- Overview
- Registration
- Preliminary Programme
- Info
- Speakers
- Committees
- Sponsorship
Welcome to ELMI2026
We are excited to welcome you to the 26th edition of the European Light Microscopy Initiative – ELMI2026 meeting, taking place from 16 to 19 June 2026 in the historic and vibrant city of Coimbra, Portugal.
Hosted at the beautiful Convento São Francisco, ELMI2026 will continue the long-standing tradition of bringing together the international light microscopy community—from researchers and facility staff to developers and industry partners.
ELMI is widely recognized for its dynamic and interactive format, combining:
- Cutting-edge scientific talks
- Hands-on workshops led by leading microscopy companies
- A comprehensive technology exhibition
- Engaging community sessions that foster discussion and collaboration
Join us at ELMI2026 in Coimbra to explore the latest innovations in light microscopy, connect with colleagues from across Europe and beyond, and be part of one of the most influential events in the field.
Save the date and stay tuned—registration and abstract submission will open soon!
Session topics for ELMI2026
- AI & Bioimaging Analysis
- Spatial Biology & Multiplexing Imaging
- Nanoscopy
- Volumetric and Deep-Tissue Imaging
- Novel sample processing techniques, probes and biosensors
- Label-free Imaging
Registration
The meeting will start on Tuesday 16 June and will finish with a lunch on Friday 19 June, 2026
Registration will be on a first come, first served basis. Your place can only be confirmed after payment of the registration fee.
Fees:
Full Registration
- Admittance to Core Facility Satellite meeting on June 16
- Admittance to ELMI2026, including exhibitions and workshops
- Access to the ELMI2026 App
- Coffee and tea breaks
- All meals are included (Lunch, Dinner, Conference Dinner, Lunch bag)
- Two BUS Circuit from/to main hotel areas
€650
Student Registration
- Admittance to Core Facility Satellite meeting on June 16
- Admittance to ELMI2026, including exhibitions and workshops
- Access to the ELMI2026 App
- Coffee and tea breaks
- All meals are included (Lunch, Dinner, Conference Dinner, Lunch bag)
- Two BUS Circuit from/to main hotel areas
Requires a proof of student status
€450
Accompanying Person
- Dinners on June 17th and 18th
€120
Participants are expected to book and pay their own accommodation and travel expenses.
Registration platform: Soon
Please email elmi2026@ppbi.pt if you have any questions.
Preliminary Programme
Day 1 – Core Facility Day – Tuesday, 16 June 2026
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 08:00–09:00 | Registration |
| 09:00–09:15 | Welcome |
| 09:15–10:30 | Talks |
| 10:30–11:00 | Coffee / Tea Break |
| 11:00–12:30 | Talks |
| 12:30–13:45 | Lunch |
| 14:00–15:30 | Talks & Discussion |
| 15:30–17:00 | Fitness Event: Kick or Dance |
| 17:00–18:00 | Community Workshops |
| 18:00–18:30 | Coffee / Tea Break |
| Start ELMI Meeting | |
| 18:30–18:45 | Welcome |
| 18:45–19:45 | Keynote |
| 19:45–19:50 | Platinum Industry Talk I |
| 19:50–19:55 | Platinum Industry Talk II |
| 20:00–23:00 | Welcome Buffet Dinner in the Exhibition Area |
Day 2 – Wednesday, 17 June 2026
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 08:00–08:45 | Registration |
| 08:45–09:00 | Welcome |
| 09:00–10:45 | Session I: Spatial Biology & Multiplexing |
| 10:45–11:15 | Tea / Coffee & Exhibition |
| 11:15–12:15 | Company Workshops: Session One |
| 12:15–13:15 | Company Workshops: Session Two |
| 13:15–14:45 | Lunch & Exhibition |
| 14:45–15:15 | Company Workshops: Session Three |
| 15:45–16:15 | Tea / Coffee & Exhibition |
| 16:15–18:00 | Session 2: Nanoscopy Advances |
| 18:10–19:30 | Poster Session + Drinks |
| 19:00–20:30 | elmi Steering Committee Meeting |
| 20:30–23:30 | Reception & Buffet Dinner |
Day 3 – Thursday, 18 June 2026
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 09:00–10:45 | Session 3: Volumetric and Deep Tissue Imaging |
| 10:45–11:15 | Tea / Coffee & Exhibition |
| 11:15–12:15 | Company Workshops: Session Four |
| 12:15–13:15 | Company Workshops: Session Five |
| 13:15–14:45 | Lunch & Exhibition |
| 14:45–15:15 | Company Workshops: Session Six |
| 15:45–16:15 | Tea / Coffee & Exhibition |
| 16:15–18:00 | Session 4: Novel sample processing techniques, probes and biosensors |
| 18:10–19:30 | Poster Session |
| 19:30–20:00 | Bus transfer |
| 20:00–24:00 | Social Event (Gala Dinner and Party) |
Day 4 – Friday, 19 June 2026
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 09:00–10:45 | Session 5: Label Free Microscopy |
| 10:45–11:15 | Tea / Coffee & Exhibition |
| 11:15–13:00 | Session 6: AI & Bioimaging Analysis |
- Travel
- Visa Information
- Accommodation
- General
Venue
The ELMI2026 will be held in Coimbra, Portugal, from June 16 to 19, 2026. The event will take place at the Convention Center, located at the renovated building of the former São Francisco Convent. More information here.
Address: Av. Da Guarda Inglesa, nº 1 A | 3040-193 Coimbra | Portugal
GPS coordinates: Latitude 40º 12′ 11‘ N | Longitude 08º 26′ 09’ W
Travel Information
Airport
Porto Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport: closest airport to Coimbra, about an hour and a half to Coimbra by public transport.
Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport: Largest airport in Portugal, very close to Lisbon Oriente Train station.
Airport Shuttle
Coimbra Airport Shuttle operates a door-to-door shared transfer between Lisbon (45€)/Porto (38€) airport and Coimbra.
Train
The main train station for long-distance trains is Coimbra-B. Rail travel from both Lisbon (approximately 1h45 min) and Porto (approximately 1h) is regular, fast and reliable provided you take the Alfa Pendular (AP) or Intercidades (IC) trains. Tickets must be purchased before boarding, at the ticket office at the train station or online. Regional trains are available to nearby destinations.
Bus/Taxi
Coimbra is served by the A1, the main highway of Portugal, arrival by Taxi, or BUS – Rede Expressos or FLIXBUS are also convenient and fast. Tickets must be purchased before boarding.
Visa Information
General Visa Information for Portugal
It is the attendee’s responsibility to investigate the visa requirements for Portugal and apply for a visa, if necessary.
You may need a short-stay Schengen visa if you plan to visit Portugal for up to 90 days. This requirement depends on your nationality. Visas must be applied for through the relevant Portuguese embassy, consulate or representing consular Schengen office in the delegate’s country of residence.
The nationality of the participants and delegates will determine whether or not they are required to apply for a visa. Delegates are requested to visit this website for more information.
Invitation Letters
If you require a visa, you need to obtain and submit an official letter of invitation from the conference organizers to help facilitate the visa process. Please note that letters of invitation are only issued to registered and paid attendees.
Follow these steps precisely to receive your letter.
- Send an e-mail to elmi2026@ppbi.pt with the subject line: Invitation Letter – Your Name
- Provide these details, with a corresponding number:
- Full Name
- Name of Organization, and Credentials (Job Title)
- Postal Address at Organization (Work)
Make sure your registration fee for the conference has been paid in full. Requests for invitation letters will not be processed if your registration is unpaid. If approved, your letter will be sent via e-mail.
ACCOMMODATION
A range of hotels in Coimbra offer special conditions for ELMI2026 participants. Below you will find the available options, booking instructions, and promotional codes when applicable. Reservations must be made directly by participants.
The conference venue, Convento São Francisco, is located in the city center and all hotels listed below are within a short walking distance or a few minutes by car.
Please note that in Coimbra, a municipal city tax of €1 per person, per night applies to all hotels (unless otherwise stated). This tax is not included in room rates and must be paid directly at the hotel.
- Distance to venue: 650 m (9 min walk)
- Special conditions: 20% discount on “Online Special Rate” valid for stays between 14-22 June 2026, reservations via the hotel website or email/phone with code ELMI2026
- Contact info: reservas@quintadaslagrimas.pt | +351 239 802 380
- Distance to venue: 800 m (12 min walk)
- Special conditions: 10% discount on Best Available Rate valid for stays between 15-20 June 2026 for reservations via email/phone mentioning ELMI2026
- Contact info: astoria@almeidahotels.pt | +351 239 853 020
- Distance to venue: 850 m (13 min walk)
- Special conditions: 50€/night per box (breakfast optional 9€/person/night) valid for stays between 15-20 June 2026, reservations via link or website with code ELMI2026
- Contact info: coimbra@thezerohotels.com | +351 966 290 815
- Distance to venue: 1 km (15 min walk)
- Special conditions: 10% discount on flexible rates for reservations via email/phone mentioning ELMI2026
- Contact info: info@hotelmondego.com | +351 239 496 239
- Distance to venue: 1 km (15 min walk)
- Special conditions: 10% discount on flexible rates for reservations via email mentioning ELMI2026
- Contact info: H1672@accor.com | +351 239 852 130
- Distance to venue: 1.1 km (17 min walk)
- Special conditions: 12% discount on reservations via the hotel website with code ELMI2026
- Contact info: hello@sapientiahotel.com | +351 239 151 803
- Distance to venue: 1.9 km
- Special conditions: 10% discount for reservations via email mentioning ELMI2026
- Contact info: groups.nhcoimbradonaines@nh-hotels.com | +351 210 020 848
- Distance to venue: 2 km
- Special conditions: 10% discount on Best Available Rate valid for stays between 15-20 June 2026 for reservations via the hotel website with code ELMI2026
- Contact info: coimbra@vilagale.com | +351 239 240 000
- Distance to venue: 2.4 km
- Special conditions: Single 70€/night | Double 85€/night for reservations via email/phone mentioning ELMI2026
- Contact info: reservas@hoteldluis.pt | +351 239 802 120
- Distance to venue: 2.9 km
- Special conditions: Single 125€/night | Double 135€/night valid for stays between 15-20 June 2026, for reservations via email mentioning ELMI2026
- Contact info: reservas.coimbra@melia.com | +351 239 480 800
Alternatively, bookings can be made via the travel agency Abreu (not at the special rate).
Useful Information
Visit Coimbra
Once Portugal’s capital (from 1139 to 1256), Coimbra is one of the country’s most historic cities, famous for its university, which is one of Europe’s oldest (it was founded in 1290). While it may lack the contemporary attractions of Lisbon and Porto, it’s rich in centuries-old monuments that illustrate every chapter of the history of architecture, and the university and surroundings are listed as a World Heritage Site. Find useful information about Coimbra here.
- INVITED SPEAKERS
Ed Boyden
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, USA
Talk Title – “Optical Tools for Understanding and Repairing Biological Systems“
Ilaria Testa
Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Solna, Sweden
Talk Title – “Dynamics of organelles at the nanoscale empowered by computation”
Maria Alieva
Madrid, Spain
Talk Title – “Spatiotemporal cellular communication in immunotherapy and cancer progression”
Ricardo Henriques
Oeiras, Portugal
Talk Title – “Towards nanoscale live-cell biology through AI-enhanced super-resolution microscopy“
Thomas Chaigne
Marseille, France
Talk Title – “Photoacoustics for non-invasive deep-tissue neuroimaging“
- SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
- ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Alvaro Crevenna
EMBL Rome
Davide Accardi
Champalimaud Foundation
Gabriel Martins
GIMM
Hugo Botelho
FCUL
Joana Ferreira
MIA Portugal
José Rino
GIMM
Julien colombelli
IRB Barcelona
Luísa Cortes
CNC-UC
Paula Sampaio
i3S
Peter O’Toole
University of York
Anna Pezzarossa
Champalimaud Foundation
Luísa Cortes
CNC-UC
Maria Azevedo
i3S
Margarida Caldeira
CNC-UC
Patrícia Rodrigues
GIMM
Paula Sampaio
i3S
Tatiana Catarino
CNC-UC
Telmo Pereira
NMS
Teresa Rodrigues
iCBR
We are pleased to invite you to join us as a sponsor of the European Light Microscopy Initiative Meeting (ELMI2026). This will be the 26th edition of ELMI, a landmark event for the international microscopy community.
Industry partners are an essential part of ELMI, and we are committed to working closely with you to ensure strong visibility and valuable opportunities to interact with delegates. A wide range of sponsorship options is available, detailed in the following table and the attached Sponsorship Booklet, together with practical information about the meeting and venue.
Please note that some sponsorship packages are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES
| Sponsorship Level | Slots Available |
Bronze | sold out sold out sold out 14 |
| Workshop Rooms Available | |
| 2.2A Almedina 2.0F Mondego 18th June | |
| Extra Sponsorship | Slots Available |
| Scientific Programme of CF Day | 1 |
| CF Day Lunch and Coffee Breaks (Tuesday) | 1 |
| CF Day Buffet Dinner (Tuesday) | 1 |
| Lunches (Wed – Fri) | 3 |
| Drinks and Coffee Breaks (Wed – Fri) | 3 |
| Reception & Buffet Dinner (Wednesday) | 1 |
| Meeting App – Company Information | 7 |
| Meeting App – Notifications | 6 |
| Meeting App – Ad in Programme | 3 |
| Website – Conference Programme | 1 |
| Website – Workshop Schedule | 1 |
| Poster Prizes | 1 |
| Flyers (Registration Desk & Auditorium Entrance) | 5 |
| Notepads, Pens & Other Promotional Materials | 1 |
| Mobile Charging Stations | 8 |
