Every year on 24th April, the global corrosion community marks World Corrosion Awareness Day (WCAD), a vital initiative dedicated to raising awareness of corrosion as a major, yet preventable, global challenge.
In 2026, the Institute of Corrosion (ICorr), the European Federation of Corrosion (EFC), and the Chinese Society for Corrosion and Protection (CSCP) are proud to stand together in a unified international effort to promote greater understanding, collaboration, and action.
A United Global Voice on Corrosion
Corrosion is often underestimated as a minor or cosmetic issue. In reality, it has far-reaching consequences—impacting public safety, infrastructure integrity, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience worldwide.
Echoing the global call led by the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), alongside the World Corrosion Organization (WCO) and the International Corrosion Council (ICC), this year’s WCAD reinforces a clear message: Corrosion is preventable – and prevention is essential.
Through proactive management, knowledge sharing, and the application of engineering best practices, corrosion risks can be significantly reduced—protecting critical infrastructure, extending asset life, and ensuring safety across industries.
Strengthening International Collaboration: China-UK Partnership
A key highlight of this year’s activities is the strengthening of international collaboration between the UK, Europe, and China. During the 2nd China-UK Corrosion Summit in Beijing on 12th-13th April 2026, the Presidents of ICorr, EFC, and CSCP formally signed a joint statement, reaffirming their shared commitment to:
- Advancing corrosion science and engineering
- Promoting international cooperation
- Supporting knowledge exchange across borders
- Raising global awareness of corrosion prevention
This milestone reflects the growing importance of cross-regional collaboration in addressing corrosion challenges in an increasingly interconnected world. The announcement of this joint statement in Chinese made by CSCP is at https://www.cscp.org.cn/site/content/3210.html.
Joint Statement for WCAD from ICorr, EFC and CSCP
Leaders ICorr, EFC and CSCP Commemorating WCAD. L-R: CSCP General Secretary – Professor Xuequn Cheng, ICorr President – Dr Yunnan Gao, CSCP President – Professor Xiaogang Li, EFC President – Professor Gareth Hinds
Delegates of the 2nd China-UK Corrosion Summit Commemorating WCAD
Global Engagement Across the Corrosion Community
This year’s WCAD activities have been marked by strong international engagement. Just days ahead of WCAD, the Cambridge Corrosion Conference, jointly organised by ICorr and EFC Working Party 15, brought together leading experts from academia and industry to exchange knowledge and advance research in corrosion science.
Delegates of the Cambridge ICorr-EFC WP15 Conference Commemorating WCAD
Meanwhile, ICorr continues its tradition of hosting its flagship WCAD technical event in the UK. In 2026, ICorr is partnering with the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng), marking an important step forward in strengthening collaboration across the engineering community. The CED Day with a theme of “NetCorr – Corrosion Challenges in CCUS Applications”, is held at the University of Leeds on the 2026 WCAD. This event highlights the critical role of corrosion management in enabling emerging technologies such as carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), which are essential to achieving global net-zero targets.
ICorr-RAEng 2026 WCAD Event in Leeds Conference Flyer
A Continuing Commitment
World Corrosion Awareness Day is not a single-day initiative-it is part of a sustained global effort.
As a leading professional body, ICorr remains committed to:
- Advancing corrosion science, engineering, and best practices
- Supporting education, training, and professional development
- Engaging with industry, academia, and policymakers
- Working closely with international partners to raise awareness worldwide
Together with EFC, CSCP, and global organisations, ICorr will continue to strengthen collaboration and expand outreach-ensuring that corrosion prevention remains a key priority for governments, industries, and communities alike.
Looking Ahead
As we mark WCAD 2026, we reaffirm our shared vision: A safer, more sustainable, and more resilient world-enabled through effective corrosion management.
We encourage professionals, organisations, and the wider public to engage with WCAD activities, share knowledge, and support efforts to prevent corrosion.
To learn more about ICorr’s ongoing initiatives and past WCAD activities, please visit:
