First Announcement APRIM2026
We are very pleased and honoured to invite you all to the 2026 Asia-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting (APRIM 2026) in Hong Kong from May 4th to 8th 2026. The venue is the iconic Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (https://www.hkcec.com/en), the best venue in our city.
Taking place only once every three years, APRIM is perhaps the largest regional meeting of the IAU second only to the IAU General Assembly itself.
We plan to gather astronomers across all career stages from the Asia-Pacific region in the amazing and vibrant city of Hong Kong. Our mission: to showcase all the exciting research activities across our community, to discuss, debate and formulate new plans for scientific collaboration and cooperation and to contribute to astronomy and astrophysics advancement from a research, educational and international perspective.
Heritage: New Zealand hosted the first APRIM in 1978, and since then, the meeting has been held regularly until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation. Japan hosted APRIM2023 but this will be the first time it has ever been held in Hong Kong which boasts 5 universities in the global top 100 and a decent astronomy heritage.
APRIM2026: We will provide all participants with an enriched and full IAU science program experience. We aim to leave a legacy of significant impact in astronomy and related sciences across the Asia Pacific through collaboration. Aware of regional and national contexts in our diverse communities we will endeavour to make APRIM2026 in Hong Kong a happy, respectful, tolerant, collegiate and inclusive event and to promote both co-operation and competitiveness across our research and to bring about innovation through strong, regional collaborations.
Important dates for APRIM2026:
- October 1st , 2025: Open for Abstract Submission and Registration Abstract Deadline
- December 5th , 2025: Abstract Deadline
- February 25th 2026: Deadline for early registration
- March 15, 2026: Deadline for VISA assistance
- May 4, 2026: Meeting starts
Meeting website is now live: aprim2026.org
Contact: Please e-mail the LOC via aprim26@hku.hk (from March 31st 2025)