lighting and intelligent building management systems. New constructions and redevelopments require integrated solutions. Systems capable of improving comfort and, at the same time, control consumption.

An interesting phase also concerns design and architecture studios. Projects are becoming more complex. Different skills are needed, coordination skills and an increasingly in-depth knowledge of regulations, sustainability and technological innovation.

Even companies specializing in redevelopment can look carefully at the coming years. Many interventions will in fact concern the recovery and transformation of existing buildings. A sector that requires specific technical skills and growing project management skills.

The expected growth for 2026, Therefore, it does not only affect a few large operators. It involves a complex ecosystem, in which each segment can find new opportunities for development.

A scenario to monitor beyond 2026

The market of constructions is entering a different phase compared to that experienced in the years of tax bonuses. The exceptional nature of the Superbonus has left room for a more balanced scenario, where growth depends on a combination of factors: public investments, implementation of PNRR, housing demand, urban redevelopment and evolution of the energy needs of buildings.

According to the analyzes of ANCE and the findings reported by ANSA Economy, the sector still has significant margins for development. However, competitiveness will not depend only on the ability to acquire new jobs.

The companies that manage to stand out will be those capable of innovating processes, products and collaboration models. The ability to integrate different skills, investing in technologies and responding to new market needs will become an increasingly important element.

After years characterized by exceptional and difficult to replicate growth, the sector seems to be moving towards a more mature phase. A phase in which the quality of the projects, innovation and the ability to network along the entire supply chain could count more than the incentives that have driven the market in past years.