SORTA 2024 is the 26th Symposium on the Theory and Practice of Shipbuilding in memoriam Prof. Leopold Sorta jointly organized by the University of Zadar, Maritime Department, Zadar, Croatia, and the University of Trieste, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Trieste, Italy, with support of the Digital Innovation HUB Innovamare, Šibenik, Croatia. Such a significant tradition of the Symposium proves the importance of shipbuilding science and practice for both the economic and scientific development of the Republic of Croatia. Relying on such a significant tradition, the SORTA 2024 Symposium will contribute to the integration of the existing knowledge and experience in the context of modern scientific and professional achievements in the field of shipbuilding, offshore engineering, maritime and inland navigation, through invited lectures, scientific and professional papers, panel discussions and round tables.