Guidance
Before submitting an abstract, please read the detailed description of the topics of the call for papers by downloading this file: Call for papers - Vancouver 2027.
The papers should present case studies, research results and/or practical experiences related to the topics of this call. Proposals falling outside the scope of these topics will not be considered.
XXVIIIth World Road Congress
"Vancouver 2027 – Paving the Road to a Cleaner Future"
PIARC (World Road Association) is a non-profit, non-political association founded in 1909 to promote international cooperation in the field of roads and road transport. As of 2026, PIARC has more than 120 member governments.
The World Road Congress is a world-class event that builds on PIARC's decades of experience. It brings together road experts and practitioners from around the world. This will be the 28th edition of the Congress, which PIARC has organised every four years since 1908.
The Vancouver 2027 congress will be structured around 57 themes.
The official languages of the Congress are English, French and Spanish.
The XXVIIIth World Road Congress will be held from 04 to 08 October 2027. It will include arount 50 sessions, a large exhibition, technical tours and a social programme.
For more information, you are invited to visit the Congress website: https://wrc2027vancouver.com.
Call for Papers
For this 28th edition, PIARC is calling for individual contributions on selected topics in order to enrich and broaden the views and work of its Technical Committees and Task Forces.
The papers should present case studies, research results and/or practical experiences related to the topics of this call.
Papers will be reviewed by the Technical Committees and Task Forces. Papers that are accepted will be published in the Congress proceedings and will provide input into the Congress sessions. All authors of accepted papers will present their work and results at interactive poster sessions. Some outstanding contributions will be selected for an oral presentation during the Congress.
PIARC Prizes 2027
By submitting a paper in response to the present call for papers you will automatically be entered in the PIARC Prizes competition and be in competition to win one of the prizes. The prize for the best paper in each category will be awarded by an international jury.
The following are the Prize categories for our 2027 Congress:
- Young Professionals
- Authors from Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries
- Best Innovation
- Road Design, Construction, Maintenance, and Operation
- Road Safety
- Resilience of Road Infrastructure and Road Transport
- Sustainability
- Organisation and Administration of the Road Sector
- Future Workforce Talent in the Road Sector
- Most Visionary Paper – Jonathan Spear Award
Information for Authors
- Content: All papers must be original and authorized for publication. Proposals that have already been published will not be accepted.
- Any reference of a political, commercial or advertising nature is excluded from the papers, as is the indication of a trademark in the title or summary.
- Language: Abstracts may be submitted in English (mandatory), French and Spanish, which are the official languages of the Congress. Please note that the English version will be used for the evaluation; it is therefore requested that you attach this version (possibly with the help of an automated tool).
- Submission: Abstracts must be submitted exclusively online via this platform.
- Length: The abstract should not exceed 400 words.
Calendar
- 26 May 2026: PIARC launches the international call for papers
- 31 August 2026: Deadline for authors to submit abstracts
- 15 November 2026: PIARC notifies the authors of the acceptance of their abstract
- 31 January 2027: Deadline for authors to submit full articles
- 15 May 2027: PIARC notifies the authors of acceptance of their full article (including whether they are selected for an oral presentation and/or a poster)
- 04-08 October 2027: XXVIIIth World Road Congress
Contact for the call for papers
E-mail: papersvancouver2027@piarc.org