Zürcher Nachrichten - Media Invitation: Fields Medals and Cutting-Edge Math at ICM 2026 in Philadelphia

Staff reporters and freelance journalists can register to attend the conference free of charge through June 22. Media registration includes access to a press conference with the Fields Medalists and other honorees following their announcement during the July 23 opening ceremony. A press room will also be available during the conference. Discounted hotel room rates are available to attendees.

For more information, visit the ICM 2026 website or email [email protected].

The conference's opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the media conference, will also be livestreamed for free on the Simons Foundation's YouTube channel.

In addition to the awards announcements and scientific lectures, this year's ICM includes outreach events for members of the public to explore the beauty and ubiquity of mathematics.

Key Dates and Information

• Press Registration Closes: Monday, June 22, 2026

• Opening Ceremony: 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. EDT, Thursday, July 23, 2026

• Prize Winner Press Conference: 12-1:30 p.m. EDT, Thursday, July 23, 2026

• Closing Ceremony: 1-3 p.m. EDT, Thursday, July 30, 2026

Additional details about the announcement timing of the Fields Medals and other prizes will be provided at a later date.

About the ICM

The ICM is hosted by the International Mathematical Union (IMU). The first official congress took place in Zurich in 1897, though the idea for the conference originated during the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

This year's conference is supported by the American Mathematical Society and the Simons Foundation, and marks the first ICM in the United States since 1986. Thousands of mathematicians will attend the event, with hundreds from developing countries receiving travel support grants. The 2026 meeting comes at an important time for the field, as international collaboration and cooperation are critical for mathematical progress.

About the Fields Medals and Other IMU Prizes

A highlight of each ICM since 1936 has been the presentation of the Fields Medals, often called the "Nobel Prize of mathematics." At each conference, two to four mathematicians under 40 years of age are honored for making major contributions to the field.

The IMU will also present the Abacus Medal for achievements in mathematical aspects of information science, the Carl Friedrich Gauss Prize for contributions that have found significant applications outside of mathematics, the Chern Medal for outstanding achievements in mathematics, and the Leelavati Prize for public outreach.

Important Topics at This Year's ICM

This year's ICM will feature talks and lectures on exciting research across virtually every mathematical discipline, from the Kakeya conjecture to orthogonal projections to the axiomatization of fluid dynamics.

A topic that will be top of mind for many attendees is artificial intelligence, which is sparking debate over the humanity of mathematics and promising to fundamentally change how many mathematicians conduct their research. Famed mathematician and Fields Medalist Terence Tao will give a public lecture on "Mathematics in the Age of AI" on July 24, and other speakers will discuss the relationship between math and AI and the impact of AI on math education.

Contact Information

For more information, please email [email protected].

About the Simons Foundation

The Simons Foundation is a private foundation in New York City whose mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. Founded in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the foundation supports transformative science through grantmaking, in-house research and public engagement. The Simons Foundation provides grants in autism science and neuroscience; life sciences; mathematics and physical sciences; and science, society and culture. The foundation's in-house research division, the Flatiron Institute, develops and deploys computational methods to advance basic scientific research. To learn more, visit simonsfoundation.org.

SOURCE: Simons Foundation

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W.O.Ludwig--NZN