Philadelphia Readies for the quadrennial International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), an event showcasing top-tier global mathematical talent. Scheduled for July 23-30, 2026, the congress is set to convene in Philadelphia. A significant contingent of speakers, exceeding fifty individuals, has been identified as recipients of support from the Simons Foundation, a private philanthropic organization.
This prominent presence of Simons Foundation grantees underscores the foundation's substantial role in supporting mathematical research. Among those slated to deliver plenary lectures are Peter Bartlett, identified as Director of the NSF-Simons Collaboration on the Theoretical Foundations of Deep Learning; Simon Brendle, a 2017 Simons Investigator; Dmitry Dolgopyat, a 2025 Simons Fellow; Jacob Lurie, a principal investigator for a Simons Collaboration on Perfection in Algebra, Geometry and Topology; Ciprian Manolescu, principal investigator for a Simons Collaboration on New Structures in Low-Dimensional Topology; Hee Oh, a member of the Simons Foundation Mathematics & Physical Sciences Scientific Advisory Board; and Horng-Tzer Yau, a 2012 Simons Investigator.
Broader Academic Networks Highlighted
Beyond the direct funding ties, the speaker list reveals connections to various academic institutions and research centers. Dennis Gaitsgory, director at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Bonn, is confirmed as a plenary speaker. The congress will also feature several invited speakers with prior affiliations to the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics, including former visitors and a past PhD student. Among these are Georgios Daskalopoulos, Daniel Halpern-Leistner, and Stefan Schreieder. Additionally, Valentin Blomer and Jessica Fintzen, both members of the institute's scientific committee, are scheduled as invited section speakers.
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Institutions like Stanford University and the University of Cambridge are also represented. Stanford mathematicians, including former colleagues Simon Brendle and Horng-Tzer Yau, who are slated for plenary lectures, and Peter Sarnak, who will deliver a special plenary lecture, will be in attendance. Former postdoctoral researchers Sheel Ganatra, Maggie Miller, Jinyoung Park, and Andrew Snowden, along with former graduate students Ailana Fraser, Sander Kupers, and Nike Sun, also have Stanford ties and are among the invited speakers. From Cambridge, three mathematicians have been invited: Richard Samworth, Professor of Statistical Science; Julian Sahasrabudhe, Professor of Combinatorics; and Carola Schönlieb. Their work spans statistical methods for data challenges, combinatorics, and broader applications in modern mathematics.
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Johns Hopkins University will also see four of its professors presenting. These include Chikako Mese, focusing on differential geometry and geometric analysis; Ziquan Zhuang, specializing in algebraic geometry; and Emily Riehl, whose work encompasses higher category theory and formalization. Jacob Bernstein is also listed among the presenters from Johns Hopkins.
Context of the ICM
The International Congress of Mathematicians, held every four years, serves as the foremost global gathering for the mathematics community. It is widely regarded as the most significant conference dedicated to mathematics, drawing thousands of participants from across the entire spectrum of mathematical disciplines. Only mathematicians whose research is considered to be of the highest international standard are typically invited to present at this week-long event.
