The 17th edition of the
Lift & Escalator Symposium
Elena Colombetti & Maddalena Parotelli
This article appeared in Elevatori Magazine, issue no. 5/2026. Click here to subscribe!
The 17th edition of the Lift & Escalator Symposium, one of the key annual events for experts, researchers and professionals in the vertical transport sector, took place on 16 and 17 September 2026 at the Kettering Park Hotel & Spa in Kettering, UK.
The event brought together specialists from industry, academia and research, offering an important opportunity to discuss technologies, design, installation, maintenance and the new challenges facing the lift industry.
One of the distinctive features of the Symposium is, in fact, its highly technical and scientific nature: the programme is structured around the presentation of peer-reviewed papers, with contributions from industry experts, academics and researchers. In 2026, alongside the in-depth sessions, there were also opportunities for international discussion and the participation of companies showcasing their latest technological solutions.
Terry L. K. Fung, a specialist in vertical transport at Foster + Partners, London (UK), is the winner of the ‘Dr Gina Barney Emerging Excellence Award in Vertical Transport’, for his paper ‘Designing Vertical Transport for Modern Airports: Performance, Capacity and Passenger-Centric Planning’.
Among the topics addressed were collaboration within the sector and the move towards increasingly globally shared standards. The Lift & Escalator Symposium thus continues to serve as a meeting point between research and practical application, bringing together diverse expertise and professional backgrounds around the same table, united by a shared interest in the evolution of vertical transport technologies.
Adam J. Scott (from the Lift & Escalator Symposium management team) with Terry L. K. Fung, vertical transportation specialist at Foster + Partners, London (UK) and the winner of the ʻDr. Gina Barney Emerging Excellence Award in Vertical Transportationʼ, with the paper ‘Designing Vertical Transportation for Modern Airports: Performance Capacity and Passenger-Centric planning’. © Lift & Escalator Symposium 2026
But the Symposium’s gaze is already turned towards the future and towards Asia. The organisers have in fact announced a new edition in Hong Kong, scheduled for 18 and 19 May 2027, at the Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View. The process for submitting scientific papers has already begun, confirming the initiative’s commitment to further strengthening its international character.
This event, therefore, continues to grow within the international vertical transport landscape, offering academics and professionals an opportunity to share knowledge, experiences and new perspectives on a constantly evolving sector.
