Fields Medal event heads to Glasgow and Dublin after US boycott

Glasgow and Dublin have been announced as the co-hosts of the next International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), the field’s most prestigious gathering, after this year’s event was boycotted because it took place in the US.

The next ICM in 2030 will be the first to be held across two countries after the joint Irish-Scottish bid defeated rival proposals from Tokyo, Japan and Hong Kong.

It was led by mathematicians at the University of Glasgow and Maynooth University, working in partnership with the Edinburgh, London and Irish Mathematical Societies.

Held every four years, up to four Fields Medals, widely regarded as the mathematical equivalent of the Nobel Prize, are awarded to mathematicians under the age of 40 at the gathering. 

“The General Assembly and International Congress of Mathematicians will be a landmark event, showcasing Ireland and Scotland’s shared commitment to excellence in mathematics, research and education,” said James Lawless, Ireland’s minister for further and higher education, research, innovation and science.

“As someone who studied mathematics at university, I know the value of the subject and the opportunities it can create. Mathematics underpins so much of modern life, from scientific research and technological innovation to finance, engineering and data science.”

The decision was announced during the 2026 ICM in Philadelphia, where this year’s Fields Medals were awarded to Yu Deng, John Pardon, Jacob Tsimerman and Hong Wang.

The choice of Philadelphia as the 2026 host was controversial. More than 2,100 mathematicians from 75 countries signed a petition ahead of the congress, citing concerns over US immigration policies and military strikes on Iran, which they said could discourage or prevent international researchers from attending.

The French Mathematical Society and the Brazilian Mathematical Society boycotted the event over concerns over academic freedom and visa policies. 

Organisers, the International Mathematical Union, defended its decision, saying that holding the congress in person in Philadelphia was “especially important” at a time when science faced “serious challenges”.

The 2030 event will be held at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow and the Royal Dublin Society, which has supported science and innovation since 1731. Around 6,000 participants are expected to attend.

Andy Schofield, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Glasgow, welcomed the announcement. “This is fantastic news for Glasgow and Dublin, and for the mathematical communities of Scotland and Ireland. We are honoured to have been chosen to host the International Congress of Mathematicians, one of the world's most important scientific gatherings,” he said. 

“The decision to bring the Congress and the General Assembly to two countries for the first time reflects our rich mathematical heritages and the strength of the shared research communities that connect us.”

seher.asaf@timeshighereducation.com