The Council of the European Physical Society (EPS) concluded its spring meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, on 15–16 May 2026. The meeting was hosted by the Lithuanian Physical Society in colloaboration with the University of Vilnius at the National Centre for Natural and Technological Sciences and brought together representatives of national physical societies, alongside delegates from EPS Divisions, Groups, and Journals.
The gathering marked a significant milestone for the Society: for the first time, the EPS Council meeting was held in parallel with the EPS Young Minds Leadership Meeting. This joint meeting was supported by GoVilnius and was attended by delegates from 25 different countries.
The two events intersected through joint sessions and a joint dinner, fostering dialogue between the Society’s established leadership and the next generation of European physicists — a reflection of EPS’s commitment to nurturing scientific talent across the continent. Council delegates attended the Young Minds poster session where the sections present their highlights of the previous year and compete for the Young Minds Best Activity Award. The 2025 Award was won by the YM Cairo Section, for their activity Zewail City Marathon.
The Vilnius meeting also marked a moment of transition. The EPS Presidency passed from Prof. Mairi Sakellariadou to Prof. José María de Teresa.
During the Council sessions, attendees received updates on the work of the Committee for European Integration and heard reports on the activities and development of the EPS Journals. The meeting also featured a panel session examining the impact of the present geopolitical climate on physics, reflecting the wider concern within the scientific community about how shifting global dynamics are affecting research, collaboration, and funding across Europe and beyond.
A highlight of the meeting was the announcement of this year’s Alessandro Volta Prize, which has been awarded to Professor Jean Dalibard in recognition of his outstanding contributions to physics. Dr Matteo Barbera, President of Acinque, extended a personal invitation to all attendees to join the award ceremony and accompanying symposium, to be held in Como, It.
