Prague Geotechnical Days 2026 – Geotechnical Failures

We invite you to the 32^nd Prague Geotechnical Days 2026 conference, to be held on 4–5 May 2026 in Prague. Together with leading international experts, the conference will focus on failures of geotechnical structures, their causes, failure mechanisms, and implications for the design, construction and safe operation of engineering constructions

The 2026 edition will focus on geotechnical failures and accidents, examining their causes, failure mechanisms, and consequences for design, construction, and the long-term safety of engineering structures. The programme is addressed to real case histories of geotechnical failures that significantly affected construction processes, structural safety, or operational performance. Presentations will analyse situations in which geotechnical design proved insufficient or reached its limits, with a detailed discussion of the underlying technical and geological causes. Case studies will cover a wide range of structures, including underground works, deep excavation collapses, tunnel failures, waterfront and quay structures, bridges, tailings facilities, and slope instabilities.

International Keynote and Invited Lectures

The conference will host experts from leading European universities and research institutions, presenting experience from major projects. Their contributions will focus on the identification and interpretation of failure mechanisms, approaches to geotechnical risk management, and lessons learned from practice. Key attention will be given to the evaluation of site investigation and monitoring data, the application of numerical modelling, and the retrospective assessment of remedial and preventive measures with respect to their real performance.

Prague Geotechnical Lecture and Workshop

The highlight of the programme will be the 32^nd Prague Geotechnical Lecture, offering a comprehensive insight into progressive failure phenomena in soils, snow, and tailings. Processes that often precede sudden and severe accidents. The lecture will be delivered by Professor Alexander Puzrin from ETH Zürich. The conference will be followed by a workshop focused on the geomechanics of failures.

Quido Záruba Award

The programme also includes the ceremony of the Quido Záruba Award, a prestigious distinction recognising outstanding work by young engineering geologists and geotechnical engineers. The award honours the legacy of Quido Záruba, the founder of Czech engineering geology, and supports the professional development of the next generation of specialists.

A Conference for Geotechnical Practice

Prague Geotechnical Days 2026 are intended for design engineers, geotechnical engineers, engineering geologists, professional consultants, academics, and students involved in the design, construction, assessment, and operation of geotechnically demanding structures. For more than thirty years, the conference has provided an international platform for professional exchange, critical discussion, and knowledge sharing in geotechnical engineering. The conference is organised by SG Geotechnika in cooperation with academic and professional institutions. Prague Geotechnical Days are part of the lifelong professional development programme of The Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and Technicians Active in Construction, and participants may earn two credit points.

We look forward to welcoming you to Prague.

4 – 5 May 2026
Czech Academy of Sciences – Charles University