Top Brain Research Conferences to Attend in 2026

“Brain conference 2026” is a phrase that means different things to different people. Some are looking for the BRAIN Conference held in London in March. Others mean the FENS Brain Conferences series in Greece. Others mean the NIH BRAIN Initiative Conference in the USA. All three are real, separate events — and none of them are the same thing. 

This guide brings together the most important brain research conferences of 2026 in one place — covering neuroimaging, neurotechnology, neurodegeneration, and clinical neurology. For each event we list the date, location, who should attend, and what you gain. We also feature the PubScholars International Neurology Conference 2026, a hybrid event with abstract submission open and publication in conference proceedings. 

For Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s research specifically, see our guide to the top Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s conferences in 2026. For the broader neuroscience calendar, see our top neuroscience conferences in 2026 guide. 

What does “Brain Conference 2026” actually refer to? 

Before the list, it helps to clear up the ambiguity. At least four different events use some version of the phrase “brain conference” in 2026: 

• The BRAIN Conference 2026 (Guarantors of Brain) — held March 20, 2026 at Minster Building, London, in partnership with the journal Brain. Covered novel genes and technology, trauma and regeneration, and disease of later life. This edition has already taken place. 
• The Brain Conferences (FENS / Lundbeck Foundation) — a biannual series held in Rungsted Kyst, Denmark and Heraklion, Crete. The 2026 edition runs October 5–8 in Heraklion, Greece, with regular registration open until June 15, 2026. 
• The BRAIN Initiative Conference (NIH, USA) — a free, public event run by the US National Institutes of Health, August 11–13, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. Focused on BRAIN-funded neurotechnology research. 
• Other “brain conference” named events — including newborn brain conferences, brain injury conferences, and patient-focused “Mind Your Brain” events. These serve different audiences from academic neuroscience research. 

If you searched “brain conference 2026” hoping to find research events relevant to neuroscience, neurology, or neurodegeneration — this guide covers the most important ones, regardless of which exact name they use. 

Why attend a brain research conference in 2026? 

Brain science in 2026 sits at the intersection of neuroimaging, AI, genomics, and clinical neurology. The conferences on this list reflect that breadth — from basic neuroscience to translational research to clinical practice. 

Here is what you gain by attending: 

•  Access to the latest neuroimaging, neurotechnology, and brain-mapping research before journal publication. 
• CME and CPD credits for licence renewal at clinically focused events. 
• Direct exposure to AI-assisted brain research methods and digital biomarkers. 
• Networking with neuroscientists, neurologists, and brain health researchers from around the world. 
• Abstract presentation opportunities to share your brain research with an international audience. 

Top brain research conferences in 2026

1. ★ International Neurology 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 Neurology: Integrating AI, Genomics & Clinical Excellence” 

The International Neurology Conference 2026 is the most accessible event on this list for brain researchers who want to present their work internationally and get it published. The conference covers neuroimaging innovations, AI in neurological diagnosis, neurotechnology and neuroprosthetics, neurodegeneration, neuroinformatics, and clinical neurology across stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and movement disorders. 

Both in-person and virtual attendance are fully supported. Abstracts are reviewed by an international scientific committee and accepted papers are published in official conference proceedings. Virtual attendees receive full session access and a digital certificate. 

Who should attend: Neuroscientists, neurologists, neuroimaging researchers, neurotechnology developers, AI researchers in brain science, and postgraduate students presenting original brain research 

CME / CPD Credits: CPD-accredited credits available. Contact info@pubscholars.org 

Abstract submission: https://pubscholars.org/submit-abstract/ 

Website: https://pubscholars.org/ 

 Early Bird Registration closes June 30, 2026. Abstract submission is open. 

2. OHBM 2026 — Organization for Human Brain Mapping Annual Meeting (Bordeaux, France) 

Date: June 14–18, 2026 

Location: Palais des Congrès, Bordeaux, France 

The OHBM 2026 Annual Meeting is the world’s leading conference dedicated to human brain mapping — the study of the brain’s anatomical and functional organisation through neuroimaging. It is the central annual gathering for researchers using MRI, fMRI, PET, EEG, and other imaging techniques to understand how the brain works. 

The Bordeaux meeting brings together neuroimaging researchers, computational neuroscientists, and clinical neurologists working with brain imaging data. For anyone whose research involves brain imaging methods, OHBM is the most important annual event. 

Who should attend: Neuroimaging researchers, computational neuroscientists, clinical neurologists using imaging, and graduate students in brain mapping and imaging methods 

CME / CPD Credits: Limited — verify on humanbrainmapping.org 

Website: https://www.humanbrainmapping.org/OHBM2026

3. The Brain Conferences 2026 — FENS / Lundbeck Foundation (Heraklion, Greece) 

Date: October 5–8, 2026 

Location: Heraklion, Crete, Greece 

“The Brain Conferences” are a biannual series organised by the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) in collaboration with the Lundbeck Foundation, the awarder of The Brain Prize. The 2026 edition takes place in Heraklion, Crete, chaired by Michael Long, Daniela Vallentin, and David Poeppel. Regular registration is open until June 15, 2026. 

These meetings are deliberately small and focused — designed to combine excellent science with an open atmosphere and close interaction between researchers. The Brain Prize and FENS also offer stipends and waived registration for eligible international participants. 

Who should attend: Neuroscientists working on the conference’s specific annual theme, early-career researchers seeking close interaction with leading scientists, and FENS member researchers 

CME / CPD Credits: Limited — verify on fens.org 

Website: https://www.fens.org/ 

4. 2026 BRAIN Initiative Conference — National Institutes of Health (Rockville, MD, USA) 

Date: August 11–13, 2026 

Location: Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, Rockville, MD, USA 

The 2026 BRAIN Initiative Conference convenes BRAIN-funded grant awardees, NIH leadership, and the wider neuroscience community to discuss the future of BRAIN Initiative-funded research — covering neurotechnology, brain mapping tools, and technology-driven innovation. This year’s theme is “Inventing the Future.” 

The conference is free and open to the public, with registration open until July 27, 2026. An Early Career Researcher networking event runs the evening before the main programme begins — making this an accessible entry point for trainees into the US neurotechnology research community. 

Who should attend: BRAIN Initiative grant awardees, neurotechnology researchers, early-career researchers and trainees in neuroscience, and anyone interested in US-funded brain research priorities 

CME / CPD Credits: Not applicable — free public research conference 

Website: https://braininitiative.nih.gov/

5. Neuroscience 2026 — Society for Neuroscience (Washington, DC, USA) 

Date: November 14–18, 2026 

Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC, USA 

The SfN Annual Meeting is the largest neuroscience conference in the world, covering every area of brain research — from molecular and cellular neuroscience to cognitive and clinical neuroscience. With tens of thousands of attendees and thousands of abstract presentations, the sheer scale of brain-related content makes it an essential event for almost any brain researcher. 

Abstract submission opens May 27, 2026 and closes June 10, 2026. For researchers wanting the broadest possible audience for their brain research, SfN remains the largest platform available. 

Who should attend: Basic, translational, and clinical neuroscientists across all brain research areas, graduate students, and pharmaceutical researchers in CNS 

CME / CPD Credits: CME credits available — verify on sfn.org 

Website: https://www.sfn.org/ 

6. EAN Congress 2026 — European Academy of Neurology (Geneva, Switzerland) 

Date: 2026 — confirm exact dates on ean.org 

Location: Geneva, Switzerland 

Theme: Computing in Neurological Practice 

The 12th EAN Congress 2026 in Geneva explores how computing and AI are transforming neurological practice. The opening session features the Brain Prize Lecture, delivered in 2026 by Frank Winkler, joint winner of the Brain Prize 2025 for pioneering work in cancer neuroscience. The congress also includes the Moritz Romberg Award Lecture on Parkinson’s disease history and the Camillo Golgi Award Lecture on glioma research. 

For European neurologists and brain researchers, EAN Congress 2026 is the most important regional event — combining cutting-edge brain science with clinical neurology practice. 

Who should attend: European neurologists across all subspecialties, brain tumour researchers, movement disorder specialists, and clinicians integrating computing and AI into neurological practice 

CME / CPD Credits: European CME credits (ECMEC) available — verify on ean.org 

Website: https://www.ean.org/ 

7. The BRAIN Conference 2026 — Guarantors of Brain (London, UK) — Already Held 

Date: March 20, 2026 (already held) 

Location: Minster Building, 21 Mincing Lane, London EC3R 7AG, UK 

The BRAIN Conference 2026, organised by Guarantors of Brain in partnership with the journal Brain, took place March 20, 2026 in London. The themes were Novel Genes and Technology, Trauma and Regeneration, and Disease of Later Life, with a plenary talk by the 2025 Guarantors of Brain Prize recipient, Professor Dimitri Kullmann of University College London. 

This edition has already taken place. For researchers interested in this specific event, watch conference.guarantorsofbrain.org for announcements about the 2027 edition, including poster presentation registration which typically opens the preceding autumn. 

Who should attend: UK-based neuroscience researchers, specialists in neurology, neuroimmunology, and cognitive neuroscience, and early-career researchers building their academic profile 

CME / CPD Credits: CPD credits available — verify on conference.guarantorsofbrain.org 

Website: https://conference.guarantorsofbrain.org/ 

8. Brain Awareness Week 2026 — Global Outreach Campaign 

Date: March 16–22, 2026 (already held) 

Location: Global — events across Europe, USA, and worldwide 

Brain Awareness Week is a global campaign coordinated by the Dana Foundation, with strategic partners including the Society for Neuroscience, FENS, and the International Brain Research Organization. The 2026 edition ran March 16–22, with 32 funded projects across 19 European countries alone. 

As part of Brain Awareness Week 2026, a major policy event — Brain Health Day: Prevention, Policy, Progress — was held in Brussels on March 18, bringing together the European Academy of Neurology, the European Brain Council, and FENS to discuss a coordinated European approach to brain health across the lifespan. 

Who should attend: Researchers and institutions interested in public engagement and outreach; policy-focused brain health professionals; not primarily an academic presentation venue 

CME / CPD Credits: Not applicable — public outreach campaign 

Website: https://www.fens.org/engagement/outreach/baw 

Quick comparison: brain research conferences 2026 at a glance 

Use this table to find the best match for your goals and timeline. 

Conference	Hybrid	Abstract	CME	USA	Date
PubScholars Neurology 2026 ★	Hybrid	✓	✓	✓	Nov 20–21
OHBM 2026 (Bordeaux)	In-person	✓	Limited	✗	Jun 14–18
FENS Brain Conferences (Heraklion)	In-person	✓	Limited	✗	Oct 5–8
NIH BRAIN Initiative (Rockville)	In-person	✓	✗	✓	Aug 11–13
SfN Neuroscience 2026	Partial	✓	✓	✓	Nov 14–18
EAN Congress 2026 (Geneva)	In-person	✓	✓	✗	2026
Guarantors of Brain Conf. (London)	In-person	Closed	Limited	✗	Mar 20 ✓ held

 

All dates verified as of May 2026. The BRAIN Conference (London) and Brain Awareness Week have already taken place. Confirm remaining events on official websites before registering. 

How to choose the right brain conference for you 

If you work in neuroimaging or brain mapping 

OHBM 2026 (Jun 14–18, Bordeaux) is the definitive event for human brain mapping research. If you also want to present your work with publication in conference proceedings, the  Neurology Conference 2026 (Nov 20–21, Boston) covers neuroimaging innovations as part of its programme. 

If you want to present and get published in 2026 

The Neurology Conferences 2026 (Nov 20–21, Boston) is the most accessible option for abstract submission, international peer review, and publication in conference proceedings. Submit at pubscholars.org/submit-abstract/. 

If your research is funded by or aligned with the NIH BRAIN Initiative 

The 2026 BRAIN Initiative Conference (Aug 11–13, Rockville, MD) is free, public, and specifically designed for the BRAIN-funded research community. Registration is open until July 27, 2026. 

If you are early-career and want close interaction with leading scientists 

The Brain Conferences (FENS / Lundbeck, Oct 5–8, Heraklion) are deliberately small and focused, with stipends available for international participants. This format favours genuine scientific exchange over scale. 

If you are based in Europe and work in clinical neurology 

The EAN Congress 2026 (Geneva) is the most important regional event, with its 2026 theme focused on computing in neurological practice. For Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s specifically, see our top Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s conferences 2026 guide. 

Useful guides for brain researchers 

These PubScholars resources will help you prepare: 

•  How to write a conference abstract — structure, format, and template for brain research 
• What is the purpose of a conference committee — understand how your abstract is reviewed 
• Top neuroscience conferences in 2026 — broader list covering SfN, AAN, FENS Forum, and more 
• Top Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s conferences 2026 — focused list for neurodegenerative disease research 
• Guide to USA conference visa requirements — for international researchers attending Rockville or Washington DC events 

Frequently asked questions — brain conferences 2026 

What is “Brain Conference 2026”? 

“Brain Conference 2026” is not a single event — it is a phrase used by at least four different organisations. The BRAIN Conference (Guarantors of Brain) was held March 20, 2026 in London. The Brain Conferences (FENS/Lundbeck) run October 5–8, 2026 in Heraklion, Greece. The BRAIN Initiative Conference (NIH) runs August 11–13, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. Each is a separate, unrelated event with its own focus and audience. 

Is there a brain research conference in the USA in 2026? 

Yes. The 2026 BRAIN Initiative Conference (Aug 11–13, Rockville, MD) is free and public, run by the NIH. The PubScholars International Neurology Conference 2026 (Nov 20–21, Boston) is a hybrid event with abstract submission open at pubscholars.org/submit-abstract/. The SfN Annual Meeting (Nov 14–18, Washington DC) is the largest neuroscience event in the world. 

What is the best conference for human brain mapping research in 2026? 

OHBM 2026 (Organization for Human Brain Mapping Annual Meeting), running June 14–18 in Bordeaux, France, is the world’s leading conference dedicated specifically to human brain mapping and neuroimaging research. 

Where can I present brain research and get it published in 2026? 

The International Neurology Conference 2026 (Nov 20–21, Boston, MA) has abstract submissions open now. Accepted papers are published in official conference proceedings after review by an international scientific committee. Submit at pubscholars.org/submit-abstract/. SfN (abstract submission opens May 27) and EAN Congress 2026 also offer abstract submission with publication opportunities. 

What is the difference between The Brain Conferences and The BRAIN Conference? 

“The Brain Conferences” (plural, FENS/Lundbeck) is a biannual series held in Denmark and Greece, focused on small, high-quality scientific meetings with a different theme each edition. “The BRAIN Conference” (singular, Guarantors of Brain) is an annual one-day event in London linked to the journal Brain. Despite the similar names, they are run by completely different organisations with no connection to each other. 

Is Brain Awareness Week the same as a brain conference? 

No. Brain Awareness Week is a global public outreach campaign coordinated by the Dana Foundation, running each March, involving lectures, school visits, and exhibitions rather than academic research presentations. It sometimes coincides with policy events, such as Brain Health Day in Brussels, but it is not a research conference in the sense covered by this guide.

Plan your 2026 brain research conference calendar 

The events on this list cover the full breadth of brain research in 2026 — from the imaging-focused OHBM and the policy-oriented Brain Awareness Week, to the scale of SfN and the clinical depth of EAN Congress. 

If you are looking for a hybrid event with abstract submission open, international peer review, and publication in conference proceedings, the PubScholars International Neurology Conference 2026 (November 20–21, Aloft Boston Seaport District, Boston, MA) is the strongest remaining option in 2026.