June 23-26, 2026, the 13th International Conference on Population Geographies (ICPG 2026), jointly hosted by Nanjing University and the Geographical Society of China, will be held in Nanjing, China. As one of the most influential international academic conferences in the fields of population geography and spatial demography, the ICPG is held biennially. It provides a high-level platform for academic exchange and collaboration among population geographers, spatial demographers, and all researchers concerned with population and spatial issues worldwide.
Amid deepening global interdependence and an era characterized by uncertainty and transformation, population issues remain at the core of global sustainable development. From advancing the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to addressing climate change, promoting balanced regional development, and reducing social and regional inequalities, the theories and methods of population geography play an increasingly critical role in understanding and responding to today’s major global challenges. Whether examining population growth and distribution, resource and environmental capacity, migration and mobility, or human behavior and interaction in space, population geography continues to expand the frontiers of knowledge at both large and local scales, providing a unique and indispensable perspective for explaining population dynamics and spatial processes.
Since its inauguration in St Andrews, UK, in 2002, the ICPG has been successfully hosted in Liverpool (UK), Hong Kong (China), Hanover (USA), Umeå (Sweden), Groningen (Netherlands), Brisbane (Australia), Seattle (USA), Loughborough (UK), Tokyo (Japan, online), and Belfast (UK). It has evolved into a vital link connecting the international population geography community. The 13th ICPG marks the first time the conference will be hosted in mainland China, carrying the important mission of bridging Chinese and global research in population geography. Nanjing University, with its long history and profound cultural heritage, will provide a vibrant and inspiring environment for this event.
We cordially invite scholars and researchers from around the world to gather in Nanjing to explore emerging topics in global and regional population change, share the latest research findings, and advance the discipline of population geography.
The conference website is now available at: https://icpg-nanjing2026.cn/. Further details, including the conference theme, keynote speakers, abstract submission guidelines, and registration procedures, will be announced on the website in due course. We encourage you to stay tuned for updates.
Nanjing University looks forward to welcoming you to this prestigious academic event!
Main Theme: Population Geographies in an Era of Demographic Transition
Session Topics
– Climate Change and Human Settlements
– Characteristics and Trends of Global Population Migration
– Population Spatial Reconstruction and Regional Changes
– Aging and Social Well-being
– Gender, Space, and Social Geography
– Talent Agglomeration and Regional Development
– Population Health and the Environment
– Food, Grain Security, and Population Migration
– Rural-Urban Population Mobility and Land Use
– Population Transition and Industrial Restructuring
– Demographic Trends and Challenges
– Student Mobility, Employment, and Human Capital Distribution
– Urban Residential Differentiation and Social Integration Governance
– Gentrification and Urban Renewal
– New Methods, Technologies, and Data in Population Geography
– Spatiotemporal Analysis of Tourism Behavior in the Era of Leisure
– Migration and Sustainable Urbanization
– Challenges and Opportunities in Population Geography Education
– Dialogue with Editors of Renowned Population Geography Journals
– The 90th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Hu Huanyong Line and Chinese Population Geographies
– Any other topic area within the breadth of Population Geography
Registration Fees
The conference will be held in a hybrid format to enable the participation of international delegates from different time zones and who are unable to attend the conference in person. Of course, if possible the organisers would prefer on-site participation to facilitate in-depth exchange and collaboration in person.
Participant Type | Early-bird (by 10 Apr 2026) | Regular (10 Apr-10 May 2026) |
in-person | Professional | CNY 2,000 (approximately GBP 200) | CNY 3,000 (approximately GBP 300) |
Student | CNY 1,000 (approximately GBP 100) | CNY 1,500 (approximately GBP 150) |
online | Professional | CNY 1,000 (approximately GBP 100) | CNY 2,000 (approximately GBP 200) |
Student | CNY 500 (approximately GBP 50) | CNY 1,000 (approximately GBP 100) |
The actual amount charged may vary depending on the exchange rate between the relevant currency and CNY at the time of payment, as well as bank transfer or payment service fees.
Call for Papers
We currently seek submissions of abstracts within any of the proposed session topics by 10 February 2026. Please submit abstracts (250-400 words) in English via the conference website http://icpg-nanjing2026.cn/. The abstract should include the research motivations, objectives, data, methods, and findings, emphasizing methodological and/or theoretical advances. All contributing authors and their affiliations should be listed. Following acceptance of abstracts, authors will be notified by 24 February 2026 and invited to complete the registration via the website.
Organizing Parallel Sessions
Participants are encouraged to organize their own parallel sessions. Applications for self-organized sessions must be submitted by 15 January 2026.
Key Dates
December 2025: Abstract submission opens; applications for organizing parallel sessions are accepted
January 2026: Deadline for applications to organize parallel sessions; abstract submission remains open
March 2026: Abstract submission deadline (notifications of accepted abstracts will be sent by 15 March 2026)
15 March 2026: Payment channel open
15 April 2026: Early-bird payment deadline
10 May 2026: Final payment deadline
Venue
The conference will take place at Nanjing University, Xianlin Campus. The address is: 163 Xianlin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210023, China. (Website: https://icpg-nanjing2026.cn/)
For more information, please contact: [email protected]
Conference Co-chairs
Yunsong Chen, Nanjing University
Huayu Lu, Nanjing University
Dai Wang, Geographical Society of China
Xiaobin Jin, Nanjing University
Secretary-General
Hengyu Gu, Nanjing University
Deputy Secretary-General
Xiaoning Chen, Nanjing University
Xiyan Mao, Nanjing University
Yang Ju, Nanjing University
Chenglong Wang, Nanjing University
