The International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA) has officially opened submissions for the 2026 ITA Tunnelling Awards, inviting the global tunnelling community to showcase projects, innovations and individuals that are shaping the future of underground infrastructure.

Now firmly established as one of the industry’s most prestigious recognitions, the awards highlight outstanding achievements across the sector — from major infrastructure projects and technical breakthroughs to emerging talent and visionary thinking about the use of underground space.

A Global Celebration in Lisbon

The 2026 awards will take place as part of a three-day event in Lisbon, Portugal, from 4–6 November 2026, organised in partnership with the Portuguese Tunnelling and Underground Space Commission (CPT). The event will also coincide with CPT’s 20th anniversary, adding further significance to this year’s gathering of international tunnelling professionals.

The programme will bring together project owners, engineers, contractors, researchers, equipment suppliers and young professionals from around the world to exchange ideas, recognise industry achievements and celebrate innovation in underground construction.

Eight Award Categories

Entries for the 2026 edition are now being accepted across eight award categories, covering a broad spectrum of the tunnelling sector. Eligible projects must have completed their major civil engineering works between 1 March 2023 and 1 April 2026, in accordance with the official criteria.

The categories include:

• Major Project of the Year (Over €500 million)
  Recognising large-scale underground infrastructure projects that demonstrate excellence in engineering, safety, sustainability, delivery strategy, stakeholder engagement and overall project value.
• Project of the Year (€100–500 million)
  Celebrating significant infrastructure developments that showcase strong technical design, construction management, innovation and environmental responsibility.
• Project of the Year (Up to €100 million)
  Highlighting smaller projects that provide notable benefits through engineering ingenuity, community impact or technical achievement.
• Project of the Year – Rehabilitation, Upgrading and Repurposing
  Acknowledging projects that revitalise existing underground assets through modernisation, improved safety, innovative engineering solutions or new operational uses.
• Technical Innovation of the Year
  Recognising new engineering methods, technologies or processes that advance underground construction and have demonstrated successful application in practice.
• Product or Equipment Innovation of the Year
  Honouring equipment, machinery or tools that significantly enhance industry capabilities, improve safety or deliver measurable performance improvements.
• Elevated Thinking – Underground: Shaping the Future
  Celebrating visionary approaches that highlight the broader societal, environmental and strategic value of underground space.
• Young Tunneller of the Year
  Recognising talented professionals born on or after 1 January 1989 who have demonstrated leadership, technical excellence and meaningful contributions to the tunnelling sector.

Rigorous International Judging

All entries will be reviewed through a transparent and rigorous evaluation process conducted by an international panel of judges. The panel brings together leading experts from across the tunnelling community, including project owners, contractors, consultants, engineers and academics.

Submissions Now Open

Organisations and individuals from across the industry — including contractors, engineering consultancies, equipment manufacturers, research institutions and project owners — are encouraged to submit nominations.

The deadline for submissions is 30 June 2026.

Setting New Benchmarks for the Industry

Each year, the ITA Tunnelling Awards provide a global platform to recognise projects and people pushing the boundaries of underground engineering. Winners gain international visibility while helping establish new standards for innovation, sustainability and technical excellence.

With the added milestone of CPT’s 20th anniversary, the 2026 awards in Lisbon are expected to be a standout edition, highlighting how underground infrastructure continues to play a critical role in building resilient, sustainable and future-ready cities.

For further information please visit https://awards.ita-aites.org/ 11/26.