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| 10 Jul 2026 | |
| Written by Gaby Vita | |
| Canada | |
| Igs Conferences |
Every four years, the International Conference on Geosynthetics (ICG) brings together the world's leading engineers, researchers, manufacturers, contractors, consultants, asset owners, and academics to explore the latest advances shaping our industry.
From September 13–17, 2026, that community will come together at the Palais des congrès de Montréal for the 13th International Conference on Geosynthetics (13ICG).
This year's conference embraces the theme:
More than just a conference slogan, this theme reflects where our industry has come from and where it is heading.
Legacy celebrates the pioneering research, engineering excellence, and international collaboration that have established geosynthetics as an essential component of modern infrastructure and environmental protection.
Evolution recognizes how materials, design methodologies, standards, and construction practices continue to advance, enabling engineers to solve increasingly complex geotechnical and environmental challenges.
Revolution looks ahead to the transformative technologies shaping the future of geosynthetics, from artificial intelligence and digital engineering to sustainability, resilience, and innovative engineering solutions.
And now, with the full 13ICG program officially launched, delegates can see exactly how those themes will come to life across five packed days in Montréal.
The complete program takes delegates far beyond technical presentations alone.
Across the week, 13ICG will feature more than 250 technical presentations, major named lectures, plenary discussions, featured keynote speakers, special sessions, IGS Technical Committee activities, poster sessions, networking opportunities, Young Member activities, an international exhibition, social events, and five pre-conference Professional Development Courses.
And because multiple sessions run simultaneously, the full online program allows delegates to search and filter sessions and create their own itinerary before arriving in Montréal.
Explore the Full 13ICG Program.
So, what can you expect?
On Sunday, September 13, delegates can choose from five full-day Professional Development Courses, each delivered by internationally recognized experts.
All courses run from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and include lunch, refreshments, and access to the Welcome Plenary and Reception that evening.
Please note that Professional Development Course registration is separate from conference registration. You can select the course you want to attend during the registration process.
Delegates can take part in one of five full-day Professional Development Courses:
Designed for environmental and mining professionals, this course explores the design, performance, and long-term durability of geosynthetic barrier systems.
Topics include:
Learn practical methods for evaluating the environmental performance of geosynthetic solutions through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
Topics include:
Explore how geosynthetics improve the performance, durability, and sustainability of transportation infrastructure.
Key learning areas include:
This course focuses on infrastructure constructed over soft ground.
Topics include:
Arranged by the IGS Young Members Committee
One of the newest additions to 13ICG, this course introduces delegates to practical AI applications within geotechnical engineering.
Participants will explore:
Thanks to the IGS Young Members Committee, IGS Young Members age 36 and under can attend this course for just USD $50, representing an 80% discount on the standard registration fee when using the special code provided by the conference organizers.
The wider 13ICG community then comes together for the Welcome Plenary from 6:00–7:00 p.m. in Room 710, followed immediately by the Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall from 7:00–8:30 p.m.
The evening continues with the IGS Corporate Reception from 8:30–10:00 p.m. on the Rooftop Terrace, Room 725.
It makes Sunday much more than an arrival day: it is the first opportunity to learn, reconnect with colleagues, meet new people, and begin experiencing the international IGS community.
Monday marks the official start of the technical program with one of the most important traditions of the International Conference on Geosynthetics.
8th Giroud Lecture
8:30–10:00 a.m. | Auditorium – Room 710
Professor Jie Han will deliver:
“Transforming Road Infrastructure: Innovative Geosynthetic Solutions for Improved Sustainability and Resilience.”
The Giroud Lecture honors IGS founding President Dr. J.P. Giroud and is one of the conference's most prestigious named lectures.
Following the lecture, the program expands across multiple parallel rooms. You can find further details about each session, including individual presentations and speakers, in the full program.
From 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m., delegates can choose between:
From 12:00–1:30 p.m., delegates can enjoy the Poster Session and Lunch in the Exhibit Hall.
Six technical streams then run concurrently from 1:30–3:00 p.m.:
The afternoon continues with sessions from 3:30–5:00 p.m.:
Monday also provides opportunities to get directly involved with the IGS. From 5:00–6:00 p.m., meetings take place for the following IGS Technical Committees:
Then it is time to network again at the 13ICG Happy Hour from 5:00–6:30 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall.
The exhibition itself is open from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with coffee breaks, lunch, and other activities giving delegates plenty of opportunities to meet exhibitors throughout the day.
Tuesday begins with another of the conference's prestigious named lectures.
2nd Rowe Lecture
8:30–10:00 a.m. | Auditorium – Room 710
Professor Craig Benson will present:
“Geosynthetic Clay Liners for Aggressive Liquids: Lessons Learned from the Field and Lab.”
The Rowe Lecture honors Dr. R. Kerry Rowe and is selected for the ICG by IGS TC-Barriers.
From 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m., the conference again divides into several specialist sessions:
Young Members then take center stage during Lunch and Young Members Networking from 12:00–1:30 p.m. Importantly, the networking event is open to all.
The afternoon sessions running from 1:30–3:00 p.m. include:
At 3:30 p.m., attention turns to the Society itself for the IGS General Assembly in Room 710.
And the day does not end there.
From 7:00–10:30 p.m., delegates can get away from the conference rooms and onto the pitch for the IGS Football Match.
Wednesday starts differently.
Rather than a traditional lecture, the entire conference is invited to consider where the geosynthetics profession is heading.
Special Plenary: From Proven Solutions to Transformative Change – Evolution or Revolution?
8:30–10:00 a.m. | Auditorium – Room 710
The discussion brings together IGS Past Presidents and Honorary Members Dr. Kerry Rowe and Dr. Richard Bathurst, alongside Patricia Guerra-Escobar and Anant Kanoi, with IGS President Sam Allen moderating.
The session connects directly with the conference's Legacy. Evolution. Revolution. theme and will include time for audience interaction.
The morning then offers another diverse set of specialist choices from 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.:
After lunch, the conference returns to Room 710 for another major plenary.
Sustainable Development Goals
1:30–3:00 p.m. | Auditorium – Room 710
Featuring Elizabeth Dove, Canadian Network Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, and Alex Eaton, CEO and Co-Founder of Sistema.bio, this session broadens the conversation beyond individual geosynthetic applications to consider sustainability and the wider challenges facing society and infrastructure.
The final technical block of the day runs from 3:30–5:00 p.m. and includes:
From 6:00–9:30 p.m., delegates can come together for the 13ICG Gala at Cirque Eloize.
The final main conference day begins with the 2nd Bathurst Lecture.
Bathurst Lecture – Pietro Rimoldi
8:30–10:00 a.m. | Auditorium – Room 710
Consulting Engineer Pietro Rimoldi will present:
“Per aspera ad astra: the development of soil reinforcement through testing, design, and innovation.”
The Bathurst Lecture honors Dr. Richard Bathurst and recognizes major contributions to reinforcement design.
From 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m., the morning continues with the following sessions:
From 1:30–3:00 p.m., delegates can choose between:
At 5:00 p.m., the global geosynthetics community comes back together in Room 710 for the 13ICG Closing Ceremony.
But there is still one more opportunity to explore Montréal and the surrounding area.
For delegates extending their stay, Friday offers optional Technical and Social Tours from 8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Both are ticketed events and offer a final opportunity to make more of the trip before heading home.
Looking across the complete program, several themes repeatedly emerge.
Sustainability is no longer a standalone conversation. It appears throughout the program in transportation, reinforced structures, material performance, Life Cycle Assessment, recycling, circular construction, infrastructure resilience, and the dedicated Sustainability Committee and SDG sessions.
With six Roads and Railroads sessions, alongside the TC-RRA Special Session, the Giroud Lecture, the Geosynthetics in Roadway Design course, and sessions on asphalt overlays, transportation represents a major component of the conference.
Reinforcement runs throughout the week through dedicated testing sessions, walls and slopes, embankments and foundations, pile-supported systems, the TC-R Special Session, and the Bathurst Lecture.
PFAS, GCLs, geomembranes, lining, contaminated sites, leak detection, geomembrane welding, durability, and mining applications demonstrate the continued importance and evolution of geosynthetics in environmental protection.
Mining is represented through the pre-conference barrier course, specialist mining session, technical sessions on confinement and other mining applications, and wider discussions around containment and long-term material performance.
The Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Professional Development Course brings another dimension to the conference, exploring how emerging technologies may change the way geotechnical engineers analyze data, predict performance, access technical knowledge, and make engineering decisions.
One thing the complete program makes especially clear is that 13ICG is about far more than sitting in technical presentations.
Some of the most valuable conversations at an ICG happen between sessions.
With so much happening simultaneously, advance planning is essential.
The full online 13ICG program includes Search/Filter Program and My Itinerary functions, allowing delegates to explore the schedule and begin building a conference experience around their own interests.
You might choose to follow transportation throughout the week. Perhaps your focus is barriers and containment, sustainability, mining, reinforcement, testing, hydraulics, or environmental applications.
Or you may want to mix technical sessions with committee activities, keynote lectures, networking, and time in the exhibition.
There is no single way to experience 13ICG.
Build the week that delivers the most value to you.
Explore the Full 13ICG Program and Start Building Your Itinerary
Professional Development Courses
We look forward to welcoming you to Montréal as the global geosynthetics community comes together to celebrate our Legacy, embrace our Evolution, and shape the Revolution that will define the future of geosynthetics. If you haven't already, then now is the time to register for the 13th ICG.
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