Cairns, in Australia’s North Queensland, will host the 6th World Ecoacoustics Congress in partnership with James Cook University. Delegates will be hosted at the Cairns Convention Centre, 17-20 August 2026.
Held every two years and organised by the International Society of Ecoacoustics, the congress brings together global researchers, scientists, engineers and practitioners to explore advances and innovation in ecoacoustics. The 2026 edition follows Brisbane in 2018 and Madrid in 2024, making it only the second time the congress has been hosted in Australia.
Ecoacoustics is an interdisciplinary field that studies natural and human-made sound and how it relates to ecosystems, biodiversity and environmental change. Cairns is a compelling host destination for the congress, sitting between the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics, with the event website describing the region as the meeting point of two globally significant ecosystems and an extraordinary centre of biodiversity.
Professor Paul Roe, dean, research at James Cook University, said: “Cairns is a natural fit for the World Ecoacoustics Congress because it gives delegates access to one of the most acoustically and ecologically diverse regions in the world. From rainforest soundscapes to reef environments, this is a place where ecoacoustics can help us better understand ecosystem health, biodiversity and the impacts of environmental change.”
“While delegate numbers are expected to be slightly lower than initially hoped due to broader global challenges, the congress is set to deliver a high-quality scientific programme and meaningful international collaboration, with a clear focus on advancing the frontiers of ecoacoustics,” professor Roe added.
Professor Roe is a leading figure in the field whose work includes the Australian Acoustic Observatory, a national monitoring initiative using hundreds of continuously recording sensors across Australia, and the Open Ecoacoustics project, which is developing open tools and platforms to support conservation-focused acoustic monitoring.
Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef general manager – partnerships & events, Tara Bennett said the congress was an outstanding fit for the destination and an important win for the region’s business events pipeline.
“The World Ecoacoustics Congress is exactly the kind of international meeting that aligns with Cairns’ strengths in science, sustainability and nature-based experiences.”
Janet Hamilton, general manager of the Cairns Convention Centre added: “We are looking forward to hosting delegates in our Centre. The congress will deliver valuable economic and academic impact, while also creating strong potential for visitors to extend their stay and experience the venue, reef, rainforest and wider Tropical North Queensland region.”
