AFTES International Congress 2026 in Lille

The Congrès International de l'AFTES returns to Lille Grand Palais in 2026, bringing together engineers, contractors, manufacturers and infrastructure operators working on tunnels and underground space. Held every three years, the event pairs a technical conference programme with a trade exhibition of machinery, materials and civil engineering solutions. The French Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (AFTES) hosts the meeting as a reference point for the French-speaking and wider European sector. Alongside the conference, the exhibition gives attendees hands-on access to excavation equipment, lining systems, ventilation technology and consultancy services tied to underground works. For visitors travelling to Lille for the congress, the venue sits in the Euralille district next to Lille Europe station and a short walk from the historic centre. A cluster of business hotels around Boulevard des Cités-Unies makes it easy to stay within walking distance of the exhibition halls.