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5th MaNiTou Summer School on Gravitational Waves, June 29 to July 4, 2026, Campus Valrose

The school is collaboratively organized by scientific communities involved in Gravitational Waves, from 3 French locations in Southern France, namely Marseille, Nice and Toulouse, thus the MaNiTou name for the school.

The school will take place in Nice this year, on the beautiful Valrose Campus of Université Côte d'Azur (see here). It will be held in English.

Goals of the school

The school will cover the emerging field of gravitational wave detection and of its scientific exploitation. Following their discovery by the LIGO/Virgo collaboration, many other gravitational wave detections are expected at the existing and future gravitational antennas. They will open up a new window of exploration, sometimes unique and sometimes complementary to what other messengers such as electromagnetic radiation (radio, IR, visible, UV, X-rays, gamma rays) and neutrinos can reveal of the physics at work in our Universe. The objective of the school is to provide the students with a solid introduction to most aspects of this interdisciplinary field in accelerated expansion 🙂

The school is open in priority to Master and PhD students, and also to young or not so young scientists who would like to get better acquainted with Gravitational Waves.

For attendees to fully benefit from the school program, it is highly recommended that they have had at least an introductory exposure to General Relativity before. We also strongly suggest that prior to attending the school, the participants read some of the references that can be found here.
School organization

In order to make the School efficient for the attendees in terms of knowledge transfer and training interaction with the scientists in charge of the different activities of the school, the attendance is limited to about 70 participants, not including organizers and teachers. If more than 70 people apply to the School, a selection will be applied based on the criteria outlined on the registration page.

The School has no online attendance option. All participants are expected to attend in-person.

No fee is required to attend the School.

The School will provide coffee breaks and lunches to all participants. Dinners, travel and accommodation expenses are not covered.

However, accommodation free of charge will be provided by the CROUS at Valrose Campus for up to 50 master and PhD students who request it in the registration form. For more information about this opportunity and the selection, please see the accommodation section on this webpage.

Moreover, since the school is labelled by CNRS as “Ecole ThĂ©matique”, the expenses to attend the school for CNRS employees (staff CNRS people and people with a CNRS term contract [PhD student, Postdoc,…]) will also be covered. Please do not forget to mention in the registration form if that case applies to you!
Poster sessions

Posters sessions will be organized during the school so that the attendees can display posters describing their research work and results and discuss them with the other school participants.
Apply to the school

To apply, please go to the Registration (Inscription) tab or directly follow the link here

Pre-registration will be open from February 20th to April 10th.
The pre-registered candidates will be informed of the result of the selection process during the first week of May.

School Website

High-Energy Astrophysics: Sources and Detection – ISAPP School Paris-Saclay 2026, June 8-19, 2026

The ISAPP school on "High-Energy Astrophysics: Sources and Detection" will be held at the Institut Pascal, within the Paris-Saclay University, France. The goal of the school is to offer a general overview on topics in high energy astrophysics related to cosmic rays, from observations to the modelling of high-energy particle sources. It will particularly focus on mult-messenger observations, at the dawn of the CTA era. The school is primarily aimed at PhD students working in this field, as well as young postdocs.

The scientific program consists of lectures including introductory pre-courses on particle physics and astrophysics. It will also include a few hands-on sessions, and some time will be dedicated to student presentations, giving an opportunity to all students to present their research topic.

Registrations will open on February 15th, 2026.

Key topics:

Introductory courses in astrophysics, particle physics and statistics
Physics of high-energy showers
Radiation, acceleration, propagation mechanisms
Galactic sources
Extragalactic sources
Cosmic ray probes of fundamental physics
Cosmic ray and gamma-ray detections: ground and space-based
CTA + visit to CTA-related infrastructures at Paris-Saclay
Multi-messenger approach
Neutrinos: detectors and results
Gravitational waves: detectors and results
Hands-on sessions
Student research projects
Public lecture

School Website

Thematic school GWsNS-2026: Gravitational Waves from Neutron Stars, June 28 – July 3 2026 Station Biologique de Roscoff, France

The thematic school Gravitational Waves emission from proto-neutron stars and Neutron Star mergers (GWsNS-2026) is a graduate school that will cover several aspects of the gravitational wave (GW) emission from neutron stars, with special attention to neutron star mergers and proto-neutron stars. This is the 2026 edition of the event GWsNS-2023 (check the website for the lecture material of the previous edition!), and will take place at the Station Biologique de Roscoff (Brittany, France), a CNRS facility with full conference infrastructure and on-site accommodation.

The rapidly evolving field of multi-messenger astronomy and the arrival of third-generation detectors (like the European Einstein Telescope project and the American Cosmic Explorer) are expected to lead to further advances in both our understanding of neutron star astrophysics and the possibility of constraining theoretical models of ultra-dense matter with astronomical observations.

A complete understanding of the observations expected from third-generation gravitational-wave detectors will only emerge through a close dialogue between theory and data. Achieving this demands a broad and interdisciplinary skill set — spanning nuclear and hadronic physics, numerical relativity simulations, Bayesian inference, and multi-messenger astronomy.
The GWsNS-2026 school aims to bring together both young and experienced researchers wishing to gain a comprehensive view of this rapidly evolving and highly interdisciplinary field.

School Website

WE Heraeus Physics School und 62. Karpacz Winter School in Theoretical Physics “Multimessenger Astrophysics and Cosmology”, February 28 – March 6 2026 in Karpacz

The WE Heraeus Physics School and the 62nd Karpacz Winter School in Theoretical Physics "Multimessenger Astrophysics and Cosmology" will be held from 28 February to 6 March 2026. 

Compact stars, dense remnants of supernovae, compress about 1.4 solar masses into a 10 km radius—reaching densities beyond atomic nuclei. Their extreme compactness makes them unique laboratories for high-density matter. Gravitational-wave detections of binary neutron star mergers now allow direct probes of such conditions, with hot, dynamic post-merger remnants offering complementary insight to cold pulsars.

With next-generation observatories like the Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer, multi-messenger astrophysics—combining gravitational waves, electromagnetic signals, and neutrinos—will sharpen constraints on the dense-matter equation of state, extreme gravity, and heavy-element nucleosynthesis. Mergers also serve as standard sirens, enabling independent measurements of the Hubble constant.

The school will cover the thermal history of the Universe after its first second, from the quark–hadron transition to neutrino decoupling, linking microphysics to cosmological observables. Topics include the Hubble tension, modified gravity, primordial magnetic fields, compact-object mergers, future gravitational-wave science, and primordial black holes as dark-matter or galaxy-seed candidates—offering a unified view across astrophysics, cosmology, and particle physics.

School Website

Neutron Stars: Modelling and Detection – SIGRAV International School 2026, February 16-20 in Vietri sul Mare

This edition of the Italian Society of General Relativity and Gravitation (SIGRAV) International School is dedicated to the study of neutron stars as outstanding sources of gravitational and electromagnetic waves in the strong-field regime. The program is structured to promote scholarly interaction and collaboration, offering participants the opportunity to engage with leading experts in the field. Through a series of advanced lectures and discussions, the School aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of current developments in gravitational research and to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to advance their own scientific work in the study of gravity.

The School will take place in Vietri sul Mare (SA), Italy, 16-20 February 2026.

The program of the School comprises the following four courses:

  • B. Haskell (Milan Univ., IT): Modelling of Neutron Stars as Gravitational Wave Sources
  • T. Hinderer (Utrecht Univ., NL) : Gravitational Signal from Late Inspiral and Merger of Neutron Stars
  • M.A. Papa (AEI, Hannover, DE) : Detection of Continuous Gravitational Waves
  • G. Ghirlanda (INAF, Brera, IT): Multimessenger Astrophysics with Neutron Stars

A social excursion is planned for Wednesday, offering participants the opportunity to visit the Royal Palace of Caserta

The School is intended for PhD students and young post-docs. In order to receive the certificate of participation, all lectures and seminars should be attended.

The Participation Fee (350 EUR for non-SIGRAV members, 300 EUR for SIGRAV members) guarantee the access to all courses and activities, including lunch and coffee breaks.

A reduced participation fee (50 EUR) is available for those which will be only able to attend the lectures remotely.

The room should be booked in the Lloyd’s Baia Hotel. Please, reserve your room by using the form available in the section “Practical Info – Accomodation and Transport”.

The deadline for registration and payment of the relative fee is 06 February 2025 (see Registration section).

School Website

Summer school on Multimessenger Astrophysics at ICE in Barcelona, July 6-14 2026

On behalf of the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC), we are pleased to announce the 9th edition of the ICE Summer School devoted to Multimessenger Astrophysics. This intensive programme is designed for advanced Master’s and PhD students, early-career researchers, and others interested in the physics and observational techniques associated with multimessenger phenomena in the universe.

Scientific Scope
Multimessenger astrophysics is the framework for studying the Universe through the synergistic use of electromagnetic radiation, cosmic rays,neutrinos, and gravitational waves. By integrating these diverse channels, researchers can obtain a comprehensive view of violent and energetic astrophysical systems, such as compact object mergers,
active galactic nuclei, and cosmic accelerators. The School will cover both foundational theory and data-driven methods that are Shaping current and future research directions in high-energy astrophysics and relativity.

Topics and Programme Highlights
The scientific programme will consist of lectures and hands-on sessions delivered by experts from ICE and collaborating institutions.

Core themes will include, but are not limited to:
-Radiation processes and fundamental interactions
-Cosmic ray astrophysics and propagation
-Gamma-ray astronomy
-Neutrino physics and detectors
-Gravitational wave theory and data analysis
-Hands-on data analysis sessions (e.g., Fermi data, LIGO/Virgo)
-Machine learning applications in multimessenger research

Detailed session titles, lecturers, and the full list of topics can already be found on the school’s website.

Dates and Venue
The School will run from 6 to 14 July 2026 at the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC), located on the Campus of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) in Bellaterra (Barcelona). The ICE building and possible accommodation are within the UAB campus area.

Participation, Registration, Fellowships
Applications are welcomed from Master’s and PhD students, as well as early-career postdoctoral researchers with a strong interest in multimessenger astrophysics. Information on registration procedures, selection criteria, and possible financial support are provided on the school’s website. Registration will close on March 20, 2025. Announcements of accepted participants and fellowships are expected to happen before April 15.

Contact and Further Information
Further details, including the official registration link and programme are published on the Summer School website. Participants are encouraged to monitor the event page for announcements and logistical guidance, and register as soon as possible.

School Website

Tales of Black Holes – International Doctoral Summer School on Advanced Black Hole Physics, June 29 – July 3, 2026, Granada

Black holes are among the most fascinating objects in the universe. From cosmological, galactic and stellar scales, where black holes are integral pieces in the formation and evolution of different structures, to microscopic scales, where the study of the fabric of spacetime and black hole interiors are interrelated, black holes are ubiquitous in all research areas in which gravity is a prominent actor. A proper understanding of many aspects of modern physics requires being familiar with the concept of black hole; conversely, comprehending black holes in all their dimensions requires extensive knowledge in diverse branches of physics, including geometry, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, quantum field theory and numerical analysis.

This summer school will offer PhD and MSc students the opportunity to gain a solid understanding of the theory, phenomenology and observations of black holes and acquire a broad perspective of current research tendencies. Lectures covering each of these aspects will be delivered by three leading international experts.

The school will take place in the historical Carmen de la Victoria at the heart of the AlbayzĂ­n, the old Arab neighborhood of Granada, where all participants will be hosted on a full board basis. The Carmen de la Victoria faces the famous Alhambra, the place of inspiration of the popular book by Washington Irving that the name of the school pays homage to.

School Website

SIGRAV International School 2026: Neutron Stars: Modelling and Detection, February 16-20 in Vietri sul Mare

This edition of the Italian Society of General Relativity and Gravitation (SIGRAV) International School is dedicated to the study of neutron stars as outstanding sources of gravitational and electromagnetic waves in the strong-field regime. The program is structured to promote scholarly interaction and collaboration, offering participants the opportunity to engage with leading experts in the field. Through a series of advanced lectures and discussions, the School aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of current developments in gravitational research and to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to advance their own scientific work in the study of gravity.

The School will take place in Vietri sul Mare (SA), Italy, 16-20 February 2026.

The program of the School comprises the following four courses:

  • B. Haskell (Milano Bicocca Univ., IT): Modelling of Neutron Stars as Gravitational Wave Sources
  • T. Hinderer (Utrecht Univ., NL) : Gravitational Signal from Late Inspiral and Merger of Neutron Stars
  • M.A. Papa (AEI, Hannover, DE) : Detection of Continuous Gravitational Waves
  • M. Ghirlanda (INAF, Brera, IT): Multimessenger Astrophysics with Neutron Stars

The School is intended for PhD students and young post-docs. In order to receive the certificate of participation, all lectures and seminars should be attended.

The Participation Fee (350 EUR for non-SIGRAV members, 300 EUR for SIGRAV members) guarantee the access to all courses and activities, including lunch and coffee breaks.

A reduced participation fee (50 EUR) is available for those which will be only able to attend the lectures remotely.

The room should be booked in the Lloyd’s Baia Hotel. Please, reserve your room by using the form available in the section “Practical Info – Accomodation and Transport”.

The deadline for registration and payment of the relative fee is 06 February 2025 (see Registration section).
A social excursion is planned for Wednesday, offering participants the opportunity to visit the Royal Palace of Caserta

School Website

PhD Winter School on Gravitational Physics, January 25-30, 2026 in Norway

Upcoming PhD Winter School on Gravitational Physics which will take place at a ski resort in Norway Jan. 25th - Jan. 30th, 2026. The application deadline is December 20th, 2025.

The school is located at an absolutely wonderful place (Tron Hotel Skeikampen https://www.thonhotels.com/our-hotels/norway/skeikampen/), which offers fantastic skiing opportunities between the lectures! This PhD winter school has been running for many years, and is one of the top PhD schools in Europe.

For the upcoming school we have the exceptional pleasure of announcing that the main lectures will be given by:

  • Netta Engelhardt (MIT)
  • Luis Lehner (Perimeter Institute)
  • Isobel Romero-Shaw (Cardiff University)
  • Jan Plefka (Humboldt University)

The topics of lectures include theory and observations of gravitational waves, black holes and quantum information, strong gravity and horizons, and analytical approaches to black hole dynamics. On top of that, scientists affiliated with the Niels Bohr Institute will give topical lectures on current hot topics in gravitational physics.

Interested students should apply through this website before December 20th, 2025: https://indico.nbi.ku.dk/e/nordic-school-2026

Organizers: Johan Samsing, Poul H. Damgaard, Emil Bjerrum-Bohr

PhD school in Stavanger, November 24- December 5

The University of Stavanger is glad to announce the 2025 NPACT school (Stavanger, Nov. 24th - Dec. 5th).

This school is part of the activities of the Norwegian Particle, Astroparticle and Cosmology Theory (NPACT) network and is open to Ph.D. students and early-career scientists worldwide who wish to broaden their understanding of topics within the NPACT scope.

Lectures and speakers:

  • Dark matter — T. Bringman (U. of Oslo)
  • Thermal history of the universe — H. Kolesova (U. of Stavanger)
  • Cosmological phase transitions and thermal particle production — M. Laine (U. of Bern)
  • Physics of neutron stars — A. Kurkela (U. of Stavanger)
  • Mapping the theory space: Bayesian and frequentist global fit — A. Kvellestad (U. of Oslo)
  • Gravitational waves and data analysis — A. Nielsen (U. of Stavanger)
  • Effective field theories and applications in particle physics — A. E. Thomsen (U. of Bern)

Practical information:

No attendance fee is required.
The school provides free accommodation to a limited number of participants requesting financial support by Oct. 14th. Under similar circumstances, priority will be given to early applicants.

Participants enrolled in a Norwegian Ph.D. program can earn 5 or 10 ECTS credits. For non-Norwegian programs, the official ECTS accreditation must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

For details and registration, see the school webpage