ISC 2026 Preview

The 35th International Symposium on Chromatography (ISC 2026) will be held in Prague, Czech Republic, from September 6-10, 2026. Since its inception, ISC has grown into one of the most established and respected global meetings in separation science, attracting experts, innovators, and early-career scientists working at the forefront of chromatographic and hyphenated techniques.

ISC 2026 will offer a comprehensive and stimulating scientific program designed to foster knowledge exchange across the full spectrum of separation science. The symposium will feature three parallel scientific tracks: fundamentals, bioanalysis and omics applications, and hyphenation techniques. The extensive list of invited speakers from around the world includes leading chromatographic experts to guarantee a high-quality research programme addressing all key aspects of separation science and mass spectrometry hyphenations. The main topics include:

• Fundamentals of chromatographic theory, retention mechanisms, and advances in column and stationary phase technology
• Liquid chromatography (LC), supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), gas chromatography (GC), and electro-driven separations, including chiral and bioinert approaches
• Multidimensional techniques and miniaturized/microfluidic systems
• Hyphenation to mass spectrometry (MS): LC–MS, SFC–MS, GC–MS, including ion mobility and advanced ionization techniques
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in method development and data analysis
• Practical aspects of method development, robustness, and troubleshooting
• Bioanalysis and omics applications (proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics)
• Clinical, pharmaceutical, environmental, food, and natural product analysis

In addition to the three parallel scientific tracks, ISC 2026 includes the industry track with five main activities:

• Industry & Education
• Career Presentations
• Job Fair
• Artificial Intelligence in Separation Science: From Concept to Practice;
• Sustainability in Separation Science.

The important objective of ISC 2026 is to support the work of early-career scientists and PhD students because they are the future of our field. We provide discounted conference fees for students, including the option to select from eight short courses. The short courses are designed to enhance understanding for participants at all stages of their careers. Moreover, the programme includes 27 dedicated slots for 15-minute oral presentations by young researchers and PhD students, allowing them to present their latest research findings at a leading chromatographic symposium. Poster sessions will provide additional opportunities for scientific exchange, with a Best Poster Award recognizing outstanding contributions. The symposium will also host an extensive exhibition of instrumentation, software, and consumables, bringing together leading vendors and solution providers in separation science. Vendor-sponsored seminars and demonstrations will run alongside the scientific sessions, facilitating direct dialogue between researchers and industry innovators.

In keeping with ISC tradition, the meeting will foster a collegial and inclusive environment that encourages interaction across disciplines and career stages. The special discounted rates for students and early-career attendees aim to make participation accessible to a broad community of scientists.

Prague, a vibrant European capital renowned for its architectural beauty and cultural heritage, offers a welcoming backdrop for ISC 2026. Delegates will have the opportunity to combine scientific engagement with the rich cultural and social experiences the city provides, as many chromatographers may remember from HPLC 2017 Prague.

We invite you to register for ISC 2026 and join the international separation science community for an inspiring week of discovery, discussion, and collaboration in Prague. For details and the full program, please visit: https://www.isc2026.org/.

Authors

Michal Holčapek is a professor of analytical chemistry at the University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology (Pardubice, Czech Republic), and Lucie Nováková is a professor of analytical chemistry at Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy (Hradec Králové, Czech Republic); both are the co-chairs of ISC 2026.