The 65th ERSA congress will be held at Sofia in Bulgaria from 25 to 28 August 2026 with onsite participation only. 

The 2026 ERSA Congress on “Global Challenges and Regional Responses in a Transition Era” seeks to examine how regions confront and adapt to the accelerating transformations of our time — economic, social, environmental, technological, and geopolitical. In an age defined by uncertainty and transition, regional science provides the analytical tools and policy frameworks needed to understand these dynamics and design effective responses.

The Congress aims to stimulate dialogue among scholars, practitioners, and decision-makers on how territories can enhance resilience, foster innovation, and ensure social and spatial cohesion. It will emphasize the importance of place-based strategies, multilevel governance, and collaborative approaches that link local potential to global change.

By connecting global challenges with regional responses, the event will reaffirm the central role of Regional Science in shaping pathways toward a more sustainable, inclusive, and adaptive future for people and places worldwide.

With around 800 participants from all continents, the ERSA Congress is the world’s leading event in regional science — a unique forum for presenting research, exchanging ideas, and building collaborations that shape the future of people and places in a changing world. In 2026, Sofia and Bulgaria will proudly host this global community, offering a vibrant setting where knowledge, dialogue, and innovation converge.