Topological Matter School 2026 celebrates a double milestone with the participation of Nobel laureate Duncan Haldane

A special edition of the prestigious Topological Matter School, organised by the DIPC, will take place in San Sebastián from 17 to 21 August 2026. In addition to commemorating the 10 years since David Thouless, Duncan Haldane and Michael Kosterlitz were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their discoveries in the topological phases of matter, the School is celebrating a decade of training young researchers in this field that has revolutionised quantum materials.

The 2026 edition will offer a programme specifically designed for reflecting on these 10 years of scientific advances. Through a series of pedagogical talks given by international experts, the School will look at how the field has evolved and where it is headed.

One of the highlights of the event will be the opening talk by Professor Duncan Haldane, one of the winners of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics, for his contributions to the understanding of the exotic properties of topological materials, which have opened up new perspectives for the development of quantum technologies and future quantum computing. “His participation is an honour for the organisation and his talk will initiate a week dedicated to looking back on major achievements and discussing the scientific and technological opportunities presented by topological quantum matter”, says Maia García Vergniory, a researcher at the DIPC and promoter and coordinator of the Topological Matter School throughout this entire decade.

Since its creation in 2016, the School has become a leading international forum for training the new generations of researchers and for sharing knowledge about one of the most dynamic areas of condensed matter physics. “Each year we bring together around a hundred students from across the globe —selected from a number of applications that is triple the number of available places— and have the participation of leading figures in the field”, says Maia García Vergniory. “The programme offers comprehensive training in the three fundamental areas of the field —experimentation, theory and computing—, giving participants a global vision that allows them to develop their career in any of these areas and to contribute to advancing a key discipline for the technologies of the future”, adds the DIPC researcher.

Ten years after the Nobel Prize that marked a turning point for this research area, the Topological Matter School will celebrate this double anniversary by bringing together in San Sebastián distinguished representatives from the international scientific community and the new generation of researchers who will be at the forefront of future advances in the study of topological materials. The initiative reflects the DIPC’s commitment to advanced training, scientific excellence and the creation of international networks that help drive future progress in this discipline.