Dear colleagues,
Prior to the official launch of the Conference, we would like to highlight some important details:
- The Conference will take place in October.
- In order to simplify procedures, the preliminary abstract submission round has been eliminated. Full papers or extended abstracts will therefore be the documents evaluated by the Scientific Committee.
- The submission deadline has been brought forward to 12 June. This will allow decisions to be communicated by 30 June at the latest, enabling participants to organise travel and registration before 15 July (prior to the summer holidays).
- The virtual participation option will be maintained in order to encourage international participation, although in-person attendance will be promoted as the preferred format.
- Regarding the Early Career Researcher Award “Juan Ramón Cuadrado,” eligibility is open to any non-PhD researcher, regardless of age, as well as to researchers who have defended their PhD within the three years prior to the date of the Conference.
- As a new feature in this edition, 10 full conference fee waivers are being offered to early career researchers who submit a paper as a candidate for the “Juan Ramón Cuadrado” Award, with the aim of fostering participation and supporting emerging talent in the field of Regional Science.
The Spanish Regional Science Association (AECR), together with the Catalan Regional Science Association (ACCR), cordially invite you to participate in the 50th International Conference on Regional Science, which will take place from 21 to 23 October 2026 at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), in Barcelona.
This edition is particularly significant, marking five decades of uninterrupted scientific exchange, debate, and community building in the field of Regional Science. Barcelona—the city where AECR was founded more than fifty years ago—provides a highly symbolic setting that connects the Association’s origins with present and future challenges.
As in previous editions, the Conference will serve as a multidisciplinary forum bringing together academics, professionals, and experts involved in the design and evaluation of public policies to discuss the latest advances in regional and territorial analysis. The scientific programme will include plenary lectures, panel discussions, special sessions, and parallel paper sessions. It remains the main annual meeting in Spain devoted to the study and discussion of regional and territorial issues, with a strong international outlook.
The theme chosen for this commemorative edition is: “AI-Driven Territories for a Sustainable Future: 50 Years Building Knowledge for Regional Development.”
In line with this theme, the Conference will revolve around two closely interconnected and highly topical areas: sustainability—understood from a broad and multidisciplinary perspective—and artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Discussions will address how digitalisation and AI are reshaping territories, economies, and societies, as well as the role of regions, cities, and rural areas in promoting more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development models.
We warmly encourage you to participate in this special 50th anniversary edition, which offers a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen professional networks, and collectively reflect on the achievements and future challenges of Regional Science.
It will be a pleasure to welcome you to Barcelona.
As in previous editions, submissions reporting results from ongoing research projects for which a full paper is not yet available will be accepted. In such cases, the Scientific Committee will require the submission of an extended abstract of at least 1,500 words in order to consider acceptance. Templates and further information about the Conference are available on the Conference website.
Papers that are original and authored by non-PhD researchers, regardless of age, or by researchers who have defended their PhD within the three years prior to the date of the Conference, and that are presented within the parallel sessions in the corresponding special session of the 50th Meeting of Regional Studies, will be eligible for the Juan Ramón Cuadrado Early Career Researcher Award. The Award will be granted by the Scientific Committee. The authors of the winning paper will receive an official certificate.
PhD candidates in the early stages of their doctoral research and research-oriented master’s students will benefit from a reduced registration fee, allowing them to attend the parallel sessions of the Conference and participate in the special sessions for early career researchers. In these sessions, they will have the opportunity to deliver a brief presentation of their research ideas.
The Organising Committee and the Scientific Committee also invite you to propose a Special Session for the Conference. Proposals may be submitted from today until 15 May and will be disseminated as they are received and approved by both Committees. Proposals should include the session title, the name(s) of the coordinator(s), and a brief summary of the content, and must be sent to the Conference Secretariat at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. It is recommended to secure at least four contributions per special session. In the event of a high number of submissions, papers may be distributed across different time slots in accordance with the coordinators’ criteria.
Kind regards. We look forward to welcoming you to Barcelona,
The Organising Committee