Note: Due to the total solar eclipse and high seasonal demand in Valencia, participants are strongly encouraged to secure accommodation as early as possible.
On 12 August 2026, Spain will witness the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe in almost 30 years. Beyond its beauty, a total eclipse is a striking reminder of a central theme in astrophysics: magnetic fields shape what we see, from faint plasma structures to bursts of energetic particles and coherent radio emission.
Like the Sun, many nearby stars and ultracool dwarfs are magnetically active across the electromagnetic spectrum. Over the last decade, new wideband, high-time-resolution radio facilities have transformed the field: auroral bursts, rotational modulation, and broadband polarimetry are now being used as quantitative probes of magnetic geometry, particle acceleration, stellar winds, and star–planet interactions—and they are opening a realistic path toward detecting and characterising exoplanetary magnetospheres.
To mark this rare celestial event, this conference will take place in Valencia, Spain from 10–12 August 2026, bringing together an international community working on stars, ultracool dwarfs, and radio exoplanet science. To foster deep discussion and sustained interaction, attendance will be capped at 50 participants. A dedicated eclipse field session will allow participants to share the totality experience together as part of the conference week.
Key themes include:
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Stellar winds and star–planet interaction.
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Stars and ultracool dwarf magnetism.
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Radio exoplanet searches and what magnetospheric detections would imply for environments and habitability
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Multi-wavelength magnetic activity diagnostics, connecting radio to optical/UV/X-ray signatures and variability
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Next-generation facilities and roadmaps for magnetic astrophysics (e.g., LOFAR 2.0, SKA-Low, ngVLA)
Important Dates
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Deadline for abstract submission: March 23, 2026
Registrations will be processed on a rolling basis on a first-come, first-served basis, while ensuring a balanced scientific programme.
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Notification of acceptance. At the latest: April 1, 2026
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Deadline for early registration: May 1, 2026
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Conference dates: August 10–12, 2026
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Eclipse Field Session: August 12, 2026
Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC)
- Juan B Climent — University of Valencia, Spain
- José Carlos Guirado — University of Valencia, Spain
- Moira Jardine — University of St Andrews, Scotland (UK)
- Miguel Pérez-Torres — IAA-CSIC, Spain
- Paulo Miles Páez — CAB-INTA, Spain
Local Organizing Committee (LOC)
- Yéssica Calatayud — University of Valencia, Spain
- Juan B Climent — University of Valencia, Spain
- José Carlos Guirado — University of Valencia, Spain
- Rob Kavanagh — ASTRON / University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Diego Martín Carrero — University of Valencia, Spain
- Iván Martí Vidal — University of Valencia, Spain
All participants are expected to adhere to the University of Valencia’s Code of Conduct and best practices
