Dear colleague,

It is my pleasure to invite you to the 68th Annual Symposium of the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS) in Gijón, Spain, from the 22nd to the 26th of June 2026. 

The 68th IAVS Symposium will focus on “Understanding Ecosystems through Vegetation”. We aim to highlight the importance of vegetation studies in advancing basic and applied research on the biodiversity of world ecosystems. We welcome submissions focusing on plant communities and related topics, including biodiversity and conservation, climate change, restoration of native plants, community assembly, forestry, functional ecology, macroecology, mycorrhizal research, paleoecology, plant invasions, anthropogenic vegetation, Earth Observation approaches, or vegetation classification.

The conference will take place at Laboral City of Culture, featuring four days of plenary and parallel sessions, a mid-symposium excursion, and special meetings of IAVS working groups and the Editorial boards of Applied Vegetation Science, Journal of Vegetation Science, and Vegetation Classification and Survey. The registration fee includes access to special courses, a welcome reception at the Jardín Botánico Atlántico de Gijón, and full access to lunches, coffee breaks, poster sessions, and the social dinner.

The pre- and post-symposium excursions will offer participants the opportunity to explore some of the most emblematic ecosystems of NW Iberia, from coastal heathlands to temperate mixed forests, relict populations of subtropical ferns, Mediterranean evergreen forests, alpine habitats, and other representative landscapes of the Atlantic-Mediterranean ecotone.

The province of Asturias is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and distinctive cuisine, including a unique Cider culture. In the middle of Asturias, the coastal city of Gijón offers an attractive combination of maritime tradition, monumental heritage, and a sustainable tourism proposal. It is also one of the safest cities in Spain (which is itself one of the safest countries in Europe).

We are looking forward to seeing you in Gijón