Highways UK 2026

Roads for a Connected Future

16th October 2026 - Alistair Gollop for ITS Now

Highways UK has become one of those moments in the calendar when the sector pauses, gathers and takes stock of where the industry is heading. The NEC in Birmingham provides a setting that suits the scale of the conversation. It is a venue built for movement, designed around the idea of people coming together to share ideas, challenge assumptions and explore the future of infrastructure. This year’s edition carried that familiar energy, yet it also revealed a sector wrestling with pressures that are growing more complex and more urgent.

The event opened its doors, drawing in local authorities, national agencies, suppliers, innovators and specialists from across the mobility and highways landscape, with delegates moving through Hall 5 to a show floor that combined exhibition stands, demonstration areas and multiple conference stages. The co-location with Asphalt World UK added a layer of engineering depth, creating a space where digital transformation and traditional materials science sat side by side. It was a reminder that the future of highways will always depend on the interplay between physical infrastructure and intelligent systems.

The programme reflected the breadth of the sector. Sessions ranged from strategic investment to digital twins, from climate resilience to operational delivery. The speaker line-up included senior figures from National Highways, Transport Scotland, the Office of Rail and Road, CIHT and several combined authorities. Their presence signalled the seriousness of the moment. The industry is navigating a period defined by rising climate risk, tightening budgets, shifting public expectations and rapid technological change. Highways UK offered a platform where these pressures could be explored openly, with a focus on practical solutions rather than abstract theory.

The keynote discussions set the tone, make sure to read about the Digital, Data and AI discussion that Alistair Gollop chaired. Funding and delivering the UK’s road network remains a challenge shaped by competing priorities. Delegates heard how authorities are trying to balance maintenance backlogs with ambitions for decarbonisation, digitalisation and improved resilience. The conversation around climate risk was particularly striking. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and the sector is being forced to rethink how roads are designed, monitored and maintained. Resilience is no longer a specialist topic. It is becoming a central organising principle for the entire industry.

Digital roads formed another major theme. Presentations explored how real-time data, connected sensors and advanced modelling are reshaping network management. The idea of digital twins has moved beyond early experimentation. Authorities are beginning to use them to simulate scenarios, optimise maintenance schedules and improve operational decision-making. The European Space Agency’s collaboration with National Highways added an unexpected dimension, showing how satellite data can support road safety and asset monitoring. It was a reminder that mobility innovation increasingly draws on technologies developed far outside the traditional transport sphere.

Local authorities featured prominently throughout the programme. Their challenges are often the most visible, because they sit closest to the communities that rely on the network every day. Sessions explored how new funding rules are influencing project delivery and how public demand is reshaping priorities. Delegates discussed the need for clearer data strategies, stronger procurement frameworks and more collaborative working between councils and suppliers. The mood was pragmatic. There was recognition that digital tools can support better outcomes, yet also an understanding that technology alone cannot solve structural issues around resources, skills and long-term planning.

The exhibition floor captured the diversity of the sector. More than 360 exhibitors showcased products and services that spanned materials, construction, maintenance, digital platforms, traffic management, safety systems and mobility technologies. Visitors moved between stands offering innovations in electrification, autonomous systems, intelligent signage, connected freight, active travel solutions and integrated corridor management. The variety reflected a sector that is expanding its definition of what highways work involves. Roads are no longer seen purely as physical assets. They are part of a wider mobility ecosystem shaped by data, connectivity and user experience.

Conversations across the hall revealed a shared recognition that collaboration is becoming essential. Suppliers spoke about the need for clearer pipelines and more consistent standards. Authorities emphasised the importance of interoperability and long-term value. Technology providers highlighted the challenge of integrating new systems with legacy infrastructure. These discussions were not framed as obstacles. They were treated as opportunities to rethink how projects are delivered and how partnerships are formed. Highways UK has always been a place where the industry’s collaborative instincts come to the surface, and this year’s event reinforced that tradition.

Sustainability ran through the week like a thread. Exhibitors demonstrated low-carbon materials, energy-efficient equipment and tools designed to support greener maintenance practices. Speakers explored how decarbonisation targets are influencing investment decisions and how digital technologies can help reduce emissions across the network. The conversation extended beyond carbon. Biodiversity, circular economy principles and social value were all part of the narrative. Delegates recognised that sustainability is no longer a separate agenda. It is becoming embedded in every aspect of highways planning, design and operation.

The human dimension of the sector was also visible. Discussions around workforce skills highlighted the need for new competencies in data analysis, digital engineering and systems thinking. Several sessions explored how leadership culture influences innovation and how organisations can support staff through periods of rapid change. There was acknowledgement that the sector must attract new talent while retaining the experience that underpins safe and reliable network management. Training, professional development and cross-disciplinary collaboration were presented as essential components of a modern highways workforce.

Highways UK has always been a barometer for the sector’s mood. This year’s edition suggested an industry that is realistic about its challenges yet confident in its ability to adapt. Delegates spoke openly about the pressures they face, but they also shared examples of projects that demonstrate progress. Digital roads initiatives are moving from pilot to practice. Climate resilience strategies are becoming more sophisticated. Collaboration between agencies, suppliers and innovators is strengthening. The sector is not standing still. It is evolving in ways that reflect both necessity and ambition.

The NEC provided a backdrop that suited the scale of the conversation. Its vast halls, easy transport links and familiar layout created a sense of continuity. Delegates could move seamlessly between sessions, exhibitions and informal discussions. The atmosphere felt purposeful without being overwhelming. There was space for reflection as well as debate, and the event’s organisation ensured that the programme flowed smoothly across both days.

Highways UK 2026 will be remembered as a gathering that captured a sector in transition. It showcased technologies ready for deployment, strategies ready for refinement and ideas ready for further exploration. It also highlighted the importance of resilience, sustainability and digital transformation as guiding themes for the years ahead. The event demonstrated that Britain’s highways community is not only responding to change. It is shaping it.

The week offered a chance to observe how the industry is redefining its priorities and how mobility technologies are influencing the future of network management. The conversations in Birmingham reflected a sector that understands the scale of the challenge and the value of collaboration. Highways UK remains a focal point for that dialogue, and this year’s edition reinforced its role as a catalyst for innovation, partnership and progress.

Next year’s edition promises to be unlike any other, because Highways UK will sit alongside the ITS World Congress at the NEC. The two events will run in parallel, creating a single moment in the calendar when global intelligent transport systems meet Britain’s highways community under one roof. Delegates will be able to move between the Congress halls and the Highways UK show floor, linking international thinking on connected mobility with the practical realities of network management in the UK. The co-location is already generating anticipation across the sector, because it offers a rare chance to bring policy, innovation, engineering and operations together in a way that feels both natural and overdue.