International Palaeontological Congress

Name: International Palaeontological Congress
Start: 2026-11-30
End: 2026-12-03
Location: Cape Town

ConferenceAwardedPalaeontology, Earth Sciences, Geology, Evolutionary BiologyIn-personRecurring-Other

Cape Town, ZA30 Nov 2026 – 3 Dec 20264 days

Delegates

500+

Countries

40+

Duration

4 days · 30 Nov 2026 – 3 Dec 2026

Frequency

Recurring-Other

About this congress

The 7th International Palaeontological Congress (IPC7) is a global meeting dedicated to palaeontology, bringing together palaeontologists, researchers, and enthusiasts worldwide to explore past life on Earth. It will feature discussions, presentations, symposia, workshops, and field trips covering topics such as fossil discovery, evolutionary biology, paleoecology, and climate change. The congress aims to advance the understanding of Earth's history, biodiversity, and evolutionary processes, fostering international collaboration and promoting palaeotourism and science communication. This is the first time the congress will be held in Africa.

Data completeness: 97%Bronze

Key details

City & country: Cape Town, ZA
Dates: 30 Nov 2026 – 3 Dec 2026
Duration: 4 days
Frequency: Recurring-Other
Format: In-person
Rotation pattern: Global rotation
Commercial type: B2BScientific Congress
Official website: www.ipc7.site — register free for link access

Who attends

Palaeontologistsgeologistsresearchersstudents (undergraduatepostgraduatePhD)postdoctoral fellowseducatorsand the wider public interested in palaeosciences

Programme

Tracks

Major biotic events during the Ordovician and Silurian and their dynamicsPaleoneurology, cognition, and behaviour of vertebrates, from fish to homininsThe History and pre-history of palaeosciences, geomyths, and indigenous palaeontologyRecent advances in Mongolian Cretaceous Palaeontology and GeologyLife in the Phanerozoic Oceans: Evolution, diversity and ecology in deep time marine ecosystemsThe Precambrian: the earliest chronicles of life on EarthIchnology – traces as multi-disciplinary lenses into the deep pastBiogeography: ranging through a dynamic EarthDevonian stratigraphy, environments and palaeontology with focus on GondwanaFilling knowledge gaps in the Early Palaeozoic BiodiversificationRecent advances in vertebrate taphonomyIchthyosaur evolution and biologyOrigins: Triassic and Early Jurassic dinosaursPaleobionics: the biomechanical factors that drive evolutionPangea in crisis: life on land during the Permian–TriassicRecent advances in dinosaur eggs and reproductionDisease in the fossil recordAdvances on the histology of the mineralised tissues of vertebratesFlight evolution in vertebratesCommunicating palaeosciencesNew directions in palaeoanthropological research in Southern Africa

2 workshops

Networking events

Welcome icebreaker function
Gala dinner

Host city history — 6 congresses since 2002

2022Khon KaenTH← current

2018ParisFR

2014MendozaAR

2010LondonGB

2006BeijingCN

2002SydneyAU

AsiaEuropeLatin AmericaOceania

TH ×1FR ×1AR ×1GB ×1CN ×1AU ×1

Based on the rotation history, the next congress is likely to move to Oceania.

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