IAPH announces London as venue for its 2026 World Ports Conference
After memorable editions in London in 1965 and 1997, the International Association of Ports & Harbors (IAPH) is delighted to return to the UK capital in 2026 for a very special IAPH World Ports Conference.
IAPH managing director Patrick Verhoeven commented: “This edition promises to be a true milestone in the history of our conference. Just as the 1965 edition symbolised the global coming of age of IAPH, our ambition for next year is to set a new benchmark: to showcase how ports worldwide are transforming to meet the challenges of sustainability, digitalisation, and resilience.”
The venue chosen is the iconic Olympia in Kensington, which by then will have completed its extensive renovation and be ready to host this large-scale event. The new multi-faceted venue, with conference, exhibition and side meeting facilities matches the ambitions of the Association to expand the programme currently offered, mixing high level content with practical demonstrations, technical visits and cross-industry interaction with the world’s Port Authority CEOs.
The announcement was made on Sunday 14 September to an invited group of London-based maritime professionals and officials, at the screening at the Curzon Aldgate cinema in the City of London of ‘Meeuwen Sterven in de Haven’ (Seagulls Die in the Harbour). The film, which features the Antwerp port as the main backdrop, had its own premiere in that city on 14 October 1955, just a few weeks before representatives from international port authorities gathered at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles to establish the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) at the first World Ports Conference.
Patrick Verhoeven added: “This remarkable coincidence offers a compelling reason to screen ‘Meeuwen’ on the eve of this year’s London International Shipping Week, marking not only the 70th anniversary of the film but also the founding of the IAPH.”
Further announcements about #IAPH2026 will be made at the Association’s upcoming 70th anniversary conference in Kobe, Japan.