Key takeaways:

  • YII 2026 opens in Singapore with a reimagined format.
  • Futurist Chris Luebkeman is the event's first external host.
  • Bentley Labs brings all 36 finalist projects to life in 3D.

Bentley's Year in Infrastructure Awards opened in Singapore today with a new look. Now in its 22nd year, the event often called the "Oscars of Infrastructure" has a new host, a new keynote format, and a new way for guests to experience the 36 finalist projects competing for this year's honors.

The changes start at the door. Guests arriving at the Fairmont Singapore were met with a dedicated lounge, engraved name badges, and local artisans—details meant to signal that the people in the room, not just their projects, are being celebrated. The idea behind the reimagination is simple: the people shaping the world's infrastructure deserve an experience as extraordinary as the work they do.

For the first time, the two-day YII Awards has an external host. Futurist and author Chris Luebkeman kicked off the program this morning and will lead the awards ceremony tomorrow. Author and global strategy advisor Parag Khanna, founder of geospatial AI company AlphaGeo, delivered the keynote in a session designed to feel more like a conversation than a conference talk. His message to the room: the world's population will peak at 9.5 billion by 2045, almost all of it in cities, and the professionals planning that future need far richer and more granular data, and more forward-looking insights than most organizations use today. Khanna said he remains optimistic because "we continue to be infrastructure maximalists"—the world does build what it needs, even if sometimes later than it should.

One of the most talked-about stops here is Bentley Labs, a futuristic space where all 36 finalist projects come to life as interactive 3D digital models. Visitors can explore each project on a massive LED screen and then step inside it using an Apple Vision Pro headset. "Every model can come alive," said Liana O'Cleirigh, the Bentley Labs creative technologist who helped build the experience.

The finalists—teams from China to the Czech Republic—are the heart of the event. Starting this year, Bentley company announcements, which happened in the past at YII Awards, will move to the Bentley Tech Summit in Toronto next spring, leaving YII Awards free to focus entirely on the projects, the people, and the work.

We'll be back tomorrow with coverage from the awards ceremony.