The 2026 edition of the EXRS conference will take place in Catania, Italy on 14–19 June 2026, hosted by XRAYLab of the Institute of Heritage Science of CNR (ISPC-CNR), in collaboration with the University of Catania and Laboratori Nazionali del Sud of INFN (LNS-INFN). Catania is a coastal city on the Mediterranean island of Sicily, known for its rich cultural and historical heritage. Founded around the 8th century BC by Chalcidian Greek settlers, Catania has over 2,700 years of history and has been shaped by many civilizations – including the ancient Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, and Normans. The legacy of these eras is visible throughout the city’s architecture and monuments, from ancient Greek and Roman theatres to the medieval Castello Ursino, and especially in the grand Baroque cityscape of its historic center. After 1693, Catania was extensively rebuilt in a late Baroque style using local volcanic stone, giving the city its distinctive appearance and earning its historic center recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is also dominated by the iconic Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano, which provides a dramatic backdrop to Catania and is itself designated as a UNESCO World Heritage natural site.

The scientific program of the conference will take place at Le Ciminiere Exhibition & Congress Centre, an award-winning conversion of a 19th-century sulphur refinery whose brick chimneys still punctuate Catania’s skyline. Respectfully restored from 1984 onwards, the  complex now offers state-of-the-art auditoria, exhibition halls and museums while preserving lava-stone walls and industrial brickwork as a tangible link to Sicily’s mining heritage. It is conveniently located near the city center (minutes from the airport, close to the central railway station and seafront) and within easy reach of many hotels and attractions. Scientists, engineers, and exhibitors are cordially invited to join the conference, present their work, and learn about new developments in the field.