The 13th International Conference on Population Geographies (ICPG) will be held in Nanjing, China, from June 23 to 26, 2026. As one of the most influential international academic conferences in the fields of population geography and spatial demography, the ICPG is held biennially. It provides a high-level platform for academic exchange and collaboration among population geographers, spatial demographers, and all researchers concerned with population and spatial issues worldwide.

Amid deepening global interdependence and an era characterized by uncertainty and transformation, population issues remain at the core of global sustainable development. From advancing the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to addressing climate change, promoting balanced regional development, and reducing social and regional inequalities, the theories and methods of population geography play an increasingly critical role in understanding and responding to today's major global challenges. Whether examining population growth and distribution, resource and environmental capacity, migration and mobility, or human behavior and interaction in space, population geography continues to expand the frontiers of knowledge at both large and local scales, providing a unique and indispensable perspective for explaining population dynamics and spatial processes.

Since its inauguration in St Andrews, UK, in 2002, the ICPG has been successfully hosted in Liverpool (UK), Hong Kong (China), Hanover (USA), Umeå (Sweden), Groningen (Netherlands), Brisbane (Australia), Seattle (USA), Loughborough (UK), Tokyo (Japan, online), and Belfast (UK). It has evolved into a vital link connecting the international population geography community. The 13th ICPG marks the first time the conference will be hosted in mainland China, carrying the important mission of bridging Chinese and global research in population geography. Nanjing University, with its long history and profound cultural heritage, will provide a vibrant and inspiring environment for this event.

We cordially invite scholars and researchers from around the world to gather in Nanjing to explore emerging topics in global and regional population change, share the latest research findings, and advance the discipline of population geography.

The conference website is now available at: https://icpg-nanjing2026.cn/. Further details, including the conference theme, keynote speakers, abstract submission guidelines, and registration procedures, will be announced on the website in due course. We encourage you to stay tuned for updates.

Nanjing University looks forward to welcoming you to this prestigious academic event.

Conference Co-chairs

Yunsong Chen

Huayu Lu

Dai Wang

Xiaobin Jin

Hosts & Committees

Hosts
  • Nanjing University
  • Geographical Society of China
Organizers
  • School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University
Supporting Organizations
  • Population Geography Committee, Geographical Society of China
  • International Geographical Union (IGU) Commission on Population Geography
  • School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University
  • School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University
  • College of Geography and Remote Sensing, Hohai University
  • School of Geographical Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology
  • Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University
  • School of Social Development, East China Normal University
  • Institute of Population Studies, Fudan University
  • Asian Demographic Research Institute, Shanghai University
  • School of Geographical Sciences/School of Carbon Neutrality Future Technology, Fujian Normal University
  • School of Public Administration, Hunan University
  • Jiangsu Geographical Society
International Advisory Committee
(in Alphabetical Order)
Anthony G.O. Yeh
(The University of Hong Kong)
Bindong Sun
(Zhejiang University)
Bojie Fu
(Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, CAS)
Canfei He
(Peking University)
Changhong Miao
(Henan University)
Changqing Song
(Beijing Normal University)
Chuanglin Fang
(Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS)
Cindy Fan
(University of California, Los Angeles)
Dadao Lu
(Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS)
Darren Smith
(Loughborough University)
Desheng Xue
(Sun Yat-sen University)
Elin Charles-Edwards
(The University of Queensland)
Fahu Chen
(Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, CAS)
Feng Zhen
(Nanjing University)
Fubao Sun
(Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS)
Gemma Catney
(Queen's University Belfast)
Guishan Yang
(Hohai University)
Guixin Wang
(Fudan University)
Guoyou Zhang
(Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS)
Haibo Tan
(Hunan University)
Hong Zhu
(Guangzhou University)
Honggang Xu
(Sun Yat-sen University)
Hualou Long
(Guangxi University)
Huayu Lu
(Nanjing University)
Jianfa Shen
(The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Jie Fan
(Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS)
Jinhong Ding
(East China Normal University)
Juhua Xiong
(National Natural Science Foundation of China)
Jun Wang
(East China Normal University)
Lily Kong
(Singapore Management University)
Mark Ellis
(University of Washington)
Mei-Po Kwan
(The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Michael Batty
(University College London)
Michael Meadows
(Nanjing University)
Pengjun Zhao
(Peking University)
Qingyuan Yang
(Southwest University)
Quansheng Ge
(Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS)
Reiko Hayashi
(National Institute of Population and Social Security Research)
Richard Wright
(Dartmouth College)
Shenjing He
(The University of Hong Kong)
Shuang Chen
(Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology)
Shujin He
(Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS)
Weidong Liu
(Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS)
Weiran Zhang
(Fudan University)
Wen Chen
(Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS)
Wenzhong Zhang
(Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS)
Xiangzheng Deng
(Beijing Technology and Business University)
Xianjin Huang
(Nanjing University)
Xianyan Wang
(Nanjing University)
Xiaobin Jin
(Nanjing University)
Xuejun Duan
(Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS)
Yansui Liu
(Henan University)
Yanwei Chai
(Peking University)
Yu Zhu
(Shanghai University)
Yungang Liu
(South China Normal University)
Yuqi Lu
(Nanjing Normal University)
Yunsong Chen
(Nanjing University)
Zhiding Hu
(East China Normal University)
Organizing Committee

Co-Chairs

Yunsong Chen, Nanjing University Huayu Lu, Nanjing University Dai Wang, Geographical Society of China Xiaobin Jin, Nanjing University

Members
(in Alphabetical Order)

Can Cui
(East China Normal University)
Chen Chen
(Shanghai University)
Chenyan Li
(The Geographical Society of China)
Clive Sabel
(Nanjing University)
Dongqing Ye
(Nanjing University)
Dongxia Zhao
(Liaoning Normal University)
Feixue Li
(Nanjing University)
Gaoxiang Gu
(East China Normal University)
Guangliang Xi
(Nanjing University)
Hao Gu
(Hunan University)
Honglei Zhang
(Nanjing University)
Huachun He
(Nanjing University)
Jianxi Feng
(Nanjing University)
Jianxin Zhang
(Nanjing University)
Jinhe Zhang
(Nanjing University)
Jinsong Liu
(Hebei Normal University)
Kang Yang
(Nanjing University)
Lei Wang
(Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS)
Lei Zhang
(The Geographical Society of China)
Liyue Lin
(Fujian Normal University)
Ming Tian
(Beijing Normal University)
Mingrui Shen
(Nanjing University)
Qin Zhang
(Nanjing University)
Shenghe Liu
(Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS)
Shuangshuang Tang
(Nanjing Normal University)
Taiyang Zhong
(Nanjing University)
Tao Liu
(Peking University)
Wei Qi
(Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS)
Weinan Gu
(Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology)
Weixuan Song
(Hohai University)
Xia Wang
(Nanjing University)
Xiaolong Luo
(Nanjing University)
Xiaowei Chuai
(Nanjing University)
Xinxian Qi
(Nanjing University)
Xuanzi Zhang
(The Geographical Society of China)
Yang Hu
(Nanjing University)
Ye Liu
(Sun Yat-sen University)
Ye Wei
(Northeast Normal University)
Yibo Qiao
(Nanjing University)
Yuji Zhou
(Nanjing University)
Zehan Pan
(Fudan University)
Zongqi Duan
(The Geographical Society of China)

Secretary-General

Hengyu Gu, Nanjing University

Deputy Secretary-General

Xiaoning Chen, Nanjing University Xiyan Mao, Nanjing University Yang Ju, Nanjing University Chenglong Wang, Nanjing University

Main Theme

Population Geographies in an Era of Demographic Transition

Sessions Topic
  • Climate Change and Human Settlements
  • Characteristics and Trends of Global Population Migration
  • Population Spatial Reconstruction and Regional Changes
  • Aging and Social Well-being
  • Gender, Space, and Social Geography
  • Talent Agglomeration and Regional Development
  • Population Health and the Environment
  • Food, Grain Security, and Population Migration
  • Rural-Urban Population Mobility and Land Use
  • Population Transition and Industrial Restructuring
  • Demographic Trends and Challenges
  • Student Mobility, Employment, and Human Capital Distribution
  • Urban Residential Differentiation and Social Integration Governance
  • Gentrification and Urban Renewal
  • New Methods, Technologies, and Data in Population Geography
  • Spatiotemporal Analysis of Tourism Behavior in the Era of Leisure
  • Migration and Sustainable Urbanization
  • Challenges and Opportunities in Population Geography Education
  • Dialogue with Editors of Renowned Population Geography Journals
  • The 90th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Hu Huanyong Line and Chinese Population Geographies

Submission and Registration

Abstract Submission and Registration

Participants should register on the conference website (http://icpg-nanjing2026.cn/) and submit a 250-400 words English abstract by February 10, 2026.

The abstract should include the research motivations, objectives, data, methods, and findings, emphasizing methodological and/or theoretical advances. All contributing authors and their affiliations should be listed.

The Conference Organizing Committee will invite experts from the International Academic Steering Committee to review and select abstracts, and notifications of accepted abstracts will be sent by February 24, 2026. Authors of accepted abstracts can then complete the registration via the website. The early-bird registration deadline is April 10, 2026.

Organizing Parallel Sessions

Participants are encouraged to organize their own parallel sessions. Applications for self-organized sessions must be submitted by 15 January 2026.

If a self-organized session has fewer than 10 registered participants, the Organizing Committee reserves the right to cancel the session and reassign the submitted papers to other relevant sessions.

Participation Format

The conference will be held in a hybrid format, with a strong preference for on-site participation. Participants are in principle expected to attend in person to facilitate in-depth exchange and collaboration.

However, online participation will be supported for those who are genuinely unable to travel due to visa or other unavoidable reasons.

Registration Fees

The conference will be held in a hybrid format to enable the participation of international delegates from different time zones and who are unable to attend the conference in person. Of course, if possible, the organizers would prefer on-site participation to facilitate in-depth exchange and collaboration in person.

Attendance Type Participant Type Early-bird (by 10 Apr 2026) Regular (10 Apr-10 May 2026)
in-person Professional CNY 2,000
(approximately GBP 200)
CNY 3,000
(approximately GBP 300)
Student CNY 1,000
(approximately GBP 100)
CNY 1,500
(approximately GBP 150)
online
(overseas only)
Professional CNY 1,000
(approximately GBP 100)
CNY 2,000
(approximately GBP 200)
Student CNY 500
(approximately GBP 50)
CNY 1,000
(approximately GBP 100)

The actual amount charged may vary depending on the exchange rate between the relevant currency and CNY at the time of payment, as well as bank transfer or payment service fees.

Note:
  • The actual amount charged may vary depending on the exchange rate between the relevant currency and CNY at the time of payment, as well as bank transfer or payment service fees.
  • For overseas participants who are genuinely unable to travel due to visa issues or other unavoidable reasons, online participation will be available. The registration fees for online participation are CNY 1,000 (approximately GBP 100) (Professional)/ CNY 500 (approximately GBP 50) (Student) for Early-bird, and CNY 2,000 (approximately GBP 200) (Professional)/ CNY 1,000 (approximately GBP 100) (Student) for Regular registration.
Registration Refund Policy
  • Requests for refunds must be received in writing by email to icpg2026@gmail.com
  • All refund requests must be submitted by May 10, 2026
  • Necessary supporting documents must be provided with the refund request
  • Any requests submitted after May 10, 2026 will not be considered

Key Dates

December 2025
Abstract Submission Opens

Abstract submission opens; applications for organizing parallel sessions are accepted.

January 2026
Parallel Session Application Deadline

Deadline for applications to organize parallel sessions; abstract submission remains open.

10 February 2026
Abstract Submission Deadline

Abstract submission deadline (notifications of accepted abstracts will be sent by 24 February 2026).

25 February 2026
Payment Channel Open

Payment channel open for conference registration.

10 April 2026
Early-bird Payment Deadline

Early-bird payment deadline for discounted registration rates.

10 May 2026
Final Payment Deadline

Final payment deadline for all conference participants.

23-26 June 2026
Conference Dates

International Conference on Population Geography 2026.

Conference Venue

Conference Schedule
  • 23 June (Tuesday): Registration (all day)
  • 24 June (Wednesday): Keynote speeches, roundtable forums, and special parallel sessions
  • 25 June (Thursday): Parallel sessions (all day)
  • 26 June (Friday): Post-conference field visits
Location

Nanjing University, Xianlin Campus

163 Xianlin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210023, China