en.Wedoany.com Reported - The 2026 World Tunnel Congress of the International Tunnelling Association (ITA) was held in Montreal, Canada, bringing together 2,733 participants from 68 countries to discuss technical cooperation and future decision-making. ITA President Andrea Pigorini stated that the conference allowed individuals from various institutions and professional backgrounds to gather, and the spirit of collaboration truly came alive during the event.
This congress featured 231 exhibitors and a diverse technical agenda, including over 250 oral presentations, lightning talks, and 290 poster displays. The Muir Wood Lecture was delivered by Remo Grandori, covering topics such as tunnel boring machine innovation, sustainable energy, and underground urban development. Scientific Chair Erik Eberhardt noted that the submitted papers reflected diverse perspectives and a strong willingness for interdisciplinary participation, embodying the theme of "Connecting Communities through Underground Infrastructure." The conference proceedings included 660 peer-reviewed papers from 51 countries, covering the latest advancements in tunnelling and underground engineering.
Beyond the technical sessions, the exhibition showcased new achievements in tunnelling equipment, digital technologies, materials, and engineering services. During the ITA Open Session, a think tank meeting was held, focusing on the prospects and challenges of applying Artificial Intelligence in tunnelling engineering, while emphasizing the continued core value of human expertise and engineering judgment. ITA working group reports were presented in five parallel thematic sessions, with the relevant reports publicly available on the ITA website.
In terms of governance, the General Assembly formally adopted English as an official language of the ITA, aiming to enhance inclusivity and efficiency in communication among global members. Sindre Log (Norway) was elected ITA Vice President, and Thomas Dalmalm joined the Executive Committee, both for three-year terms. The congress also confirmed Austria as the host country for the 2029 World Tunnel Congress, scheduled to take place in Vienna from April 22 to 26, 2029, with Dietmar Bach serving as an ex-officio member and correspondent.
ITA WTC 2026 Chair André Rancourt stated that the atmosphere at the Montreal venue was warm and vibrant, providing an excellent platform for cross-cultural and interdisciplinary exchange. Before the congress concluded, participants conducted site visits to the Montreal Metro Blue Line extension and the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine immersed tube tunnel rehabilitation project. With new leadership in place, improved governance structures, and the next European host city confirmed, this congress demonstrated the ITA's ongoing momentum in connecting cross-border expertise and driving industry progress through underground solutions.
