2026 International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS 2026) will take place from August 9 to 21 in Huairou Science City, Beijing. As a premier global academic gathering in the field of basic science, the congress is themed “Advancing Basic Science for Humanity.” It will bring together leading scientists from around the world, foster high-level academic exchange, and share cutting-edge scientific knowledge with the broader public, creating a vibrant forum for intellectual dialogue and discovery.
To date, nearly 20 world-renowned scientists have confirmed their participation as plenary speakers. These include recipients of the Nobel Prize, Fields Medal, Turing Award, Wolf Prize, and Shaw Prize, as well as members of major academies such as the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The congress is expected to attract close to 1,000 scholars and students from universities, research institutions, and academic organizations worldwide. Focusing on frontier issues in mathematics, physics, and engineering, ICBS 2026 aims to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and strengthen the connection between fundamental research and technological innovation.
A highlight of this year’s congress is the inaugural presentation of the ICBS Medal, established to recognize scientists worldwide who have achieved groundbreaking and transformative advances in basic science. The medals span three major disciplines—mathematics, physics, and engineering—and are named in honor of nine distinguished scientific pioneers. In mathematics, the medals are named after Emmy Noether, Shiing-Shen Chern, and Andrew Wiles; in physics, after Samuel C. C. Ting, David Gross, and Marie Curie; and in engineering, after Steven Chu, Charles Kuen Kao, and Chien-Shiung Wu. All names have been approved by the scientists themselves or their families. Notably, each discipline includes a medal named after a prominent female scientist. According to the congress chair, Shing-Tung Yau, this reflects the scientific community’s recognition of the vital contributions of women to the advancement of science, and it is anticipated that at least one female scientist in each field will be among the awardees.
In addition, the congress will confer the Frontiers of Science Awards, covering 40 subfields across mathematics, physics, and engineering. More than 120 outstanding original research papers published in leading international journals over the past five to ten years are expected to be selected. To support the development of young talent, the congress will also recognize ten exceptional undergraduate theses in mathematics, with awardees invited to present their work and engage directly with leading scientists.
Over the course of 13 days, ICBS 2026 will feature more than 20 plenary lectures and over 400 presentations by Frontiers of Science Award recipients. A poster exhibition will showcase award-winning research across all branches of basic science and interdisciplinary frontiers, highlighting recent influential achievements worldwide. The congress will also host a series of special events, including “Mathematics Night,” “Physics Night,” and “Information of Science Engineering Night,” where distinguished scientists will share their research journeys and insights. High-level cross-sector forums such as “Basic Science and AI Forum”will bring together prominent entrepreneurs and leading scholars to explore the integration of basic science and industry, promoting the translation of scientific discoveries into real-world applications.
A special “Tsinghua Day” event will invite distinguished scientists from China and abroad to engage with students at Tsinghua University, sharing knowledge and inspiring the next generation. In addition, a “Dialogue with Scientists” program for young participants will bring together outstanding high school, undergraduate, and graduate students from across the country to discuss frontier scientific questions with leading researchers.
The opening ceremony, award presentations, and welcome banquet will be held at the Yanqi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center in Beijing, while the main academic sessions will take place at the Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications. Preparations for the congress are currently progressing in an orderly manner.
Founded in 2023 by Academician Shing-Tung Yau, the International Congress of Basic Science has been successfully held for three times. The convening of ICBS 2026 represents a concrete step toward strengthening fundamental research and advancing high-level scientific self-reliance. Upholding the principles of openness, inclusiveness, collaboration, and mutual benefit, the congress seeks to foster global scientific dialogue, support Beijing’s development as an international center for scientific innovation, and contribute to the advancement of science and the shared future of humanity.
了解更多大会信息、相关动态
欢迎登录大会官网 http://www.icbs.cn
English 
简体中文