Following the successful conclusion of the 19th World Conference in Belgrade, the Associated Research Centres for the Urban Underground Space (ACUUS) has officially announced that its next conference  will be held in Nanjing, China. The Jiangsu Underground Space Society (JSUSS) will be the hosts of the milestone 20th World ACUUS conference (ACUUS2027) from November 6–11, 2027.

The 2027 conference marks a historic milestone for the organization. Founded in 1987, ACUUS will celebrate its 40th anniversary in Nanjing, returning to mainland China for the first time in nearly two decades (since the 2009 Shenzhen conference). This selection underscores China’s rapid advancements and global leadership in urban underground development.
“Nanjing plays a pivotal role in underground space development,” stated Dimitris Kaliampakos, former President of ACUUS. “Choosing it as the venue presents an exceptional opportunity to gain in-depth insight into the modern development of underground space where tradition and modernity are taking shape together.

In a first for the organization, the ACUUS 2027 Organizing Committee has launched a Global Call for Conference Theme Submissions. Instead of selecting a theme internally, they are inviting scholars, engineers, and visionaries from around the world to submit proposals for the conference theme. The goal is to find a “soul” for the event that reflects both the 40-year legacy of ACUUS and the future challenges of urban resilience and sustainability.
The conference will be hosted at the Nanjing International Expo Convention Center (NIEC), a premier facility located in the Hexi New Town.