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With over 380 submissions from research and industry, high-ranking international speakers, workshops and technical excursions, Vienna will become the international center for heat pump innovations from 26 May to 29 May 2026.
Ticket sales are underway, and the early bird deadline has been extended to 16 March 2026.
The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, in cooperation with the IEA Technology Collaboration Programme on Heat Pumping Technologies (HPT TCP), is organising the 15th IEA Heat Pump Conference 2026 in Vienna. Under the motto "Decarbonisation through Innovation", the international conference offers experts from research, industry, finance and politics a central platform for exchanging information on the latest developments and applications in the field of heat pump technologies. After 42 years, the international heat pump conference is returning to Austria, making Vienna the global meeting place for innovations in heat pump technology in 2026.
Internationally oriented scientific programme
The scientific programme for the four-day conference is currently being finalised. A total of around 380 contributions from all over the world have been submitted, addressing current developments in research and application of heat pump technologies.
The programme covers a wide range of formats, including:
- six plenary keynote lectures by leading international experts,
- 380 scientific presentations,
- ten interactive workshops on current technological and market-relevant topics,
- six excursions to innovative demonstration projects, and
- three policy forums on key issues of energy policy, technological competitiveness and the role of heat pump technologies in achieving climate targets.
Policy forums – strategic dialogue at international level
The policy forums on 28 May 2026 will bring together high-ranking representatives from international organisations, ministries, industry and research. The sessions are organised by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) and the Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BM IMI) and will address key issues in energy policy, technological competitiveness and the role of heat pump technologies in achieving climate targets.
"The 15th IEA Heat Pump Conference brings together international experts from research, industry and politics to discuss current developments and innovations in the field of heat pump technologies," says Thomas Fleckl, Chairman of the National Organising Committee and Head of the Department of Sustainable Thermal Energy Systems at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology. "Exchange along the entire value chain is crucial for the rapid further development of heat pumps as a key technology in the energy transition."
Tickets for the conference available – early bird deadline extended
Tickets for the four-day international conference are already available. The early bird deadline has been extended to 16 March. Further information and registration: https://hpc2026.org/registration-tickets
Heat pump technologies: the key to decarbonisation
Heat pumps are one of the key technologies for decarbonising buildings, industry and energy systems. Thanks to their high efficiency and the use of environmental or waste heat, they can significantly reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions in the heating and cooling sector – an area that accounts for a large proportion of final energy consumption worldwide. At the same time, research and industry are developing new applications, for example for industrial high-temperature processes, integration into smart energy systems or use in densely populated urban areas. Topics such as digitalisation, system integration and recyclability are also becoming increasingly important. The further development and widespread application of heat pump technologies is therefore considered a key component of a successful energy transition. More information on innovative heat pump solutions: https://nachhaltigwirtschaften.at/en/news/2026/20260219-innovative-heat-pumps.php
About the 15th IEA Heat Pump Conference
This unique international conference has been held every three years since 1984. This year's upcoming conference is the leading event where industry, researchers, investors and policy makers will discuss the latest advances in heat pumps. The conference programme is designed by the conference's scientific committee, which is composed of representatives from the National Organising Committee (NOC), the International Organising Committee (IOC), the Heat Pump Centre, regional coordinators and scientific advisors, and is approved by the International Organising Committee (IOC). The conference is supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BM IMI) as main partner. The chair of the National Organising Committee is Dr Thomas Fleckl, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology. https://hpc2026.org