The SwissTech Convention Center, located at the heart of the EPFL campus in Lausanne, is one of the largest and most modern venues in the Lake Geneva region. It is renowned for hosting high-profile international conferences and offers the perfect setting for ECSS Lausanne 2026. Whether you're attending as a speaker, delegate or participant, the SwissTech Convention Center provides world-class facilities designed to enhance your experience.

The centre’s architectural design is both innovative and flexible, featuring three modular auditoriums that can be combined into a single space for up to 3,000 participants, or divided into smaller rooms for more intimate sessions and workshops. The seating arrangements are adaptable and can be reconfigured quickly, ensuring each space meets the needs of the conference, whether for plenary sessions or breakout meetings. You can expect seamless transitions between sessions, with comfortable, well-designed spaces suited to various event formats.

Technologically advanced, the SwissTech Convention Center is equipped with the latest audio-visual systems. This ensures that every presentation, keynote or panel discussion is delivered with precision, no matter the complexity. From lighting to sound to streaming, the venue is designed to provide a professional and effortless experience for both speakers and attendees. Read more about the SwissTech Convention Center here.

Set on the EPFL campus, one of Europe's leading centres for innovation and research, you’ll find yourself immersed in a thriving environment of intellectual exchange and cutting-edge ideas. EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) is home to some of the brightest minds in science and technology, providing a fitting backdrop for any conference that aims to push the boundaries of knowledge. Being on this dynamic campus offers a sense of excitement and inspiration, ideal for conferences focused on innovation, research and collaboration.

Beyond the conference walls, Lausanne offers much to discover. Known as the Olympic Capital and famous for its scenic setting on the shores of Lake Geneva, Lausanne combines the charm of a smaller city with the vibrancy of a major international hub. Whether you wish to explore its museums, dine in one of its fine restaurants or enjoy a walk through the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyards nearby, Lausanne provides a rich cultural experience that complements your congress stay.

Accessibility is another key feature of the SwissTech Convention Center. The venue is easily accessible by public transport, with direct connections to Lausanne’s metro system, bus routes and just an hour’s journey from Geneva International Airport, making it convenient for international attendees. For those traveling by car, the centre is located near major highways, ensuring straightforward access for regional visitors. Read more here.

It is with great pleasure that we announce our hosting of the 31st ECSS Annual Congress in 2026 in the city of Lausanne in Switzerland, through a collaboration between the University of Lausanne (UNIL) and Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). After a pause of 20 years, the ECSS Congress comes back to the Olympic Capital Lausanne in the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland.

ECSS Lausanne 2026 will take place at the SwissTech Convention Center, a state-of-the-art congress facility located on the edge of the beautiful lake-side UNIL-EPFL Campus, just outside the city of Lausanne. The city centre is conveniently connected by metro and congress participants staying in lodging reserved through our channel will enjoy free local public transport.

Apart from hosting the International Olympic Committee as well as over 50 international sports federations, associations, foundations and other entities involved in sports, the greater Lausanne region is also a vibrant science, technology and business hub. It brings together a multicultural and international set of academic, entrepreneurial, business and policy leaders from various scientific fields. Key areas include engineering, with a focus on technology and innovation, biotechnology, health, medical engineering, education and research, life sciences, as well as social, human and natural sciences. Sports science also serves as a major focus within these clusters.

The Lausanne area is famous with its idyllic setting between Lake Geneva, the Alps and the Jura mountains. It is well-connected by train from many European capitals, and with a 45-minute train ride to Geneva Airport it is also well-connected to the rest of the world.

The region is also famous for its vineyards and is part of a living cultural landscape with UNESCO World Heritage status, giving ample possibilities to make a stay a great scientific, sporting and human experience to its participants!

The University of Lausanne and EPFL will collaborate closely with the ECSS Scientific Board to deliver an exceptional scientific programme. This programme will highlight advancements in sport science, spanning biology, physiology, psychology, neuroscience, biomechanics, biotechnology, computing and engineering. By fostering a multidisciplinary approach, it aims to bridge the biomedical, engineering and psychosocial sciences, offering a comprehensive understanding of sport, performance and health. The scientific presentations will cover a wide spectrum of sport and exercise disciplines, from elite competitive sports to general physical activity. We are also excited to support pre-congress symposia that bring together leaders from the sport industry, business and the scientific community to promote collaboration and drive innovation in sport science.

We eagerly anticipate welcoming you to Lausanne, where you can exchange knowledge within the ECSS scientific community in the vibrant, joyful and lively backdrop of this beautiful city on the shores of Lake Geneva, or as we prefer to call it 'Le Léman'.

Yours in Sport Science,

ECSS Lausanne 2026 Congress Presidents

Bengt Kayser MD, PhD, PhD, Emeritus Professor Institute of sport sciences, University of Lausanne, Switzerland	Kamiar Aminian PhD, Emeritus Professor Institute of Bioengineering, EPFL, Switzerland

The University of Lausanne and EPFL are jointly hosting the 31st ECSS Annual Congress in 2026

University of Lausanne (UNIL) was founded in 1537 and has a student body of 17,000 from nearly 130 nationalities. Focusing on the humanities, social sciences, life sciences (biology and medicine) and environmental sciences, UNIL awards all academic degrees, as well as diplomas associated, for example, with continuing education. UNIL is very involved in sport research through its Institute of Sport Science (ISSUL) and its Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Sport (CIRSport).

ISSUL is an interfaculty institute, attached to the faculties of Social and Political Sciences and Biology and Medicine. It offers a Bachelor's degree, a Master's degree in 5 disciplines (teaching, adapted physical activities and health, social sciences, training and performance, sports and leisure management) and a Doctorate.

CIRSport of UNIL is a center of excellence in sport research, in particular, in its three strategic research areas: Physical activity and health, sustainability in sport and globalisation and governance of sport. Read more about UNIL here.

EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) is Europe’s most cosmopolitan technical university. It welcomes students, professors and collaborators of more than 120 nationalities. EPFL has both a Swiss and international vocation and focuses on three missions: Teaching, research and innovation.

EPFL collaborates with an important network of partners, including other universities and colleges, secondary schools and gymnasiums, industry and the economy, political circles and the general public, with the aim of having a real impact on society.

EPFL connects technology to sport beyond performance. EPFL helps sport and physical activity generate positive externalities in terms of public health, social cohesion, training and the economy. As of today, over 40 EPFL labs have gotten involved in sports-related research, focusing on their five pillars: Quantified self, next-generation equipment, motion and position measurement, data analysis and the spectator experience. Read more about EPFL here.