The 24th International School on Condensed Matter Physics (ISCMP 2026) will take place from 31 August to 4 September 2026 at the International Home of Scientists “Joliot Curie”, located in St. St. Constantine and Helena, near Varna, Bulgaria.

ISCMP 2026 will bring together leading researchers, early-career scientists, and PhD students from around the world to discuss recent advances in condensed matter physics, with a particular focus on functional materials for sustainable innovation and the green technology transition.

Organised by the Georgi Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, ISCMP has established itself as a recognised international forum fostering high-quality research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of young scientists.

A Tradition of Scientific Excellence

Since its establishment in 1980, the International School on Condensed Matter Physics has been organised biennially by the Georgi Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics and its international partners.

Over the decades, ISCMP has welcomed participants from more than 40 countries, building a strong reputation for:

  • High scientific standards
  • Interdisciplinary exchange
  • Active support for early-career researchers
Conference Theme

The 2026 edition is centred on the theme:

Functional Materials for Sustainable Innovation and the Green Technology Transition: From Processing to Applications

 

Main Scientific Topics

ISCMP 2026 covers five thematic pillars in condensed matter physics and functional materials, spanning fundamental science to real-world applications.

  • Advanced materials and processing
  • Green technologies
  • Soft matter and biomaterials
  • Sensors and sensor technologies
  • Clean energy

The scientific programme will feature:

  • contributed oral and poster presentations
  • dedicated discussion and networking formats
 
Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline 31 May 2026
Notification of Acceptance 8 June 2026
Early Registration Deadline 15 June 2026
Regular Registration After 15 June 2026
Conference Dates 31 August – 4 September 2026

 

Venue & Travel

ISCMP 2026 takes place at the International Home of Scientists "Joliot Curie" in St. St. Constantine and Helena, near Varna, Bulgaria.

Conference Venue

The conference will be held at the International Home of Scientists "Joliot Curie", located in the resort of St. St. Constantine and Helena, near Varna on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

The venue is surrounded by a beautiful seaside park and offers excellent facilities for scientific meetings.

Varna is Bulgaria's third-largest city, known as the Sea Capital of Bulgaria, with rich cultural heritage and easy international access.

Getting There
  • By Air

Varna Airport (VAR): Varna Airport (VAR) operates international and domestic flights. The resort of St. St. Constantine and Helena is approximately 10 km from the airport. Alternatively, fly to Sofia Airport (SOF) and take a domestic flight or ground transport to Varna (~5 hours by road).

Sofia Airport (SOF)  If arriving via Sofia Airport, you can reach Varna by domestic flight (~1 hour), express bus (~6 hours), or rental car via the Hemus motorway (~5 hours). Detailed transfer options and group transport arrangements will be provided closer to the conference.

  • By Train

Varna is connected by rail to Sofia and other major Bulgarian cities. The central railway station is located in the city centre, from where the resort is easily reachable by bus or taxi.

  • By Bus

Regular express bus services connect Varna to Sofia (~6 hours) and other Bulgarian cities. Local buses run frequently between Varna city centre and the St. St. Constantine and Helena resort.

General Information

Practical information for participants travelling to Varna, Bulgaria.

  • Country: Bulgaria — EU member state in Southeastern Europe.
  • Location of the event: Sts. Constantine and Helena Resort, on the Black Sea coast, approximately 8 km north of Varna city.
  • Capital: Sofia.
  • Language: Bulgarian (English is widely used in academic, hospitality, and tourism contexts).
  • Time Zone: Eastern European Summer Time (EEST, UTC+3) during the conference period.
  • Weather (late August – early September): Typically warm and suitable for seaside travel; early September in Varna is usually around the mid-20s °C during the day, with sea temperature around 23 °C.
  • Currency: Euro (EUR). Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026.
  • Electricity: 230 V, 50 Hz, plug types C and F.
  • Emergency Number: Dial 112.

Accommodation

Accommodation at the conference venue with special rates for ISCMP 2026 participants.

Main Venue Hotel

International Home of Scientists "Joliot Curie"

"Fr. Joliot-Curie" International Home of Scientists
"St. Constantine and Elena" resort
Varna 9006, Bulgaria

Facilities

  • Air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms 
  • Refrigerator, TV
  • Indoor pool
  • Restaurant and bar
  • Free WiFi

Room Rates

Special accommodation rates are reserved exclusively for ISCMP 2026 participants.

Rates include: breakfast, indoor pool access, WiFi, free parking.

Single Room (1 adult) Double Room (2 adults)

50.20 EUR per night

68 EUR per night

* Hotel parking is available for hotel guests only.


Participants wishing to book accommodation are kindly requested to complete the accommodation form and submit it via email to iscmp@issp.bas.bg.

We encourage participants to complete their booking early, as accommodation capacity is limited.

Download hotel accomodation form >> 

 

Alternative Accommodation

The resort of St. St. Constantine and Helena and nearby Varna offer a variety of hotels, guesthouses, and apartment rentals.

Participants who prefer independent booking can find suitable options through major booking platforms. We recommend staying close to the conference venue in the resort area.

Programme

Proceedings & Publications

 Publication opportunities for ISCMP 2026

Detailed information will be announced in due course.

Register for ISCMP 2026

Abstract Submission

 Submit your abstract for oral or poster presentation at ISCMP 2026.

Submission Guidelines

Participants are invited to submit abstracts for oral or poster presentation. Follow the three-step process below.

1. Prepare Your Abstract
  • Use the official ISCMP abstract template.
  • Maximum length: 1 A4 page (including figures and references)
  • File format: Word or PDF
  • File naming: (Name)_ISCMP2026.docx (e.g., DimityrDimitrov_ISCMP2026.docx)
2. Submit Your Abstract
  • Send to: iscmp@issp.bas.bg
  • Email subject: ISCMP 2026 – Abstract Submission
  • Include preferred presentation type (oral/poster)
  • Include short bio (for invited speakers)
3. Review & Acceptance
  • Abstracts are reviewed by the Programme Committee
  • Authors will be notified of acceptance by 8 June 2026
  • Presentation assignment confirmed upon acceptance
 
Presentation Formats
Invited Speakers Oral Presentations Poster Presentations

40 min

(32 + 8 discussion)

20 min

(16 + 4 discussion)

A0 format, portrait

dedicated session

Posters: Mounting materials provided on-site. Authors must be present during poster session. Detailed logistics (hall, timing, setup) — to be confirmed

Best Poster Prizes

To encourage high-quality research, outstanding poster presentations will be recognised with Best Poster Prizes.

Evaluation criteria:

  • Scientific content
  • Clarity of presentation
  • Novelty and design

Download Abstract Template >>

Email: iscmp@issp.bas.bg

Contacts

Get in touch with the ISCMP 2026 organising committee.

Organiser

Georgi Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
72 Tsarigradsko shose blvd.
1784 Sofia, Bulgaria

Conference Chair

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ekaterina Iordanova

Email: iscmp@issp.bas.bg

Phone: +359 88 4 185 758

CONTACT US

72 Tsarigradsko shose blvd.
1784 Sofia, Bulgaria

 

(+359 2) 979 5758

(+359 2) 979 5792

 

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