4 Landscape Architecture & Sustainability Trends to Watch in 2026

The landscape architecture industry heads into 2026 with a sharper focus on climate responsibility, smarter technology, and resilient urban design. Firms are rethinking materials, workflows, and long-term ecological impact. While the core principles of good landscape design stay steady, the tools and strategies shaping the work are shifting fast.

Let’s look at four trends to watch in 2026 for the landscape architecture and design industry.

CLIMATE ACTION PLANS SET THE TONE

The updated ASLA Climate and Biodiversity Action Plan is driving much of the current momentum in the United States. The American Society of Landscape Architects has committed to a variety of sustainable strategies — such as greenhouse gas emission reductions, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration — in project design by 2040, which puts pressure on firms to rethink how they source materials, measure impact, and manage projects from start to finish. The plan also puts inclusion and diversity front and center, connecting sustainability with equity.

In the UK, the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan (CBGDP) sets a net-zero target for 2050. The plan was published in October 2025. The government has committed to a variety of policies designed to reduce emissions. The established biodiversity net gain (BNG) mandate additionally requires designers to consider their environmental impact. These government acts position the UK as a world leader in reducing negative environmental impact.

Worldwide, organizations are committing to ambitious plans of action. They’re encouraging — and in many cases requiring — more sustainable design strategies. Other organizations include the Landscape Institute in the UK, the Australian and New Zealand Institutes of Landscape Architects, the Canadian Association of Landscape Architects, and the Japan Landscape Architect Union.

Many teams, including ours, are evaluating how tools like Vectorworks can support or align with these goals and help designers meet new expectations. Tools like the Sustainability Dashboard in the latest release underscore this commitment.

BIODIVERSITY, NATIVE PLANTING, AND WATER MANAGEMENT TAKE PRIORITY

Biodiversity and native plantings remain central priorities across the industry. Designers are moving away from resource-heavy approaches and focusing more on ecological fit, long-term health, lower maintenance, and overall better climate sensitivity. Material reuse is gaining traction. Instead of sourcing new stone or lumber, firms are creatively restoring or repurposing what is already available, reducing embodied carbon levels of the project.

Water management is another major trend for 2026. As weather events grow more intense and communities confront higher flood risk and water scarcity, landscape architects are stepping up with design-driven solutions. Rain gardens, bioswales, water retention systems, and other onsite strategies are becoming standard. Professionals are investing time in seminars and research on water management practices, and conversations continue about how Vectorworks can evolve to support this work at an even deeper level.

SENSORS AND TECHNOLOGY MOVE TOWARD THE MAINSTREAM

Sensors that track soil health, water use, and other performance indicators are starting to appear in projects, though the approach is still emerging. Designers see potential in pairing reused materials with sensor technology to better understand how sustainable choices perform over time. While adoption is early, this blend of data and material consciousness may define the next wave of landscape performance analysis.

URBAN PLANNING DOUBLES DOWN ON CLIMATE RESILIENCE

International interest in sponge city concepts is growing. Competitions focused on urban resilience and stormwater management are drawing attention from designers who want to push beyond traditional city planning models. At the same time, drone technology is becoming more relevant. There is real potential for drones to support heat island mitigation efforts, especially through collaborations with companies that specialize in temperature mapping. These partnerships hint at a future where designers can respond to climate data with more precision and speed.

LOOKING AHEAD

The trends shaping 2026 all point to the same idea: landscape architecture is expanding its role in climate resilience. Firms are blending ecological insight with digital tools, focusing on long-term outcomes, and building designs that respond to real environmental pressures. The work is becoming more integrated, more data aware, and more community focused. The next year will push the industry to continue refining these tools and approaches, turning bold goals into clear standards for practice.