Show programme
The show programme brings the practical side of construction and design onto the floor, with sessions that suit both site-led teams and specification-focused visitors. Use this page to decide whether you want hands-on demo content, formal CPD talks, or a mix of both during your time at the expo.
A programme built for working trade visitors
Interbuild Africa runs a live programme alongside the exhibition floor so visitors can do more than walk stands and collect brochures. Builders, architects, quantity surveyors and developers use the sessions to compare methods, hear technical discussion and see products or systems handled in a more realistic setting.
Some visitors arrive with a tight brief and target only one stream. Others split the day between stands and scheduled content, especially when they need product information as well as broader project context. The programme is there to help both types of visitor get more use out of the show.
- Live build demos focus on method, sequencing, installation and on-floor practical detail.
- CPD talks focus on specification, regulation, material decisions and professional discussion.
- The programme suits early-stage planning as well as active projects already moving through procurement.
How to choose between demos and talks
The best route depends on the kind of decisions you need to make. If your questions are about handling, fixings, tolerances or how components meet on site, the demo stream will usually give you more. If your questions are about compliance, design intent, lifecycle decisions or coordination across disciplines, the CPD stream may be the better place to start.
Many visitors do both, but not in equal measure. A site manager and an architect often walk away with very different notes from the same show day, which is exactly how it should be.
- Choose live build demos if you need to see materials, tools or systems used in sequence.
- Choose CPD talks if you need structured discussion around technical topics and professional practice.
- Choose a mixed plan if your project team covers design, costing and site delivery.
- Choose shorter visits to each stream if you still want time on exhibitor stands.
What live build demos are good for
Live build demos are useful when printed literature is not enough. Seeing a roofing detail assembled, a glazing component fitted, or a product used in relation to adjoining materials gives visitors clearer information than a static display can provide. That matters when a decision affects labour, programme risk or rework on site.
Demonstration content tends to help contractors, foremen, technical sales teams and developers who want a practical read on buildability. It also helps design teams who need to understand what installers deal with once drawings move into real conditions, especially where coastal humidity, water ingress, sealant choice or movement joints can affect long-term performance.
If you are comparing systems across more than one stand category, demos can narrow the field quickly. You may not leave with a final specification there and then, but you will usually leave with sharper questions and fewer assumptions.
What CPD talks add to the visit
CPD talks give the programme a different kind of value. They create room for technical interpretation, project lessons and broader industry discussion that does not fit neatly into an exhibitor stand conversation. For professional visitors, that often means a better grasp of how products and systems fit into regulation, procurement and coordinated design work.
Architects and quantity surveyors often use these sessions to test product claims against specification reality. Developers may use them to compare implications for cost planning, maintenance and tenant expectations. Builders can use them to pick up issues that may only surface later on site if they are ignored at planning stage.
The talks are not a substitute for seeing products in person. They work best when paired with time on the floor, so a visitor can move from technical discussion to direct comparison with exhibitors.
A practical way to map your day
Visitors who get the most from the programme usually plan in blocks instead of trying to see every session. Johannesburg traffic, parking pressure around large events and the sheer size of a construction expo mean it helps to be selective from the start. Pick the topics that tie most closely to current work, then leave room for floor visits around them.
- Start with the stream closest to your immediate project need.
- Leave space before or after a session to visit related sector stands.
- Keep your team roles in mind so technical, commercial and site questions are all covered.
- Use the show floor after a talk to compare what you heard with what exhibitors are presenting.
- If you attend as a group split up for part of the day, then compare notes later.
This approach is often more useful than trying to move as a full group all day, and it cuts down on missed conversations with exhibitors.
Using the programme with the rest of the show
The programme is one part of the wider event, not a separate add-on. A visitor interested in roofing can pair a demo or talk with time in the building materials and roofing sector. Someone working on façade decisions can move between glazing sessions and relevant exhibitor stands. Teams reviewing digital coordination or controls can connect the programme with the design software and smart buildings area.
If you are deciding whether to exhibit or visit, the programme also gives a good picture of the audience priorities on the floor. Exhibitors often use it to understand where trade attention is gathering across materials, compliance, plant access and design technology.
For attendance questions or exhibitor planning linked to the programme, use our contact form. Session schedules and hall details are confirmed through the registered visitor and exhibitor process.
What our Construction customers say
Verified Google reviews
Questions we get asked
Can I attend both live build demos and CPD talks at the same show?
Yes. Many visitors build a mixed day that includes scheduled sessions as well as time on the exhibition floor.
Are programme details available before I register?
Core programme information is published on the site, while confirmed scheduling and show details are issued through the visitor and exhibitor process.
Which type of session suits quantity surveyors best?
Quantity surveyors often get the most from CPD talks, but live demos can also help where installation method or system complexity affects costing and risk.
Tell us about the job
Send sizes, materials and where you are through our contact form, and we will come back with the practical options.
Open the contact form