- Why attend an experimental psychology conference in 2026?
- Top 10 experimental psychology conferences in 2026
- 1. ★ International Psychology Conference 2026 —PubScholars (Boston, USA)
- 2. APS Annual Convention 2026 —Association for Psychological Science
- 3. Psychonomic Society 67th Annual Meeting 2026
- 4. CogSci 2026 — 48th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society
- 5. Joint ESCoP-CoPM Meeting 2026 — Hangzhou, China
- 6. EWoMS 2026 — 11th European Working Memory Symposium
- 7. SEPEX 2026 — Spanish Society of Experimental Psychology
- 8. SARMAC XIII — Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
- Quick comparison: experimental psychology conferences 2026
- What is experimental psychology — and why do these conferences matter?
- How to choose the right experimental psychology conference
- If you research cognition, memory, or perception
- If you research at the AI and cognition intersection
- If you want to present and get published
- If you are based in Europe
- If you are an early-career researcher
- Useful guides before you attend or submit
- Frequently asked questions — experimental psychology conferences 2026
- What is the best experimental psychology conference in 2026?
- Which experimental psychology conference is hybrid in 2026?
- Where can I submit an abstract for an experimental psychology conference in 2026?
- What is the difference between experimental psychology and cognitive psychology conferences?
- Are there experimental psychology conferences with CEU credits in 2026?
- Final thought
Experimental psychology is the branch of psychology that tests ideas through controlled research —designing studies, collecting data, and measuring behaviour under precise conditions. It is the scientific engine behind everything from cognitive therapy to AI in mental health.If you work in experimental psychology, cognitive science, behavioural research, or allied fields, the right conference is where your methodology improves, yourfindings get peer scrutiny, and your next collaboration begins. This guide covers the 10 most important experimental psychology conferences in 2026.For a broader list of psychology events, see our guide to the top 10 psychology conferences in 2026.
Why attend an experimental psychology conference in 2026?
Here is what you gain by attending:
- Hear findings from the most cited researchers in cognition, perception, memory, and behaviour —months before publication.
- Present your work to a specialist audience who can give methodologically informed feedback.
- Earn continuing education credits for licence or accreditation renewal.
- Find collaborators for multi-site replication studies and cross-disciplinary projects.
- Discover new experimental methods, software tools, and lab technologies being used in the field.
Top 10 experimental psychology conferences in 2026
1. ★ International Psychology Conference 2026 —PubScholars (Boston, USA)
Date: November 20–21, 2026
Location: Aloft Boston Seaport District, 401–403 D St, Boston, MA 02210, USA (Hybrid —in-person and virtual)
Theme: “Next-Generation Neuropsychiatry & Mental Health: Integrating AI, Genomics and Clinical Excellence”
The PubScholars Psychology Conference 2026 is the most accessible international event on this list for experimental psychologists who want to present research and get it published. The conference covers cognitive and behavioural psychology, AI in mental health, neuropsychiatry, experimental research methods, and trauma-informed approaches —with both in-person and virtual attendance available.
Abstract submissions are reviewed by an international scientific committee and accepted papers are published in official conference proceedings. For researchers who want publication credit alongside conference presentation, this is the strongest option in 2026.
Who should attend: Experimental psychologists, cognitive researchers, behavioural scientists, neuropsychiatrists, mental health researchers, and postgraduatestudents presenting original research
CEUs / Credits: CPD-accredited credits available. Contact info@pubscholars.org
Abstract submission: https://psychologyconference.pubscholars.org/submit-abstract/
Website: https://psychologyconference.pubscholars.org/
2. APS Annual Convention 2026 —Association for Psychological Science
Date: May 28–30, 2026
Location: Centro de Convenciones Internacional de Barcelona (CCIB), Barcelona, Spain
The APS Annual Convention is the world’s leading conference for psychological science and the most important event of the year for experimental researchers. The 2026 edition is the first held outside the United States —making it a landmark event for the international experimental psychology community.
The programme features Integrative Science Symposia, an Industry Day, and AI-focused content threaded throughout every track. Topics include memory, perception, cognition, language, brain development, and the replication crisis. For experimental psychologists, APS is the peer-reviewed equivalent of the academic journal in conference form.
Who should attend: Experimental psychologists, cognitive scientists, perception researchers, memory researchers, neuroscientists, and advanced students focused on the science of psychology
CEUs / Credits: CE credits available —verify on psychologicalscience.org
Website: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/conventions/2026-aps-annual-convention
3. Psychonomic Society 67th Annual Meeting 2026
Date: November 19–22, 2026
Location: Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, San Diego, California, USA
The Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting is the most focused and prestigious gathering for the experimental study of cognition in the world. With over 5,600 members, the Society defines the science of cognitive psychology — and its annual meeting is where the most important cognitive research is first presented.
Sessions cover attention, perception, memory, language, decision-making, and cognitive neuroscience. Presentations are paper-based and rigorously peer-reviewed. For experimental psychologists working in cognition specifically, this is the unmissable event of 2026.
Who should attend: Cognitive psychologists, experimental researchers in attention, memory, perception, and language; neuroscientists; and PhD students in experimental psychology
CEUs / Credits: CE credits available — verify on psychonomic.org
Website: https://www.psychonomic.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2062010
4. CogSci 2026 — 48th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society
Date: July 22–25, 2026
Location: Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Hybrid — in-person and virtual)
CogSci 2026 is the annual conference of the Cognitive Science Society — the interdisciplinary event that sits at the intersection of experimental psychology, artificial intelligence, linguistics, neuroscience, and philosophy of mind. The 48th edition is fully hybrid, with virtual presenters and attendees integrated synchronously throughout the programme.
All accepted papers are published in online proceedings under a CC-BY licence and are accessible for 24 months post-conference. Student travel grants are available, and the programme includes the prestigious Marr Prize for best student paper. For researchers in cognitive science and experimental psychology, CogSci is the most internationally diverse event of 2026.
Who should attend: Cognitive scientists, experimental psychologists, AI researchers, linguists, neuroscientists, and philosophers of mind; undergraduate and postgraduate student researchers are particularly welcome
CEUs / Credits: Verify on cognitivesciencesociety.org
Website: https://cognitivesciencesociety.org/cogsci-2026/
5. Joint ESCoP-CoPM Meeting 2026 — Hangzhou, China
Date: August 31 – September 4, 2026
Location: Hangzhou, China
The Joint ESCoP-CoPM Meeting 2026 brings together the European Society for Cognitive Psychology and the Cognitive Processes and Modelling Division of the Chinese Psychological Society. It is the major cognitive psychology research event of 2026 for European and Asia-Pacific researchers.
The programme includes keynote lectures, satellite symposia, individual oral presentations, and poster sessions. It is one of the few events that combines Western and East Asian cognitive research traditions in a single programme — making it uniquely valuable for researchers interested in cross-cultural cognition and international collaboration.
Who should attend: Cognitive psychologists, experimental researchers in cognitive control, metacognition, and introspection; early-career researchers eligible for ESCoP Early Career Publication Awards (€1,000)
CEUs / Credits: Verify on escop-copm-2026.com
Website: https://www.escop-copm-2026.com/
6. EWoMS 2026 — 11th European Working Memory Symposium
Date: August 26–28, 2026
Location: Lyon, France
The European Working Memory Symposium is a high-profile specialist event held every two years, dedicated entirely to working memory research. The 11th edition in Lyon carries the theme “Working Memory, Strategy, and Consciousness” with keynote speaker Alessandra Souza from Porto University.
For experimental psychologists whose research touches working memory, attention, or cognitive control, EWoMS is the most focused peer group event in the European calendar. The symposium bridges traditional cognitive perspectives and neuroscientific approaches.
Who should attend: Researchers in working memory, attention, cognitive control, consciousness, and related areas of experimental and cognitive psychology
CEUs / Credits: Verify on escop.eu
Website: https://ewoms11.sciencesconf.org/
7. SEPEX 2026 — Spanish Society of Experimental Psychology
Date: 2026 — confirm current dates on sepex.es
Location: Spain — confirm venue on sepex.es
The SEPEX Annual Conference is the primary experimental psychology conference in Spain and one of the most important in Southern Europe. It covers experimental methods, cognitive psychology, perception, neuroscience, and psychophysiology, drawing researchers from Spanish universities and international institutions.
For experimental psychologists working in or with the European research community, SEPEX offers a more intimate and methodologically focused alternative to the larger international events.
Who should attend: Experimental psychologists, cognitive scientists, and neuroscientists based in or connected to Spanish and Southern European research communities
CEUs / Credits: Verify on sepex.es
Website: https://psicologosmai.es/
8. SARMAC XIII — Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
Date: 2026 — confirm current dates on sarmac.org
Location: USA — confirm venue on sarmac.org
SARMAC brings together researchers focused on applying memory and cognitive science findings to real-world settings — eyewitness testimony, education, clinical memory disorders, workplace cognition, and technology. It is the meeting point between the laboratory and the applied world for cognitive researchers.
For experimental psychologists whose work has practical applications, SARMAC offers a uniquely engaged audience that understands both the science and its implications.
Who should attend: Applied cognitive psychologists, memory researchers, forensic psychologists using cognitive methods, and educational psychologists grounded in experimental research
CEUs / Credits: Verify on sarmac.org
Website: https://www.sarmac.org/
9. Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS) Annual Meeting 2026
Date: March 7–10, 2026
Location: JW Marriott Parq Vancouver Hotel, Vancouver, BC, Canada
The CNS Annual Meeting sits directly at the border between experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience — exactly where most cutting-edge experimental research now operates. The Vancouver meeting draws researchers working on attention, memory, executive function, language, and perception using neuroimaging, EEG, and computational approaches.
For experimental psychologists whose methodology includes any neuroimaging or electrophysiology component, CNS is the most important annual gathering to attend.
Who should attend: Cognitive neuroscientists, experimental psychologists using neuroimaging or electrophysiology, memory and attention researchers, and clinician-researchers working in cognitive rehabilitation
CEUs / Credits: Verify on cogneurosociety.org
Website: https://www.cogneurosociety.org/annual-meeting/
10. International Conference on Psychology, Cognitive and Behavioural Sciences (ICPCB 2026)
Date: 2026 — confirm dates on waset.org
Location: Multiple cities — confirm current schedule on waset.org
ICPCB is a recurring international conference covering the full range of experimental, cognitive, and behavioural psychology research. It runs in multiple cities across the year, making it accessible to researchers globally without requiring transcontinental travel.
The conference welcomes oral and poster presentations across experimental design, cognitive models, behavioural interventions, and applied psychology. For early-career researchers seeking their first international presentation outside their home region, ICPCB is a practical and accessible entry point.
Who should attend: Experimental psychologists, cognitive scientists, behavioural researchers, and postgraduate students presenting original experimental research at any career stage
CEUs / Credits: Verify on waset.org
Website: https://waset.org/psychology-cognitive-education-and-behavioral-sciences-conference
Quick comparison: experimental psychology conferences 2026
Use this table to find the best match for your goals at a glance.
| Conference | Hybrid | Abstract | CEUs | AI Focus | Featured |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PubScholars Psychology 2026 ★ | Hybrid | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| APS Annual Convention 2026 | In-person | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Psychonomic Society 2026 | In-person | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| CogSci 2026 | Hybrid | ✓ | Limited | ✓ | ✗ |
| Joint ESCoP-CoPM 2026 | In-person | ✓ | Limited | ✗ | ✗ |
| SEPEX 2026 | In-person | ✓ | Limited | ✗ | ✗ |
| EWOMS 2026 | In-person | Limited | Limited | ✗ | ✗ |
All dates accurate as of May 2026. Always verify on official conference websites before registering.
What is experimental psychology — and why do these conferences matter?
Experimental psychology is the systematic study of behaviour and mental processes through controlled experiments. It covers perception, attention, memory, language, decision-making, emotion, and social behaviour — using rigorous methodology to test hypotheses and build theory.
These conferences matter because experimental findings only become useful when they are peer-reviewed, challenged, and replicated. The conferences on this list are where experimental psychologists submit their strongest work, face the hardest questions, and find the collaborators who will help them answer them.
For broader clinical and applied psychology events, see our guide to the top 10 psychology conferences in 2026.
How to choose the right experimental psychology conference
If you research cognition, memory, or perception
The Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting (Nov 19–22, San Diego) is the most focused and rigorous event in cognitive psychology. It is the first choice for researchers in attention, memory, and perception. The PubScholars Psychology Conference 2026 (Nov 20–21, Boston) is the best option if you also need publication credit alongside your presentation.
If you research at the AI and cognition intersection
CogSci 2026 (July 22–25, Rio de Janeiro) is the strongest choice. The Society for Cognitive Science explicitly bridges AI, psychology, linguistics, and neuroscience — and the 2026 programme has substantial AI content. APS in Barcelona (May 28–30) is a strong second option.
If you want to present and get published
The International Psychology Conference 2026 (Nov 20–21, Boston) is the most straightforward route to international presentation with publication in conference proceedings. Abstract submission is open .
If you are based in Europe
The Joint ESCoP-CoPM Meeting (Aug 31 – Sep 4, Hangzhou) is the flagship cognitive psychology event connecting European and Asian researchers. EWoMS (Aug 26–28, Lyon) is the top specialist event if working memory is your focus. APS in Barcelona is the most accessible major international event on European soil in 2026.
If you are an early-career researcher
CogSci 2026 has the strongest student programme — including travel grants and the Marr Prize for best student paper. The PubScholars Psychology Conference 2026 also welcomes postgraduate students and offers a poster presenter category. Before you submit, read our guide on how to write a conference abstract.
Useful guides before you attend or submit
These PubScholars resources will help you prepare:
- How to write a conference abstract — structure, format, and a ready-to-use template
- What is the purpose of a conference committee — understand how your abstract is reviewed
- Conference papers vs journal papers — decide the right publication route for your research
- Top 10 psychology conferences in 2026 — broader list including clinical, I-O, and positive psychology events
- Guide to USA conference visa requirements — for international attendees travelling to San Diego or Boston
Frequently asked questions — experimental psychology conferences 2026
What is the best experimental psychology conference in 2026?
The Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting (Nov 19–22, San Diego) is the most prestigious event specifically for experimental cognitive psychology. The APS Annual Convention (May 28–30, Barcelona) is the broadest international gathering for psychological science, with strong experimental and cognitive content across every track.
Which experimental psychology conference is hybrid in 2026?
CogSci 2026 (July 22–25, Rio de Janeiro) is fully hybrid — all presenters can choose in-person or virtual, and all sessions are streamed synchronously. The PubScholars Psychology Conference 2026 (Nov 20–21, Boston) is also hybrid with full virtual session access and a digital certificate. Register at psychologyconference.pubscholars.org.
Where can I submit an abstract for an experimental psychology conference in 2026?
For PubScholars Psychology Conference (Boston, Nov 20–21): Submit Abstract Now . For CogSci 2026: submissions closed February 2026 at cognitivesciencesociety.org. For APS: submissions closed in December 2025. For Psychonomic Society: visit psychonomic.org for 2026 submission dates. For Joint ESCoP-CoPM (Hangzhou): submission deadline was March 15, 2026 at escop-copm-2026.com.
What is the difference between experimental psychology and cognitive psychology conferences?
There is significant overlap. Experimental psychology is a methodology — it refers to testing hypotheses using controlled studies. Cognitive psychology is a content area — focusing on mental processes like memory, attention, and language. Most cognitive psychology conferences are also experimental psychology conferences because cognitive researchers use experimental methods. The Psychonomic Society, APS, and CogSci all qualify as both.
Are there experimental psychology conferences with CEU credits in 2026?
Yes. The APS Annual Convention, Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting, and the PubScholars Psychology Conference all offer continuing education credits. Verify current accreditation details on each official website, as CEU categories and hours vary by event and country.
Final thought
Experimental psychology advances one well-designed study at a time. The conferences on this list are where those studies are stress-tested, refined, and built upon by the global research community.
If you are ready to present your research internationally in 2026, abstract submissions are open now at the PubScholars Psychology Conference 2026 (November 20–21, Boston, MA).
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