PREVIEW | NAT 2026
NAT 2026
California is hosting UCA’s latest North American Tunneling conference (NAT 2026), in Anaheim, over June 15-18. The packed programme is to hold awards and offers both an exhibitor hall and busy tracks of technical presentations on projects from across the nation, and beyond
It is good to get an idea of the many activities on offer at major tunnelling events internationally. A vital gathering, in June, is the North American Tunneling conference (NAT 2026), being held in Anaheim, California, over four days in mid-June. NAT 2026 is organised by the Underground
Construction Association (UCA), a division of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME). The bi-annual event is a conference, exhibition and much else, welcoming tunnellers from across the US, Canada, Mexico, the wider Americas and internationally. Opportunities for education and meetings are many
with the schedule busy throughout the event, running over June 15-18 and which has multiple key sponsors (see box on pages 29-30). To begin, there are Short Courses on June 15. There are
two full-day course options on offer: TBMs; Shotcrete. While these dominate the first day, the following are also scheduled: Civil Underground Teach the Professor Workshop; Owners Forum; and, the UCA Scholarship & Mentor Programme Orientation. The second day of NAT 2026 begins with the
The official conference hotel and venue, the Anaheim Marriott . PHOTO CREDIT: MARRIOTT BONVOY
Women in Tunneling Breakfast and then the Technical Programme gets underway, offering different themes in parallel tracks over three days (June 16-18) and covering the bulk of NAT 2026.
The Exhibitor Hall is open all through the event with many companies taking stands (see box panel).
SHORT COURSES The two Short Courses available, at up to US$600 each, on the first day of NAT 2026 are: ● TBM Tunneling Fundamentals: Principles, Practices, and Trends
● Shotcrete in Underground Construction Course descriptions say the TBM course is to bridge
the knowledge gap for those relatively new to this method of excavation, including public clients. Practical insights are to be given by practitioners. Technical areas of instruction for the TBM course are: Rock Mechanics & Geotechnical Considerations; Lining Methods; TBM Types, Sizes & Performance; Surface Setup& Logistics; Excavation Management, including Mucking Out; Special Considerations; Shafts and Cross Passages; Supply Logistics; Tools, Wear & Monitoring; Sustainability and Plant Rebuilds; Guidance & Data Management; and, Future. Proposed instructors on this course are from
Herrenknecht, VMT, H+E Logistics, Techni-Metal Systems, and Delve Underground. The Shotcrete course is intended also for a wider audience across the supply chain, including clients and students.
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June 2026
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