by Angela Wenzik, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany
The 2026 SoftComp/EUSMI Annual Meeting 2026 was held in Zakopane, Poland, from May 18 to 21, 2026. This was the first time that the meeting was hosted in Poland. With 107 participants and five invited speakers, the event provided once more a dynamic platform for scientific exchange, international networking and new collaborations in the field of soft matter.
SoftComp Annual Meeting 2026 Group Photo, taken in front of the picturesque landscape of Zakopane
Diversity of topics – with a focus on food science
The meeting covered the usual wide range of SoftComp topics, including glasses, colloids, self-organization, biological and (bio)polymer-based systems, gels and networks, new methods, surfaces, interfaces and emulsions, and synthesis processes. Particular emphasis was placed on the consistently significant field of food science in soft matter research this year, reflected in the invited talks and a separate session devoted to this field.
Full programme: Programme 20260513.xlsx
Venue and organization
The event took place at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Residences, Zakopane, Poland, against a backdrop of impressive mountain scenery, and was organized under the leadership of meeting chairs Christophe Chassenieux (CNRS Le Mans, France) and Tommy Nylander (Lund University, Sweden).
After the festive gala dinner, many attendees took advantage of the opportunity to socialize or reconnect over a game of table football or billiards. The undisputed ‘stars’ of the table football were Miranda Buil Contreras and Flavio Carsughi.
More photos from the meeting coming soon.
