ITA Tunnelling Awards 2026 Opens Nominations for Global Underground Infrastructure Excellence

International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association has opened nominations for the ITA Tunnelling Awards 2026, inviting projects, innovations and professionals from across the global tunnelling and underground construction industry to participate. The awards recognise outstanding achievements that are shaping the future of underground infrastructure and engineering.

The 2026 edition will be organised in collaboration with the Portuguese Tunnelling and Underground Space Commission, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The event will take place in Lisbon from 4 to 6 November 2026, bringing together international experts, project owners, engineers, researchers and young professionals to exchange knowledge and recognise excellence in tunnelling.

Projects nominated for the awards must have completed their major civil engineering works between 1 March 2023 and 1 April 2026. The awards will recognise excellence across eight categories, including Major Project of the Year (over EUR 500 million), Project of the Year for projects between EUR 100–500 million and under EUR 100 million, Rehabilitation and Upgrading Projects, Technical Innovation, Product or Equipment Innovation, the “Elevated Thinking – Underground: Shaping the Future” category and Young Tunneller of the Year.

The association has invited project owners, contractors, engineering consultants, equipment manufacturers, research institutions and innovators worldwide to submit nominations for the awards, which continue to serve as one of the most prestigious recognitions in the tunnelling and underground space sector.