Hidden Earth 2026: Confirmed Lectures, Films and Workshops

[HiddenEarth]

We'll showcase the upcoming sessions here for Hidden Earth 2026.

The weekend is packed with lectures, with two or three parallel sessions running both days. Topics include new and old exploration from the UK and overseas as well as workshops covering cave science, research, technology and photography.

We wouldn't have an event if we didn't have lots of exciting lectures so we encourage all cavers to submit a talk, film or workshop. You can submit your abstract online any time throughout the year - even if you haven't been on that expedition yet!

Submit here: https://hidden.earth/lectures

 

[HiddenEarth]

Hidden Earth 2026:
Congo Update - Did we succeed with the new African Master Cave?​

45 minute lecture by Michael Laumanns

The presentation provides an interesting look into the attempts to link Grotte de Ngovo and Grotte de Ngungi caves. It also features a slideshow and a movie from the 2024 and 2025 field trips. An insightful update for any experienced caver.

Read more:

Hidden Earth 2026 | Congo Update - Did we succeed with the new African Master Cave?

At Hidden Earth 2023 an international expediton to the Mbanza Ngungu area in the province of Congo Central (Democratic Republic of th Congo) has been presented. Some important caves were partly surveyed, e.g. Grotte de Ngovo at 4.8 km and Grotte de Ngungi at 2.1 km, and it looked like these...

hidden.earth

---

Submit your session for Hidden Earth 2026
Been on an expedition or had discovery success in the UK. Whatever you've been up to for the past few years, we'd love to hear about it. Submit your lecture, film or workshop session online... https://hidden.earth/lectures/submit

 

[HiddenEarth]

Hidden Earth 2026: A Tale of Two Rescues​

60 minute lecture by Rostam Namaghi

Coming up are two impressive tales from a long-standing caver, with an experience of over 17 years and 1200 trips. Learn from his mistakes as he narrates his experiences of 'Deliverance from Providence' and 'Escape from Elysium'. An open invite to all hecklers for a healthy discussion.

Read more:

Hidden Earth 2026 | A Tale of Two Rescues

After a caving career spanning over 17 years, 1200 trips and 19 formal expeditions this colossal pillock got in 2 rescues in the space of 6 months. Deliverance from Providence and the Escape from Elysium provide the perfect keys to staying humble, learning from mistakes and shredding egos. All...

hidden.earth

---

Submit your session for Hidden Earth 2026
Been on an expedition or had discovery success in the UK. Whatever you've been up to for the past few years, we'd love to hear about it. Submit your lecture, film or workshop session online... https://hidden.earth/lectures/submit

 

[HiddenEarth]

Hidden Earth 2026: Anatomically correct 3d mapping: Introducing the Tactical Frog​

30 minute lecture by Phil Underwood

Phil Underwood, the innovator behind the Shetland Attack Pony, reveals his latest invention - the Tactical Frog. This helmet-mounted device makes cave mapping a breeze. He also shares insights on how the combo of Tactical Frog and Shetland Attack Pony can enhance accuracy in cave surveys. Catch him at the upcoming September caving conference.

Read more:

Hidden Earth 2026 | Anatomically correct 3d mapping: Introducing the Tactical Frog

Surveying caves is tedious - what if you could just wander around and your helmet creates the map for you? Phil Underwood (creator of the Shetland Attack Pony) introduces his newest creation, the Tactical Frog. This is a helmet mounted cave scanner, which allows no fuss cave mapping. He also...

hidden.earth

---

Submit your session for Hidden Earth 2026
Been on an expedition or had discovery success in the UK. Whatever you've been up to for the past few years, we'd love to hear about it. Submit your lecture, film or workshop session online... https://hidden.earth/lectures/submit

 

[HiddenEarth]

Hidden Earth 2026: North Peru 2026: 2,800 m of limestone above one of the largest resurgences in South America​

45 minute lecture by Pete Talling

This presentation continues the story of the search for deep caves on the rim of the Amazon Basin in August-September 2026. The expedition is to a high altitude (up to 3,700 m) and unusually remote limestone plateau that is underlain by ~2,800m of limestone. It has an extremely large (up to 34 cumec) resurgence of the Rio Negro at its base, which might be the largest karst resurgence in South America.

Read more:

Hidden Earth 2026 | North Peru 2026: 2,800 m of limestone above one of the largest resurgences in South America

This presentation continues the story of the search for deep caves on the rim of the Amazon Basin in August-September 2026. The expedition is to a high altitude (up to 3,700 m) and unusually remote limestone plateau that is underlain by ~2,800m of limestone. It has an extremely large (up to 34...

hidden.earth

---

Submit your session for Hidden Earth 2026
Been on an expedition or had discovery success in the UK. Whatever you've been up to for the past few years, we'd love to hear about it. Submit your lecture, film or workshop session online... https://hidden.earth/lectures/submit

 

[HiddenEarth]

Hidden Earth 2026: Dachstein Caving Expedition 2026​

45 minute lecture by Andrew Mcleod

At the upcoming UK caving conference, we'll share all the thrilling details from this year's Dachstein Expedition. Expect stories of new cave discovery, daring traverses from multiple camps, and the exploration of the Forbidden Fruits passage. Adventure, surprise, and the joy of discovery all promise to be part of our tale. The only certainty is that there will be something interesting to share!

Read more:

Hidden Earth 2026 | Dachstein Caving Expedition 2026

As usual, this talk will be hot off the press with the expedition only ending 12 days before Hidden Earth begins! This year in the Dachstein we will as usual be searching for new caves, as well as pushing a 250 m deep cave called Thundergasm that has been neglected in recent years, but our most...

hidden.earth

---

Submit your session for Hidden Earth 2026
Been on an expedition or had discovery success in the UK. Whatever you've been up to for the past few years, we'd love to hear about it. Submit your lecture, film or workshop session online... https://hidden.earth/lectures/submit

 

[mikem]

Might be an idea to put the dates up again...

 

[HiddenEarth]

Hidden Earth 2026: FOIBE - Karst as a vehicle of terror post-Second World War​

45 minute lecture by Piper Cusmano

Join us in September for a lecture revealing the dark historical twist to our beloved activity. We'll uncover the role caves played as instruments of terror, focusing on the Foibe massacre post-WWII on the Italian and Yugoslavian border. This unique exploration of caving's anthropological and political significances promises to be an enlightening experience.

Read more:

Hidden Earth 2026 | FOIBE - Karst as a vehicle of terror post-Second World War

Come explore with me how potholes were used as an instrument of terror and mass murder on the Italian and Yugoslavian border post-Second World War. During this talk, we will look at the “big” and “small” histories connected to the Foibe massacre, taking a deep dive into historical facts while...

hidden.earth

---

Submit your session for Hidden Earth 2026
Been on an expedition or had discovery success in the UK. Whatever you've been up to for the past few years, we'd love to hear about it. Submit your lecture, film or workshop session online... https://hidden.earth/lectures/submit