The World Tunnel Congress will commence with an official Opening Ceremony that marks the beginning of a week dedicated to knowledge exchange and professional collaboration. The ceremony will feature the distinguished Muir Wood Lecture, delivered by a leading figure in the tunnelling field, alongside keynote presentations addressing current challenges and innovations in underground construction. The Muir Wood Lecture named in honour of Sir Alan Muir Wood (1921–2009), one of the founding figures of the ITA and a highly respected civil engineer who made major contributions to tunnelling and underground construction worldwide.