Conference schedule

Conference overview

ECCB 2026 will take place from 31 August to 4 September 2026 in Geneva. The programme includes three days of main conference sessions (31 Aug–2 Sept), followed by a full day of tutorials and workshops and the ISCB Student Council Symposium (3 September), and a community-driven SIB Communities Day (4 Sept).

Open schedule

Monday 31.08

MAIN CONFERENCE

Opening Ceremony | 10:00–11:00
(Including a dance performance)

Opening Keynote
Jeremy Farrar

3 x Scientific sessions 
(Proceedings & Highlight talks)

3 x Special track sessions
(2 Elixir I 1 Industry)

Public lecture (in French)
14:00 - 17:15

🎉 Welcome reception
17:15 – 18:30

Tuesday 01.09

MAIN CONFERENCE

2 × Keynote lectures
Anna-Sapfo Malaspinas
Stephen Quake

3 × Scientific sessions
(Proceedings & Highlight talks)

3 × Special track sessions
(1 Elixir I 2 Focus sessions)

Poster Session 1

🎉 Conference party
18:15 – 00:00

Wednesday 02.09

MAIN CONFERENCE

3 × Scientific sessions
(Proceedings & Highlight talks)

3 × Special track sessions
(1 Elixir I 2 Focus sessions)

Poster session 2 + Career Workshop

Closing Keynote 
Aleksandra Walczak

Conference closing | 16:00

Thursday 03.09

TUTORIALS & WORKSHOPS
(full programme here)

ISCB Student Council

SIB SAB Meeting
(upon invitation only)

Friday 4.09

COMMUNITIES DAY
Satellite event of SIB

Independent events organized by SIB communities. Full programme here.

A prestigious moment to highlight ECCB’s political importance

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of ECCB 2026 will position Geneva as a global hub for dialogue on data, artificial intelligence, and the future of life sciences.

The ceremony will bring together leading representatives from Swiss federal and cantonal authorities, including the President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, the President of the Canton of Geneva, Anne Hiltpold, and the President of SIB, Simone de Montmollin, alongside academic leaders and representatives of the scientific community.

Their remarks will highlight Switzerland’s commitment to data-driven research and responsible innovation in artificial intelligence, reflecting the growing strategic importance of data-driven science for innovation, health, the environment, and international cooperation.

Guy Parmelin
President of the Swiss Confederation

Anne Hiltpold
President of the Canton of Geneva

Simone de Montmollin
Swiss National Councillor
President of the Science, Education and Culture Committee at the Federal Parliament