On behalf of the Scientific Committee as well as Andra, we are pleased to invite you to Nancy, France, to participate in the 8th International Conference on Clays in Natural and Engineered Barriers for Radioactive Waste Confinement, to be held from 8-11 June 2020. ​ In a number of countries, clays are being considered as the potential host rock for geological disposal of radioactive waste. Also, the use of compacted swelling clays as an engineered barrier component is envisioned within the multi-barrier concept in a wider range of host rocks, such as bentonite-based backfill material for different rock options or repurposed clay rock material especially for clay host rocks. ​ The current world situation with regard to geological disposal now includes countries such as Finland, where a geological repository facility (‘repository’) is under construction; Sweden and France, where geological repository projects are well advanced (site selection, licensing application process); countries such as China, where underground research laboratories are being constructed, and countries such as the UK, Germany and Japan that each now have a structured siting strategy.