| Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception | Social Gathering | Awards Reception |
| Sunday 16 August 2026, 16:00 – 20:00 | Tuesday 18 August 2026 19:00 - late | Thursday 20 August 2026, 18:00 – 19:30 |
| Venue: New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) | Venue: Viaduct Events Center, located on Auckland’s waterfront | Venue: New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) |
| Dress: Casual | Dress: Casual | Dress: Casual |
| Tickets: Included in registration fee | Tickets: Included in registration fee (pre-registration required) | Tickets: Included in registration fee |
| Join us for the opening ceremony in the Plenary Room. The program will feature an introduction to New Zealand and microbiology in New Zealand, followed by our first plenary presenter of the symposium, Peer Bork, EMBL, Germany. Afterwards you are invited to join all symposium registrants for a fun evening with drinks and some snacks! |
The renowned Social Gathering brings together all ISME20 delegates for an evening of networking, celebrating and fun, with lots of dancing, chatting, music, entertainment, food and drinks. Join us on this special evening, and enjoy the party vibe and the views over the Auckland Viaduct Harbour as well as the Pacific Ocean. |
The Awards Reception celebrates all our award winners: Isabelle LaForest-Lapointe, who won this year's Alma Dal Co Award; Noah Fierer, the receipient of the Winogradsky Award; and Janet Jansson, this year’s recipient of the prestigious “James Tiedje Award”. Janet Jansson will be giving a lecture on her award-winning work after the Awards Reception. |