ISC 2026 Starts in One Week: What You Need to Know

The countdown is almost over. In just one week, the international chromatography community will meet in Prague for the 35th International Symposium on Chromatography (ISC 2026), taking place from September 6–10, 2026. Whether your registration has been confirmed for months or you are still deciding whether to join, now is the time to finalize your plans. Here is what you need to know before ISC 2026 begins.

ISC is the oldest conference series dedicated to separation science, with symposia organized since 1956. This September, the Prague Congress Centre will welcome researchers, industry experts, instrument manufacturers, young scientists, and other specialists for five days of chromatography and separation science, covering everything from fundamental research to pharmaceutical, environmental, food, health, and omics applications.

But before the scientific sessions begin, there are a few practical details worth checking.

ISC officially starts on September 6 – but activities begin a day earlier

The official dates for ISC 2026 are Sunday, September 6 through Thursday, September 10, but for some participants the conference starts already on Saturday, September 5.

The first Short Courses are scheduled for Saturday (SC 1 – Modern HPLC Separation in Theory and Practice and SC 2 – mzmine for LC-MS data analysis), with additional courses continuing on Sunday morning and afternoon. If you have registered for a Short Course, make sure to check its exact date and starting time before arranging your journey to Prague.

Sunday then marks the official opening of ISC 2026, with the Opening Ceremony, Award Ceremony, plenary lectures, and Welcome Reception introducing delegates to the week ahead.

Haven’t registered yet? You can still join ISC 2026

Missed the late-registration deadline? It is still possible to attend.

Onsite registration has been available since August 26, 2026, giving last-minute participants another opportunity to join the symposium. Current onsite registration fees are:

• Industry: €1,150
• Academic: €890
• Student: €390
• Short Courses: €270

The Short Course fee covers participation in up to three Short Courses.

One practical point for last-minute registration: bank-transfer payments closed on August 19, so only card payments are now accepted.

Full registration includes access to oral and poster sessions, the exhibition, the Sunday Welcome Reception, scheduled lunches and coffee breaks, the electronic Book of Abstracts, and a Prague public transportation pass.

Where is ISC 2026 and how do you get there?

ISC 2026 will take place at the:

Prague Congress Centre

• 5. května 65
• 140 21 Prague 4
• Czech Republic

The venue is particularly easy to reach by public transport. It is located directly on Prague’s Metro Line C at Vyšehrad station, just around five minutes by metro from Muzeum station in the city centre.

The Prague Congress Centre brings the lecture halls, exhibition spaces, meeting rooms, and other conference facilities together in one venue, making it easy to move between scientific sessions, posters, industry activities, and the exhibition throughout the day.

And since full conference registration includes public transportation in Prague, getting around the city during ISC should be straightforward.

When can you pick up your conference materials?

The registration desk will already be open during the Short Courses and will remain available throughout the symposium.

Registration opening hours:

• Saturday, September 5: 8:30–17:00
• Sunday, September 6: 7:30–19:00
• Monday, September 7: 7:30–18:00
• Tuesday, September 8: 7:30–19:00
• Wednesday, September 9: 8:00–18:00
• Thursday, September 10: 8:30–14:30

If you are arriving in Prague on Sunday, allowing some extra time for registration before the Opening Ceremony will make the start of the conference considerably more relaxed.

Now is the time to build your personal ISC program

With several parallel sessions running throughout the week, trying to decide where to go only after arriving at the venue may mean missing something important.

The main scientific program is organized around three broad areas:

• Fundamentals
• Bioanalysis and omics applications
• Hyphenated techniques

These are complemented by Tutorials + Young Speakers, plenary and invited lectures, poster sessions, the international exhibition, vendor seminars, and industry-focused activities.

Before leaving for Prague, take another look at the Interactive Program and mark the lectures, posters, and other activities that are most relevant to you. If you are presenting your own work, this is also the right time to double-check your assigned session, room, and presentation time.

And don’t focus only on the oral program. Poster sessions and exhibition breaks are among the best opportunities to discuss new research directly with authors, meet instrument and technology specialists, and make new contacts.

Don’t overlook the vendor seminars and industry program

ISC 2026 is not limited to academic presentations. The conference also includes an extensive industry component, with activities covering current challenges in separation science and practical applications of new analytical technologies.

During the lunchtime sessions, participants can attend vendor seminars presented by companies including Avantor, Shimadzu, Advanced Materials Technology, Restek, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Topics range from stationary-phase selectivity and chromatographic modelling to HPLC and LC-MS column technologies and advanced characterization of biotherapeutics.

The conference also includes dedicated Industry Activities from Monday through Wednesday, bringing together academic and industrial perspectives on topics relevant to analytical laboratories and the future of separation science. One of the discussions, for example, will examine how education in separation science can better reflect the skills required by modern industry, while another will focus on sustainability and the practical implementation of greener analytical workflows.

On Wednesday, participants can also join the Publishing Workshop, another activity worth adding to the schedule if scientific publishing is part of your work.

Test your chromatography knowledge at the ISC Quiz

Not every session needs to be completely serious.

On Tuesday, September 8 from 18:30 to 19:30, ISC will host an interactive Chromatography Quiz, combining practical questions, chromatography fundamentals, unusual facts, and lighter challenges.

There is no advance registration required. Any registered conference participant can join, but remember to bring a smartphone—the quiz uses live participation through a QR code.

Results will be scored in real time, and prizes will be awarded to the top three participants.

Start networking from the first evening

The scientific program may be the main reason to attend ISC, but the conversations between sessions can be equally valuable.

The first major networking opportunity comes immediately on Sunday.

The Welcome Reception will take place on September 6 from 18:30 to 20:00 in the second-floor foyer of the Prague Congress Centre. It is open to registered participants and accompanying persons and includes a light buffet and drinks.

As it takes place immediately after the opening program, it is an ideal opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, meet new contacts, and start conversations before the full parallel scientific program begins on Monday.

Another social highlight will be the Gala Dinner on Wednesday, September 9 from 19:00 to midnight at the National House Vinohrady.

The Gala Dinner requires a separate €100 ticket, is not included in the standard registration fee, and has a smart-casual dress code. Participants should also note that transportation to and from the venue is not organized by the conference.

And perhaps leave a little time for Prague

A conference schedule can fill up quickly, but ISC 2026 is taking place in one of Europe’s most walkable cities.

If you find some free time between sessions, Vyšehrad is only about a 10-minute walk from the Prague Congress Centre and offers panoramic views across Prague and the Vltava River. It is an easy option for a short walk without travelling back into the historic city centre.

See you at ISC 2026 in Prague!