WTC 2026 Boasts Strong Turnout in Montreal
The ITA World Tunnel Congress 2026 in Montréal gathered 2,733 participants from 68 countries, combining technical excellence, global collaboration and key decisions shaping the future of the association.
Reflecting on the importance of being physically present, ITA President Andrea Pigorini said: “There is something unique about being here together in Montréal. You can feel the energy, trust and openness that drive real progress — bringing together professionals from diverse affiliations and technical backgrounds. ITA is about connecting people, and at ITA WTC is where collaboration truly comes alive.”
Diverse Technical Program
With 2,733 participants and 231 exhibitors, the ITA World Tunnel Congress 2026 reflected both the scale and diversity of the ITA community.
The Congress opened with a series of keynote lectures, including the prestigious Muir Wood Lecture delivered by Remo Grandori, exploring major trends shaping the future of underground infrastructure, from TBM innovation and sustainable energy to underground urban development and geological disposal, and setting the scene for the week’s technical discussions.
A comprehensive technical program — including more than 250 oral presentations, along with flash presentations and 290 posters — provided a strong platform for knowledge exchange and professional dialogue.
The breadth and quality of the program were highlighted by Scientific Chair Erik Eberhardt: “What stood out to me was not just the volume of contributions, but the diversity of perspectives and the willingness to engage across disciplines. In many ways, this embodied our congress theme of Connecting Communities through Underground Infrastructure—bringing together practitioners, researchers, owners, contractors, and suppliers to learn from one another. The mix of formats, from in-depth presentations to shorter flash innovation talks and posters, created a dynamic and inclusive technical environment.”
Alongside the technical sessions, the exhibition brought together 231 exhibitors showcasing the latest advances in tunneling equipment, digital technologies, materials and engineering services, creating opportunities for delegates to exchange ideas and discover new innovations.
The Congress proceedings, featuring 660 peer-reviewed papers from authors in 51 countries, provide a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in tunneling and underground engineering. The digital proceedings are available here.
ITA Open Session
Among the highlights of the week was the ITA Open Session, including the Think Tank session, which brought together leading voices from across the industry to reflect on future challenges and opportunities. This year’s Think Tank focused on the growing role of artificial intelligence in tunneling, encouraging discussion on both its opportunities and challenges while reinforcing the continuing importance of human expertise and engineering judgement.
The program also featured ITA Working Group reports presented across five parallel thematic sessions, offering delegates a comprehensive overview of ongoing technical work within the association. The format encouraged open dialogue and demonstrated ITA’s role as a space for forward-looking discussion.
All ITA Working Group reports are available on the ITA website.
Key Decisions
Beyond the technical content, the week in Montréal underlined ITA’s strategic priority: strengthening international collaboration — supported by important governance decisions.
At the General Assembly, English was formally adopted as the official language of ITA, a step aimed at strengthening inclusivity, clarity and efficiency in communication across its global membership.
The Assembly also confirmed key leadership appointments: Sindre Log (Norway) was elected ITA Vice President, and Thomas Dalmalm joined the Executive Council, both for three-year terms.
Austria was selected to host the ITA World Tunnel Congress 2029 in Vienna from April 22-26, 2029. Dietmar Bach will serve as Ex Officio member and ITA WTC Correspondent, ensuring continuity between the Association and the organizing team.
Looking Ahead
From the host perspective ITA WTC2026 Chair André Rancourt highlighted both the ambition and the atmosphere of the event: “We wanted Montréal to feel welcoming and dynamic — a place where people could exchange ideas freely. Seeing that happen, across cultures and disciplines, has been incredibly rewarding for all of us involved.”
The Congress concluded with technical visits to Montréal’s Metro Blue Line Extension and the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine immersed tunnel rehabilitation project, giving delegates the opportunity to see major infrastructure projects first-hand.
With renewed leadership, strengthened governance and Vienna confirmed as the next European host, the outcomes of ITA WTC2026 reflect a forward-looking ITA — one that continues to connect expertise across borders and deliver underground solutions for a better world.
