What Events and Congresses Does the IAB Organize?

Updated

The International Association of Bryologists (IAB) organizes an international congress every two years in a different country, plus virtual meetings for members between congresses. The next congress is the 27th IAB Congress, 26–30 July 2027 in Bogotá, Colombia, under the theme "High-Mountain Bryophytes." A virtual meeting is scheduled for 29 October 2026, and IAB members are invited to take part. All event announcements and updates appear in the "News from IAB" section of bryology.org.

Upcoming events at a glance

Event Date Location / format Who it's for
IAB Virtual Meeting 29 October 2026 Online IAB members (invited to participate)
27th IAB Congress 26–30 July 2027 Bogotá, Colombia Bryology enthusiasts, amateur and professional

The congress theme, "High-Mountain Bryophytes," signals the scientific focus of the 2027 program. The site's news feed also carries a congress update video introducing the 2027 meeting, so check that post if you want the organizers' own preview before planning.

How the congress cycle works

The IAB describes its main activities as including meetings "in various countries, every 2 years." That means you can expect roughly one international congress every other year, with the venue rotating between countries — the 2027 edition in Colombia follows this pattern. Between congresses, the association uses virtual meetings and its news channel to keep the community connected.

How to follow event announcements

  1. Go to bryology.org and open the "News from IAB" section. This is where congress updates, save-the-date notices, and virtual meeting details are posted (for example, the 17 June 2026 post announcing the Bogotá congress and the 10 August 2026 post on the October virtual meeting).
  2. Read the full news item rather than just the headline — the site's excerpts are truncated, and participation details sit behind the "Read More" link.
  3. If you want to join the virtual meeting or receive member communications, use the "Become a Member" link on the homepage. The site states that IAB members are invited to participate in the virtual meeting; membership terms and any fees are not described on the page, so confirm directly with the association.

What else the IAB does besides events

Events are one of several activities listed by the association. Alongside its meetings, the IAB publishes the peer-reviewed journal Bryophyte Diversity and Evolution and the membership newsletter Bryological Times, awards grants and prizes, and runs various projects linked to bryology. If your interest is the society's output rather than its meetings, the "Discover our Latest Publications" section covers both periodicals.

Common sticking points

  • Assuming the congress is annual. The IAB's own description is a meeting every two years, so don't plan around a yearly schedule.
  • Looking for a registration page too early. The site currently presents the 2027 congress as a save-the-date announcement with an introductory video; registration logistics are not described in the available page content, so watch the news feed for later posts.
  • Missing member-only invitations. The virtual meeting notice is framed as an invitation to IAB members, so non-members should check membership before expecting access.

For the most current details on either event, the "News from IAB" section on bryology.org is the authoritative starting point.