Antwerp to host World Tunnel Congress 2027

The Belgian city of Antwerp has been selected to host the World Tunnel Congress (WTC) 2027.  Set to run 23-29 April, 2027, the event will come to Belgium for the first time and organisers hope it will highlight the nation’s growing influence in the global tunnel and underground construction sector. The announcement was made at the recent World Tunnel Congress 2024 in Shenzhen, China. The Belgian Tunnel Association (ABTUS-BVOTS), in collaboration with the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA), will act as the primary organisers of the event, while AIM Group Belgium has been appointed as PCO. The WTC 2027 is targeting bringing together more than 2,700 experts, researchers, policymakers, and companies from sectors including civil engineering, construction, transportation, and infrastructure. Antwerp Convention Bureau’s CEO, Tadeja Pivc Coudyser said: “We are thrilled to host the World Tunnel Congress 2027. This event not only underscores the strategic importance of our city in the global tunnel and underground construction industry but also highlights the effectiveness of our bureau in bringing international attention to our region.” The bureau will provide ongoing support for the event in 2027 and help organisers maximise all opportunities the city has to offer, as Pivc Coudyser explains: “Through Antwerp’s new brand, ‘The City is Your Venue’, we aim to integrate the vibrancy and cultural richness of our city into every aspect of the congress.” Arnold Dix, president of ITA, said he was looking forward to the event, adding: “A blend of historical heritage, modern technology, innovative engineering, and cultural significance characterises Belgium’s underground infrastructure. I am confident that this event will make a valuable contribution to furthering underground construction worldwide.” Antwerp’s Oosterweel project, with its various tunnel complexes, certainly helped the city’s bid for the Congress. Antwerp Convention Bureau will be exhibiting at IMEX 2024 on Stand E135, where attendees can learn more about the city as well as the bureau’s support of events like the World Tunnel Congress.