IABSE Awards 2026: Winners and Finalists Announced!
The IABSE Awards 2026 honour extraordinary talent and groundbreaking projects that shape the field of bridge and structural engineering. This year’s awards will celebrate excellence across several categories of People and Paper Awards and Projects and Technology Awards, on 13 November 2026, at the Lake Side, Zurich.
We are proud to announce the Winners of the 'People and Paper Awards' and the juried Finalists for the 'Project and Technology Awards'.
If you are planning to attend this star-studded event celebrating structural engineering, or present your company as a sponsor during the IABSE Awards and Gala Dinner, then please find further information here.
International Award of Merit goes to David A. Nethercot, UK
This Award is presented to Prof. David A. Nethercot, UK, for his exceptional career. His scientific and technical works; design and construction achievements; academic career; and contribution to global structural engineering, as well as his mentoring the next generation; which are very remarkable references for the community of structural engineers.
Honorary Membership 2026 is presented to Tina Vejrum, Denmark
This Award is presented to Dr. Tina Vejrum in high appreciation of her outstanding and dedicated services to the Association. As a member of the Executive and Administrative Committees, Tina has been involved in IABSE’s core activities since 2015. Her journey at IABSE started with her involvement with Working Commission 2 Steel. She has contributed to various groups, including the Editorial Board for SEI; Lead Team for Geneva Congress, Chair of the Danish Group of IABSE, and others.
Honorary Membership 2026 is presented to H. H. (Bert) Snijder, The Netherlands
This Award is presented to Prof. H.H.(Bert) Snijder in high appreciation of his outstanding and dedicated services to the Association. H. H. (Bert) Snijder joined IABSE in 1995. He has contributed to the Association in various roles, as a Vice President, SEI Editorial Board Chair, Bulletin Editorial Board, Scientific Committee Chair for two conferences, and many other roles within IABSE.
Early Career Prize 2026 goes to Sébastien Maheux, USA
This Award is presented to Dr. Sébastien Maheux for his outstanding achievements in academia and in structural engineering practice, as well as in promoting IABSE’s mission among young engineers worldwide.
National Group of the Year Award 2026 goes to Japanese Group
This Award is presented to the Japanese Group of IABSE for their remarkable commitment and consistent and innovative programs to engage members and promote the Association's mission within the engineering community.
Full and Semi-Probabilistic Analysis of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Beams in Bending via Machine Learning; byLenganji Simwanda, Miroslav Sykora, Roman Lenner.
Preliminary Report on the Performance of Reinforced Concrete Buildings During the 2024 Noto Earthquake; by Koichi Kusunoki, Yusuke Maida, Hitoshi Shiohara; Lucas Hogan, Alex Shegay, Ryo Kuwabara.
Sustainability, clean energy and carbon neutrality
Structural health monitoring, operation and maintenance
Innovative structures and construction technologies
Advanced structural materials
State-of-the-art design and analysis
Annual Meetings
All Committee and Board members have received an email invitation to join their respective Annual Meetings. Please respond by 7 August 2026. Your timely response will help us organise the meetings smoothly. You will find the meeting schedule here.
We are looking forward to meeting you in Incheon. Thank you.
Pre-Congress Workshops
1. Pre-Congress Workshop: Forensic Engineering Practice Date: 15 September 2026 Click Here.
This workshop introduces the principles and practice of forensic structural engineering through lectures and real-world case studies. Participants will learn practical investigation methodologies, analyse the causes of structural failures, and develop engineering judgement through an interactive case-study session.
2. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) Course In-Person Sessions: 15 September 2026 Online Sessions: Schedule to be announced Click Here.
This blended short course combines online and in-person sessions to present the latest developments in structural health monitoring. Topics include sensing technologies, data acquisition, machine learning, digital twins, and risk-informed infrastructure management, with a focus on practical applications for bridges and other civil infrastructure.
Event Format
The Scientific Programme spans three days and comprises Plenary and Parallel Sessions. Invited Keynote Speakers will deliver presentations during the Plenary Sessions. Accepted papers will be presented in Parallel Sessions, which will also include Special Sessions dedicated to focused topics.
The aim of the symposium is to provide a unique platform for sharing knowledge and research on structural failures, promoting the development of more reliable and resilient structures, as well as sharing knowledge on techniques for strengthening, repairs and renovation of failed structures. There will be opportunities to learn from the experience of others on failures.
Main Topics:
• Causes of Structural Failures
• Investigation Methodologies
• Building Resilience
• Mitigation Strategies
• Standardisation and Codes
Sub-Themes are:
Causes of Structural Failures: Material degradation, Use of defective Materials, Fatigue failures, Design errors and calculation mistakes, Construction defects and poor workmanship, Foundation failures and soil-structure interaction issues, Environmental factors (corrosion, weathering, seismic activity), Overloading and unforeseen load conditions, Human errors and communication breakdowns, Inadequate quality control and supervision, Poor maintenance.
Mitigation Strategies: Retrofitting and strengthening techniques, Early warning systems and monitoring, Risk assessment and management frameworks, Maintenance and inspection protocols, Load path optimization, Use of advanced materials (FRP, high-performance concrete), Structural control systems (dampers, isolators), Reporting of Structural Failures and Near Misses, Emergency response planning.
Investigation Methodologies; Forensic engineering techniques and tools, Non-destructive testing methods (NDT), Structural health monitoring systems, Root cause analysis frameworks, Digital forensics and BIM-based investigation, Case study analysis of major structural failures, Laboratory testing and material analysis, Site investigation and evidence collection.
Standardisation and Codes: Evolution of building codes and standards, International code harmonisation, Lessons learned from failures incorporated into codes, Material specifications and testing standards, Construction quality standards, Documentation and compliance requirements, Future trends in structural standards, Role of regulatory bodies and professional ethics.
Building Resilience: Resilience-based design approaches, Performance-based engineering, Redundancy and robustness in structural systems, Progressive collapse prevention, Adaptive and self-healing structures, Climate change adaptation strategies, Seismic and wind-resistant design, Fire resistance and blast protection, Regulation of Engineering Profession.
The IABSE Diploma is a new form of e-learning program developed by the IABSE Academy Board. The Diploma is intended to serve as “a bridge between university and professional practice” by providing both theoretical and practical knowledge, together with qualifications in specialized fields of structural engineering. The program is designed to help participants strengthen their professional expertise and advance their careers.
The Diploma is aimed at young engineers, graduate students, and practicing engineers seeking to deepen their knowledge in specific areas of structural engineering practice. All activities are conducted online. Lectures are pre-recorded, while live web meetings are limited to thesis supervision and thesis discussions. This flexible format enables participants to complete the program in their spare time without interfering with their ongoing professional responsibilities. Click here to know more ...
On 30 June 2026, IABSE Commission 1 Performance & Requirements held its online meeting, bringing together 22 participants. The meeting was chaired by Ana Mandic Ivankovic, and Vice Chaired by Andre Orcesi. The meeting included updates from the Technical and Executive Committees, the introduction of the new Task Group 1.16 on uncertainties in bridge inspection and monitoring, and progress reports from all active Task Groups. Discussions focused on ongoing SED publications, webinars, Special Sessions for upcoming IABSE events in Incheon, Guwahati and Milan, and other technical activities. Know more about C1 ...
TC Meeting
The TC met on 25 June 2026, which was chaired by Niels Peter Hoej, and Vice-Chaired by Maria Grazia Bruschi, and was attended by Committee and Board Chairs, who presented an update about their recent activities and upcoming projects.
Young Engineers Committee Meeting
On 23 June 2026, IABSE's Young Engineers Committee (YEC), chaired by Sébastien Maheux and vice-chaired by Gledson Tondo, had its first meeting of 2026. During the meeting, the YEC team discussed upcoming events, including the Mentorship Programme in the US. The YEC is also currently evaluating the organisation of an annual Young Engineer Lecture with the winner of the IABSE Early Career Prize. The next meeting of the YEC will take place at the IABSE Congress Incheon 2026.
Young Engineers Mentorship 2 September 2026, New York
Free Registration: Click Here
Mentor: Joseph Burns.
Moderated by Rudolf Starossek, Sebastien Maheux
This is a presentation about the speaker’s journey from an initial interest in the building industry without any knowledge of architects or engineers through 50 years of learning, mentoring and practice. This topic should be motivational for young professionals, especially learning how a successful career can span discipline boundaries and evolve over time as technology advances and innovations change how we design buildings and collaborate.
6th IABSE Young Engineers Colloquium in East Asia – Shanghai 2026
29-31 October 2026, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Papers and Design competition (Deadline: 6 September 2026): Click Here
The 6th IABSE Young Engineers Colloquium (YEC) in East Asia will take place at Tongji University, Shanghai, from 29 to 31 October 2026. The event is jointly organised by the IABSE National Groups of China, Japan, Korea, and the Hong Kong SAR and hosted by Tongji University and the IABSE National Group of China.
Mega Sea Links and Fixed Crossings are among the most complex infrastructure systems in bridge and structural engineering. They often connect major urban regions, islands, economic corridors, and sometimes two separate nations, which requires multidisciplinary planning, cross-border collaboration, environmental stewardship, and lifecycle governance.
Organised by the eLearning Board
in collaboration with IABSE National Groups and Task Groups
Challenges and Innovations in Huanghe Sanxia Bridge, China: 17 July 2026 at 14-15 CET.
The Growth of Structure: Structural Innovation in the Yibin Yiyun Digital Art Centre, China: 31 July 2026 at 14-15 CET.
Challenges in Design & Construction of Caisson Foundations - Few Case Studies: 4 September 2026 at 14-15 CET.
New investigation methods for cables: 9 October 2026, 14-15 CET.
Circular Construction in Steel Structures: The Key Role of Connections: 27 November 2026 at 14-15:30 CET.
IABSE National Group Activities
The National Groups (NG) are, within their field of influence, responsible for providing active support to the Association's objectives. They support IABSE in particular through the nomination of qualified members for election to the different committees of the Association. National Groups Chairs are invited to submit information about their upcoming events: Click Here
Bangladesh & Spain
On 12 June 2026, Laurent Rus, representing the Spanish NG; and Vice President, IABSE, visited Bangladesh for a professional visit and met NG Chair Saiful Amin to discuss National Group activities and encourage papers for the SEI journal. As mentioned by S. Amin, IABSE provides a unique platform for networking and connects engineers from across the globe. Read further here...
USA
On 10 June 2026 the US NG organised a hybrid event at Broadway, NYC, on the topic: Technologies and Platforms for Remote and Autonomous Bridge Inspection. Read further here...
Ecuador
On 5 June 2026, students from Universidad Católica de Cuenca travelled to Quito to observe major building projects under construction. The group was led by IABSE member Pilar Naspud, for a Field Trip to Quito by Students from Universidad Católica de Cuenca. Read further here...
UK
Future of Design: London 2026
24 September 2026, Imperial College London
Newly added 'Competition' is now open, with many prizes. Find more details in link below. Milne Medal Nominations 2026
Nominations are now open for the IABSE British Group Milne Medal, which is awarded for excellence in structural design. Read further here...
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