This morning, the Mayor of Burgos, Cristina Ayala, and the Director of the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), María Martinón-Torres, presented the 16th Annual Meeting of the European Society for the Study of Human Evolution (ESHE) at Forum Evolución Burgos. One of the world's leading scientific meetings devoted to the study of human evolution, ESHE 2026 will bring together around 400 researchers from across the globe in Burgos from 16 to 20 September.
Organised by CENIEH in collaboration with Burgos City Council, through the Society for the Promotion and Development of the City of Burgos (ProBurgos), the meeting will place Burgos at the forefront of international research into human evolution for five days.
Researchers from universities, research centres and scientific institutions worldwide will present the latest advances in disciplines including palaeoanthropology, palaeogenetics, Palaeolithic archaeology and palaeoecology. The meeting will also provide a forum to address some of the major scientific challenges in the study of the origins and evolution of our species.
"This year's ESHE Annual Meeting has received the highest number of oral presentations—around 80—and posters—approximately 200—in the history of the meeting," said María Martinón-Torres, Director of CENIEH.
Forum Evolución Burgos and the Museo de la Evolución Humana will host an extensive programme featuring keynote lectures, scientific sessions, research presentations and networking opportunities for researchers. The programme will also include activities open to the public, visits to CENIEH and the Museo de la Evolución Humana, as well as a guided tour of the archaeological sites of the Sierra de Atapuerca.
Among the events open to the public, a keynote lecture will take place on Wednesday, 16 September, at 6:30 p.m. at Forum Evolución Burgos. It will be delivered by José María Bermúdez de Castro, Honorary Researcher at CENIEH, Vice-President of the Fundación Atapuerca and member of the Real Academia Española (RAE).
The selection of Burgos as the host city for the 16th ESHE Annual Meeting further reinforces the city's international standing as one of the world's leading centres for human evolution research. The unique ecosystem formed by the archaeological sites of the Sierra de Atapuerca, CENIEH and the Museo de la Evolución Humana is internationally recognised for excellence in both scientific research and public engagement, placing Burgos in an exceptional position to host international scientific meetings of this calibre.
Founded in 2011, the European Society for the Study of Human Evolution promotes scientific collaboration and the exchange of knowledge in the field of human evolution. Its founding members include researchers closely associated with Burgos and the Atapuerca sites, such as José María Bermúdez de Castro, Juan Luis Arsuaga and María Martinón-Torres. Every year, the Society's Annual Meeting brings together many of the world's leading researchers in human evolution.
In addition to its scientific significance, the meeting is expected to have a substantial economic impact on the city. The arrival of hundreds of delegates will benefit hotels, restaurants and other local businesses throughout the event, while further strengthening Burgos' profile as a destination for international scientific meetings and conferences.