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The 23rd International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) World Congress Returns to Busan after 18 Years

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that the 23rd International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) World Congress, IFAC World Congress 2026, will be held at BEXCO for six days from August 23 to 28.

Hosted by the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) and organized by the Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems, the congress is the world’s largest international academic conference in the field of automatic control and has been held every three years since its launch in 1957. This will be the second time the congress has been held in the Republic of Korea, 18 years after the 17th World Congress took place in Seoul in 2008.

Around 4,400 participants from more than 75 countries have registered for this year’s congress, making it the largest in the event’s history. Approximately 3,600 overseas researchers and industry experts are expected to visit Busan.

During the congress, a variety of programs will be offered, including keynote lectures by leading scholars from around the world, academic sessions, exhibitions, and competitions. Robot experience programs will also be available for young people in Busan.

Over the six-day period, a broad range of academic programs, including plenary sessions, workshops, paper presentations, and exhibitions, will be held across 37 meeting rooms at BEXCO, covering nine themes and 39 technical areas. Competitions featuring students from around the world will also be held, including the RoboRacer Grand Prix, Mini Drone Competition, and Wearable Robot Challenge.

In conjunction with the congress, an “Experiential Workshop with AI Robotic Arms” will be held on August 22 for 30 middle school students from Busan. On August 26, approximately 60 elementary and middle school students from Busan will take part in “IFAC Young Robot Explorers,” a hands-on program featuring robot performances, lectures, and robot-building activities with experts.

A special public lecture, “AI and Robots: Shaping the Future,” will also be held at 7:30 p.m. on August 24 at the BEXCO Auditorium and will be open to all citizens free of charge.

Ken Goldberg, a world-renowned roboticist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley, will deliver a lecture titled “Physical Intelligence: AI and Robots in Our Future.” Through a variety of videos and real-world examples, he will provide an accessible and engaging introduction to how artificial intelligence, combined with sensors and robots, is transforming the physical world.

The lecture will be delivered in English, with AI-powered real-time Korean subtitles provided. Those wishing to attend may register in advance using the QR code on the event poster or register on site on the day of the event.

Meanwhile, the opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the BEXCO Auditorium for registered congress participants.

The opening ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. on August 23 with a performance of Ogomu and Pungmulnori by the Busan Metropolitan Dance Company, followed by an introduction to the congress and its major programs. Participants will then move to the Busan Cinema Center for a welcome reception that will include a drone light show.

The closing ceremony will begin at 4:00 p.m. on August 28 with an orchestral performance conducted by Baek Yun-hak, followed by an awards ceremony, an introduction to the next congress, IFAC 2029 in the Netherlands, and the official closing declaration.

Park Dong-seok, Director-General of the Advanced Industries Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, said, “The 23rd International Federation of Automatic Control World Congress is a major international academic conference that brings researchers and industry experts from around the world to Busan to share the latest research and technologies in automatic control.”

He added, “As this is a valuable opportunity to meet world-leading experts in artificial intelligence and robotics here in Busan, I hope many citizens will also take part in the special public lecture offered in connection with the congress and experience the latest trends in future technologies firsthand.”