Antwerp will welcome around 300 international dredging professionals, researchers, technical experts and sector leaders as CEDA Dredging Days 2026 takes place from 11 to 13 May at A Room with a ZOO.
Organised by the Central Dredging Association, the flagship conference will bring the international dredging community together to address the future of ports, waterways, infrastructure and the wider maritime environment.
Its arrival in Antwerp reflects the city’s close connection with the sector. Home to the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Europe’s second-largest port, the city offers delegates direct access to a maritime and logistics ecosystem shaped by trade, innovation, sustainable chemistry and the Blue Economy.
“Antwerp was a natural choice for CEDA Dredging Days 2026,” said Mieke van Loenen, General Manager of CEDA. “The city sits at the heart of Europe’s dredging community, offers excellent accessibility and provides a distinctive venue in a destination that delivers strong value for delegates and organisers alike.”
The programme will connect closely with the destination, including a site visit to Port of Antwerp-Bruges and sessions on major infrastructure works in and around the city, including the Oosterweel project and the new Scheldt tunnel.
Tadeja Pivc Coudyser, Head of Antwerp Convention Bureau, said: “This is exactly the kind of international association event that feels truly connected to our city, not only because of Antwerp’s maritime heritage, but because of the innovation, expertise and collaboration taking place here today.”
Hosted at A Room with a ZOO, the 2026 conference will be held under the theme “It’s a Zoo out there!”, linking the venue’s character with the global challenges and opportunities facing the dredging industry.