IHES
Math In France: Showcasing the French Mathematical Community at ICM 2026
The International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) will take place in Philadelphia, USA, from July 23 to 30, 2026. The French mathematical community will be represented there by Math In France.
A Major Event for Mathematics
Over the past 120 years, the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) has become the most prestigious mathematics conference in the world, a true highlight of the discipline. The congress has been held every four years since 1900 and is organized by the International Mathematical Union.
It is at this congress that the Fields Medals are awarded to four researchers under the age of 40. The Fields Medal is considered one of the two most prestigious distinctions in mathematics, alongside the Abel Prize. The most recent French Fields Medalist is Hugo Duminil-Copin, Permanent Professor at IHES, Professor at the University of Geneva, member of the Insmi Advisory Board and of the French Presidential Science Council. He was awarded the medal in 2022 for his work in probability theory.
The French school of mathematics is regularly honored at these congresses, whether through Fields Medals or through invitations extended to French mathematicians—working or trained in France—to deliver plenary or sectional lectures on their research. These invitations, particularly as a plenary speaker, are also regarded as a first-rank distinction by the global mathematical community.
The Fields Medals will be announced during the opening ceremony, which will take place this year on July 23, 2026.
IHES is particularly proud that Hong Wang, Permanent Professor at the Institute, and Dennis Gaitsgory, holder of the Israel Gelfand Chair of Mathematics funded by the Squarepoint Foundation, will be speakers at ICM 2026—the former delivering a sectional lecture and the latter a plenary lecture.
Math In France: A Multi-Partner Participation Under a Single Banner
IHES will take part in the International Congress of Mathematicians under the common banner Math In France, alongside key institutional partners: the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the Institut Henri Poincaré (IHP), the Centre International de Rencontres Mathématiques (CIRM), MathDoc, and the International Centre for Pure and Applied Mathematics (CIMPA), in association with France Universités and its partner universities. A Math In France booth will be present throughout the congress at locations #207 & #206.
The message conveyed to ICM attendees at this booth will reflect what drives the French mathematical community, its best practices, and its institutions: support for scientific excellence, commitment to open science, respect for academic freedom, the importance of gender balance and diversity, the promotion of France as a host country and of international cooperation at the highest level, as well as the strength of the French mathematical network. It will also be an opportunity to highlight France’s major scientific instruments: CIMPA, CIRM, IHP, IHES, and MathDoc.
This joint participation is made possible with the support of private partners and donors Qube Research & Technologies, BNP Paribas, and Capital Fund Management.
Math In France Reception
The Math In France evening, to be held on July 27 at the Rodin Museum in Philadelphia, will bring together members of the French mathematical community present in Philadelphia, under the high patronage of His Excellency Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France to the United States. The event will begin with a welcome for the guests, followed by an opening speech by the Ambassador. Christophe Besse, Director of Insmi, will then take the floor, before a series of flash talks given by renowned researchers, including Patrick Gérard and Charles Bordenave. A Math In France panel discussion will follow, addressing the challenges facing the discipline, its best practices, and the importance of its instruments, with contributions from institutional representatives. The evening will conclude with a cocktail reception, offering participants a moment of friendly exchange.
