Call for abstracts: FIG Congress 2026 heads to Cape Town

Submit your abstracts by 1 November for the FIG Congress 2026, with the theme 'The Future We Want – The SDGs and Beyond'. Bringing together experts, innovators and policymakers in Cape Town, South Africa, the congress will explore how geospatial intelligence can help build a more sustainable and resilient world.

The countdown has begun for one of the most anticipated gatherings in the global geospatial calendar: the FIG Congress 2026. The organizers are now calling for abstracts, inviting professionals from across the world to contribute ideas that will shape the future of the surveying and geospatial professions. The congress, organized jointly with the South African Geomatics Institute (SAGI) and endorsed by the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development and the South African Geomatics Council, will draw an estimated 1,500 participants from across the surveying, spatial planning, construction management and valuation fields. It is set to be a landmark occasion – a forum where the geospatial profession reaffirms its role in delivering solutions for a world facing profound environmental and social change.

Geospatial intelligence beyond 2030

In the shadow of accelerating climate pressures and rapid technological evolution, the FIG Congress will spotlight how geospatial tools, data, and innovation underpin resilience and informed decision-making. From land governance and resource management to the green economy and professional ethics, discussions will revolve around how the surveying profession can contribute to the global agenda beyond 2030 – ensuring that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remain a foundation rather than a finish line.

Professionals from around the world are invited to submit abstracts by 1 November 2025. Contributions from practitioners, researchers, government agencies and private industry alike are encouraged, with accepted papers forming part of the official proceedings and presented through both oral and poster sessions.

Cape Town sets the stage

Alongside the congress itself (registration has opened), participants can look forward to a vibrant programme of technical tours and pre-events that showcase South Africa’s rich geomatics landscape. Delegates will have opportunities to visit national mapping and astronomical institutions, engage with young professionals at the Young Surveyors Conference, and join thematic seminars addressing cutting-edge issues such as AI-driven transparency in land value systems and the realities of climate-related valuation models.

As the week unfolds, Cape Town will serve as both host city and inspiration – a setting where diverse voices and experiences converge to chart the profession’s next chapter. With its mix of high-level debate, practical insight and cultural connection, FIG Congress 2026 aims not only to inform but to inspire.

The call for abstracts remains open until 1 November 2025.