SHENZHEN, China – The 2026 International Conference on Celestial Mechanics (ICCM 2026) successfully concluded its five-day run at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen on April 24, bringing together leading researchers and emerging scholars from across the globe to explore cutting-edge advances in celestial mechanics, Hamiltonian dynamics, symplectic dynamics, and related mathematical physics fields.
Held from April 20 to 24, the conference was designed to bridge classical celestial mechanics problems with modern mathematical approaches, creating a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and collaborative exploration. The program featured a curated lineup of invited lectures, complemented by generous break and discussion periods that encouraged in-depth technical conversations, idea sharing, and the exploration of potential research extensions beyond the formal presentations.
A central highlight of ICCM 2026 was its diverse range of research themes, which spanned both longstanding open problems and innovative new methodologies. The conference’s core topics covered key frontiers of the field:
- Central configurations and collision dynamics: Experts delved into singular behaviors in the N-body problem, with presentations covering degenerate central configurations, near double-collision solutions, the infinite-spin problem for total collisions, and novel constructions of spatial central configurations, advancing foundational understandings of multi-body system behaviors.
- Restricted and Hill-type three-body models: A significant portion of the program focused on these foundational dynamical systems, with research uncovering chaotic phenomena near the collinear Lagrange point L3, asymmetric periodic solutions, oscillatory and collision orbits, and applications of advanced index theories to periodic orbit families, shedding new light on these well-studied yet still evolving models.
- Symplectic and topological methods: Modern geometric techniques took center stage, with talks exploring Floer homology, holomorphic curve theory, ECH constraints, and contact dynamics, highlighting the growing role of these cutting-edge mathematical tools in unraveling the global dynamical behaviors of celestial systems.
- Variational, index-theoretic, and analytical approaches: Researchers presented new insights into singular orbits, periodic solutions in quantum-mechanical analog models, monotonicity of orbital periods, and integrable Kepler billiards, advancing the analytical frameworks that underpin the study of complex dynamical systems.
- Diffusion, resonances, and space dynamics applications: The conference also highlighted the practical relevance of rigorous celestial mechanics, with work on Arnold diffusion shadowing, quasi-satellite motion dynamics, and insights that support long-term orbital analysis and space mission design, connecting theoretical advances to real-world aerospace applications.
Featuring speakers from top institutions worldwide—including the Steklov Mathematical Institute of RAS, Paris Observatory, Seoul National University, Kyoto University, and leading Chinese universities—the event fostered cross-disciplinary cross-fertilization among specialists in classical celestial mechanics, numerical dynamics, variational methods, and astrodynamics. The interactive format of the conference, which paired formal lectures with extended informal discussion windows, proved particularly valuable for junior researchers and students, offering them the chance to learn how classical problems are being revisited through cutting-edge mathematical tools, and to connect with senior experts in the field.
Over the course of the week, participants highlighted the enduring vitality of celestial mechanics as a field that unites classical analysis, geometry, topology, and real-world applications. Many of the discussions underscored how centuries-old problems continue to drive the development of new mathematical techniques, while modern geometric methods are now reshaping the understanding of global dynamics, periodic orbits, and Hamiltonian system structures.
Overall, ICCM 2026 emerged as a highly successful and stimulating event, providing a critical platform for researchers to present their latest findings, exchange perspectives, and lay the groundwork for new international collaborations. The insights and connections forged during the conference are expected to drive forward ongoing research in celestial mechanics and related fields, paving the way for future breakthroughs in dynamical systems science.