The 2026 JEDI meeting will be held from June 1-3 at the historic Pousada Castelo Palmela in Portugal. The meeting will be restricted to 50 participants, on a first-come first-served basis.

Over the course of three days, all 50 participants will present their research in short scientific talks designed to stimulate focused feedback and spark new collaborations. The scientific program spans a wide range of topics, including cell and developmental biology, neurobiology and behavior, evolution, cancer research, and systems-level approaches. Beyond the main sessions, the meeting will include breakout discussions and a professional workshop on effective science communication for both peers and the general public. "Play, Cut and Paste" will be a hands-on workshop where participants are challenged to translate scientific ideas into visual narratives, discovering how design choices shape meaning, clarity, and impact. We are also delighted to welcome Eugenia Chiappe as our keynote speaker, an accomplished Drosophila neuroscientist from the Champalimaud Foundation that creatively studies basic research questions combining genetics, physiology, behavioural setup development and modelling (find out more about her work here) .

The tentative schedule is provided below.