Antwerp will welcome maritime industry leaders from around the world for the IMCA Global Summit 2026 on 28 and 29 October 2026. The two-day event will bring together offshore contractors, marine specialists and technical experts to examine safety, technology, sustainability and workforce development across the offshore sector.
For Antwerp, the summit reinforces the Belgian city’s role as a major European maritime and logistics hub. For delegates, it offers a programme focused on practical challenges affecting offshore operations, alongside opportunities to experience the city’s historic centre, cultural attractions and distinctive event venues.
IMCA Global Summit 2026 comes to Antwerp
The International Marine Contractors Association summit is expected to attract hundreds of professionals involved in offshore project development and marine operations. Discussions will centre on how the industry can improve operational safety while responding to rapid technological and environmental change.
A central feature of the gathering will be the launch of IMCA’s new 2030 Strategy. The strategy will set out the association’s long-term priorities and vision for the marine contracting industry, providing a framework for future work on safety, skills, innovation and sustainability.
The programme reflects the wide range of issues currently shaping offshore activity, including:
- Artificial intelligence and its use in offshore operations
- Remote-controlled and subsea technologies
- Offshore wind development
- Maritime decarbonisation
- Operational security and risk management
- Workforce training and specialist skills
- Improved safety standards and procedures
Why Antwerp is a fitting location for the maritime summit
Antwerp’s connection with the maritime economy makes it a natural setting for an international offshore conference. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges supports a broad ecosystem of shipping, engineering, industrial and energy businesses, while the city continues to develop its role in sustainable infrastructure and technological innovation.
Those strengths align closely with the summit’s themes. Offshore companies are facing pressure to improve environmental performance, adopt new digital tools and ensure that employees have the specialist expertise needed to work safely in increasingly complex environments.
The event also highlights the importance of business tourism to Antwerp. International conferences can generate demand for accommodation, hospitality, transport and cultural attractions, while allowing visitors to connect a professional programme with the identity of the host city.
Conference venues and delegate activities
Conference sessions will take place at A Room with a ZOO, a venue linked to Antwerp ZOO. The programme will also include an evening event at Grand Café Horta, giving delegates an opportunity to experience one of the city’s notable architectural and hospitality settings.
Outside the formal sessions, attendees will be able to explore Antwerp through activities including a morning run through the historic city centre and a visit to Antwerp ZOO. These additions are designed to support informal networking while showcasing the destination’s cultural and visitor appeal.
Leadership lessons from the Tham Luang rescue
One of the summit’s featured speakers will be cave diver Chris Jewell, who contributed to the 2018 rescue of 12 young football players and their coach from Thailand’s flooded Tham Luang cave complex.
Jewell will draw on that experience to discuss leadership, resilience, teamwork and decision-making under pressure. His contribution is particularly relevant to an industry in which preparation, communication and disciplined responses can be critical during complex offshore operations.
The session will underline themes that extend beyond the maritime sector: the value of planning, the need for coordinated teams and the importance of maintaining focus when conditions change rapidly.
What the summit means for Antwerp’s business-events sector
The IMCA Global Summit 2026 is more than a specialist industry meeting. It is also an opportunity for Antwerp to demonstrate its capacity to host international gatherings connected to maritime trade, energy and engineering.
The city’s port infrastructure, international links and established hospitality network provide a strong backdrop for conferences serving global industries. By combining professional sessions with cultural and social activities, the event will contribute to Antwerp’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector.
Its focus on offshore wind, artificial intelligence, subsea operations and decarbonisation also places Antwerp at the centre of conversations about the future of marine business. These subjects are relevant not only to contractors, but also to policymakers, educators, technology providers and companies developing the next generation of offshore services.
Key details for visitors
- Event: IMCA Global Summit 2026
- Location: Antwerp, Belgium
- Dates: 28–29 October 2026
- Main themes: Offshore safety, artificial intelligence, subsea operations, offshore wind, decarbonisation and workforce development
- Featured strategy: IMCA’s 2030 Strategy
- Conference venue: A Room with a ZOO
- Additional setting: Grand Café Horta
Antwerp strengthens its international profile
Hosting the summit will reinforce Antwerp’s reputation as a destination where maritime expertise, international business and cultural tourism meet. The city’s port heritage provides a direct connection to the event’s subject matter, while its venues and attractions offer delegates a broader experience beyond the conference programme.
The gathering will ultimately focus on the future of offshore operations: how companies can use innovation responsibly, reduce environmental impact, develop skilled teams and maintain high safety standards. With the IMCA 2030 Strategy due to be introduced in Antwerp, the summit will also provide a clear view of the priorities expected to guide the industry over the coming years.
The key takeaway is that the IMCA Global Summit 2026 will place Antwerp at the centre of international discussions on safer, more innovative and more sustainable offshore operations, while showcasing the Belgian city’s growing strength as a global business-events destination.