After successful editions in Olot (2012), Lanzarote (2016), and Jičín (2024), the next IAVCEI Volcandpark Conference will take place in Sopron, Hungary, hosted by the HUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science. This international meeting is organized under the auspices of the IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Geoheritage and Protected Volcanic Landscapes, continuing the tradition of bringing together scientists, geopark professionals, and communicators dedicated to volcanic heritage and its societal value.
Volcandpark 2026 will focus on the interface between volcanology, geoheritage, geoconservation, and society, promoting dialogue between researchers, managers, and educators. The scientific program will include sessions on volcanic geology, geodiversity assessment, geohazard communication, geotourism, and community resilience in volcanic regions. This year’s meeting will also introduce a new theme — “Deep-Earth Geoheritage” — emphasizing the importance of volcanic rocks that reveal xenoliths and other lithospheric fragments. These unique “time capsules” provide direct insights into the structure and evolution of the Earth’s interior and highlight the need to protect such rare exposures.
The four-day event will combine two days of scientific sessions (26 and 28 May) with two field excursions. The intra-conference field trip (27 May) will explore the Little Hungarian Plain Volcanic Field, including the Kemenes Volcano House and Ság Hill, followed by a gala dinner and volcanic wine tasting at Somló volcano. The post-conference trip (29 May) will visit the Bakony–Balaton UNESCO Global Geopark, renowned for its inverted volcanic landscape and exceptional Deep-Earth Geoheritage sites.
A distinguished lineup of keynote speakers will address topics from geobiodiversity and marine volcanism to volcano–community relationships and creative communication of volcanic risk, including Karen Holmberg, Joan Martí, Benjamin van Wyk de Vries, Evi Nomikou, Maria Fernanda Martínez-Báez Téllez, and Gino González Ilama. The conference will also feature contributions from partners such as Springer (publisher of the Geoheritage journal and Geoheritage, Geoparks and Geotourism book series) and the MDPI journal Conservation, Geographies and Geosciences.
Registration opens 1 January 2026, with early-bird rates available until 31 March 2026. Travel grants are expected to be announced soon.
Join us in Sopron for Volcandpark 2026 — to celebrate volcanic landscapes, share innovative ideas in geoconservation, and explore the hidden connections between volcanoes and the deep Earth.