With several thousand participants from more than 40 countries, Bremen became a meeting point for international AI research for one week. IJCAI-ECAI 2026 brought together cutting-edge research on agentic AI, robotics and machine learning with debates on regulation, real-world application and societal responsibility.
Bremen, 25 August 2026. One of the world’s leading international AI conferences has come to a close in Bremen. The 35th International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence, held this year jointly with the European Conference on Artificial Intelligence, brought together research, industry, policymakers and the public from 15 to 21 August. The main programme, held from 18 to 21 August at Congress Centrum Bremen, was accompanied by preceding workshops and tutorials as well as public events.
The ten most strongly represented countries were China, Germany, the United States, Korea, the United Kingdom, Japan, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Poland. The most prominent research areas by number of submitted papers included computer vision, machine learning and data mining. In total, 858 papers were accepted from 6,342 full submissions. The acceptance rate of 13.53 percent underlines the high scientific standards of the conference.
The conference made three current lines of AI research particularly visible: first, agentic AI, multi-agent systems and robotics are moving further into focus. Second, the need for safe, transparent and governable AI systems is growing. Third, AI is increasingly understood as a joint task for research, industry, policymakers and society.
Cutting-edge research and responsibility
Three IJCAI-26 awardees set important scientific highlights: Prof. Nicholas R. Jennings, Loughborough University, received the IJCAI-26 Award for Research Excellence for his fundamental contributions to multi-agent systems, human-agent teamwork and autonomous agents. Prof. David C. Parkes, Harvard University, was honoured with the IJCAI-26 John McCarthy Award and spoke about agent societies and the role of mechanisms, incentives and institutions in governing the interaction of intelligent systems. Jiajun Wu, Assistant Professor at Stanford University, received the IJCAI-26 Computers and Thought Award and showed how computer vision, generative AI and robotics can help machines better capture geometry, material properties and physical relationships in scenes.
The session on the EU AI Act highlighted the political dimension of responsible AI. Jeroen Delfos from the European Commission explained the transition from legislation to practical implementation and made clear how research and industry can help shape this process, for example through standardisation, codes of practice, expert task forces and stakeholder consultations.
Exchange, early-career researchers and transfer
IJCAI-ECAI 2026 offered a wide range of formats for scientific exchange and transfer. Poster sessions enabled direct discussions on current research and also gave representatives from industry and technology transfer insights into new AI applications, models and research perspectives. The Early Career Spotlight Talks made outstanding early-career research visible and encouraged exchange with the international research community.
With the Industry Day and four Guided Tours through the exhibition, the conference also placed a strong focus on transfer to real-world application. International companies such as DeepL, T-Systems and SAP, Bremen-based start-ups such as Count from Above, ellamind and prokube, as well as regional stakeholders, discussed how AI research can be translated into concrete applications, infrastructures and business processes.
“Summer of AI” in Bremen
Under Bremen’s motto “Summer of AI”, artificial intelligence was also discussed with the wider public. The KI x Open Lab at Forum am Domshof made AI tangible for school groups, apprentices and interested visitors. In addition, the panel “New Directions for Safe AI Agents” and the AI Lecture “The AI Race” by Prof. Toby Walsh offered citizens the opportunity to discuss central questions of safety, governance and responsibility in dealing with AI from an international perspective.
The well-attended AI Lounges on the Open Space stage at Domshof addressed AI-related questions from the fields of media, public administration, education and the workplace. Across all topics, the central question was how AI can be used responsibly in ways that build trust, enable participation and preserve human decision-making authority. The many questions from the audience demonstrated strong public interest in accessible explanation and open dialogue.
From Bremen to Japan
With the Closing Ceremony, IJCAI-ECAI 2026 came to an end in Bremen. At the same time, the conference looked ahead to the next host cities: ECAI 2027 will take place in Athens, Greece. IJCAI 2027 will be held in Kyoto, Japan, from 7 to 13 August 2027, complemented by a satellite event on Hengqin Island, China, from 15 to 17 August 2027.
IJCAI-ECAI 2026: Recognition for Bremen as a science and research hub
The importance of the conference for Bremen was also reflected in strong political support. Dr. Andreas Bovenschulte, Mayor of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, speaking at the conference opening:
“The IJCAI-ECAI is bringing one of the most distinguished international conferences on Artificial Intelligence to Bremen. The choice for Bremen as the location of this important event is an outstanding acknowledgement for our city as a centre of science and technology. It shows the impact of AI in research, economics and society, and is, furthermore, clear evidence of the excellent conditions Bremen offers to researchers and businesses today.”
Science Senator Dr. Henrike Müller delivered the welcoming remarks at Toby Walsh’s public AI Lecture in the Bremen Parliament. At the networking reception at the Bremen booth, exchange between research, industry and policymakers was further deepened.
IJCAI-ECAI 2026 has made Bremen internationally visible as a strong hub for AI research, transfer to real-world application and responsible dialogue. The conference is moving on, but its central themes remain on Bremen’s agenda: excellent research, real-world application and open exchange on how artificial intelligence can be shaped in a human-centred, comprehensible way and for the benefit of society.
Further information:
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About the U Bremen Research Alliance
The U Bremen Research Alliance brings together the University of Bremen and thirteen non-university research institutions from all four major German science organizations—Fraunhofer Society, Helmholtz Association, Leibniz Association, and Max Planck Society—as well as the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). Together, these partner institutions shape a coordinated space for research, infrastructure, and innovation—“from the deep sea to outer space.”
Contact
IJCAI-ECAI 2026 Local Press Office
The Local Press Office of IJCAI-ECAI 2026 coordinates press relations for the conference in Bremen. It is supported by the U Bremen Research Alliance, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), and the German Informatics Society (GI), as well as the Publicity Chairs Prof. Dr. Ralf Möller (University of Hamburg, German Informatics Society) and Prof. Dr. Rolf Drechsler (University of Bremen, German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence).
As the central point of contact for the media, the Press Office provides communications support for IJCAI-ECAI 2026 and is available to media representatives from Bremen and throughout Germany for inquiries both now and during the conference.
Media inquiries: press@2026.ijcai.org
Cooperating in U Bremen Research Alliance:
