IAC CONGRESS
Jingdezhen 2026
27 June to 2 July 2026

The 52nd Congress and General Assembly of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC) will take place from 27 June to 2 July 2026 in Jingdezhen, China — a historic city and the world-renowned capital of porcelain.

Jingdezhen has over 2,000 years of pottery-making history, including more than 1,000 years of royal kiln production, and thus represents the essence of Chinese ceramic heritage. The congress’s theme, “Inheritance and Innovation”, explores the dialogue between tradition and innovation in ceramics and considers its cultural, economic and technological relevance in the modern era.

Ceramics are deeply woven into daily life and identity in Jingdezhen — from the legendary kilns of the Song and Yuan dynasties to the city’s thriving ceramic industry comprising over 16,000 workshops and 150,000 artisans today. The city is known for its porcelain, which is described as ‘as white as jade, as bright as a mirror, as thin as paper, as sound as a chime’, and its influence spans centuries and continents. It contributed to what many call the first wave of globalisation through the Maritime Silk Road.

Hosted by Jingdezhen Ceramic University and the Jingdezhen Municipal Government, the 2026 IAC Congress will explore the city’s rich ecosystem of ceramic education, digital innovation, and international cultural exchange. From the recently opened Yuan Dynasty Blue & White Museum and Research Centre to the ‘Ceramic Road’ International Ceramic Education Alliance, Jingdezhen is actively shaping the future of ceramic arts and technology.

The Congress will provide an extraordinary opportunity for the international ceramics community to experience the spirit of Jingdezhen — a living museum of ceramic excellence and a beacon for global dialogue in the ceramic arts.

Highlights include:

• A welcome dinner
• The IAC/UNESCO Evening
• Conferences and panel discussions by international experts in their field
• Cultural circuits of several museums and sites in Jingdezhen
• Multiple exhibitions, including the international IAC members’ exhibition, the IAC new members’ exhibition and a special exhibition on intangible heritage
• The IAC New Members’ and Member of Honour ceremonies
• The Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Biennale, a headline satellite event
• Traditional performances
• A full day of exploring various sites in and around Jingdezhen
• A farewell party, featuring a taiping kiln bonfire
• Post-Congress tours (optional)

As a hub for diversity and multicultural exchanges, the 2026 IAC Congress in Jingdezhen strives to be accessible to all. As such, all promotional materials and on-site activities will be translated into Chinese, English and French, with simultaneous interpretation for the conferences and panel discussions.

Hosted by a conference centre with state of the art audio-visual equipement, all conferences and panel discussions will be recorded and available for (paid) Replay On Demand service after the Congress.