Cartography is changing. The EuroCarto 2026 conference is coming to Brno

This year’s EuroCarto conference will be held under the motto ‘Let’s transform cartography together’ and will focus on the transformations in cartography in an era of rapid technological development. The main aim of the upcoming event is to bring together experts from academia, public administration and the private sector, and to create a space for sharing the latest insights and forging new collaborations.

“Virtually all of us use maps today – for navigation, planning journeys, managing crisis situations, and in decision-making within public administration or environmental protection. Yet we often fail to realise what a complex process lies behind their creation. One of the conference’s aims is to demonstrate that high-quality cartography is not merely a matter of technology, but also of scientific knowledge, responsible data interpretation and an understanding of how people perceive and use spatial information,” says Zdeněk Stachoň from the Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, who chairs the conference’s organising and programme committee.

The conference’s academic programme covers a wide range of contemporary topics – from working with large datasets, GeoAI and machine learning, through crisis management, to web cartography and the use of maps from the users’ perspective. In addition to the latest findings in the fields of cartography, geoinformatics and the use of artificial intelligence in cartographic production, participants will also gain an overview of current trends and developments in the field.

Those interested will also be able to attend pre-conference workshops and specialist lectures, or view the poster session and map exhibition.

“Nowadays, cartography is no longer just about creating maps. Cartographers today focus primarily on the effective communication of spatial information. The field must cope with a vast amount of geodata, the rapid development of artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, as well as the requirement to create maps that are comprehensible, trustworthy and accessible to various user groups,” says Stachoň.

According to Stachoň, it is precisely artificial intelligence – which is gradually changing the way maps are created and used – that will be one of the frequently discussed topics at the conference.

“Furthermore, the conference offers a unique opportunity to establish international contacts, discuss new research ideas and potential research directions, and, last but not least, to receive feedback on the results of one’s own work,” emphasises Stachoň. He believes that the social events forming part of the conference could also be an ideal opportunity for students, who will be able to make new contacts or discuss the topics of their final dissertations.

“We would also be delighted if the conference led to the creation of new international projects, strengthened the links between research and practice, and demonstrated that cartography continues to play an irreplaceable role in the digital society,” adds Stachoň.

EuroCarto is one of the leading cartographic conferences and is returning to Brno after almost 40 years. This year’s event is organised by the Czech Cartographic Society under the auspices of the International Cartographic Association (ICA), in collaboration with Masaryk University, Palacký University in Olomouc, the Czech Technical University in Prague and the University of Defence.

“Hosting the conference is a testament to the consistently high standard of research and teaching in cartography and geoinformatics at the Faculty of Science. I believe the event will help to enhance the reputation of both the Institute of Geography and the faculty,” concludes Stachoň.