ATLANTA — ASHRAE is accepting abstract submissions for its 2026 Winter Conference, which is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31, through Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Our upcoming Winter Conference’s technical program will dive deep into practical strategies and proven best practices on important topics within the built environment — including the role of artificial intelligence, future-proofing, and indoor environmental quality,” said technical conference chairman Aaron Boranian. “In addition, we’re excited to bring back the highly regarded Research Summit track, which continues to showcase innovative findings and foster meaningful dialogue among researchers and practitioners. We look forward to welcoming the global ASHRAE community to Las Vegas for a week of learning, collaboration and insights.”
Conference papers are being sought for the following tracks:
• The “Indoor Environmental Quality for Healthy Buildings” track explores advancements in design, operation, and best practices for improving indoor environmental quality, including ventilation, filtration, acoustics, lighting, and occupant health, safety, and comfort.
• The “Artificial Intelligence” track covers applications for AI and machine learning in building automation and controls to enhance energy efficiency, occupant comfort, cyber security, and operation of HVAC systems and equipment.
• The “Pathways to Building Decarbonization” track highlights research, case studies, new methods or resources, and policies, regulations, codes, and government programs that can reduce carbon impacts and achieve net-zero (or net-positive) building design.
• The “Energy Storage and Grid Resiliency” track focuses on advancements in thermal and electrical energy storage, integration of energy storage systems in building envelopes or HVAC systems, and grid resiliency.
• The “Future-Proofing the Built Environment” track highlights technologies and strategies that reimagine our relationship with the built environment now and into the future, including design strategies for extreme climates and weather and responses to energy supply distributions.
• The “Research Summit” track features active research, and the exchange of research findings, critical to the development of the HVACR industry and the built environment. The track includes a partnership with ASHRAE’s archival journal, Science and Technology for the Built Environment.
• The “Refrigerants and Refrigeration” track explores refrigeration systems, which generate and use cold for a range of processes, from food preparation and conservation to vaccine preservation to long-term protection of the fragile ancient inks of historical documents.
• The “Fundamentals and Applications” track will provide opportunities for papers of varying levels across a large topic base. Concepts, design elements, and shared experiences for theoretical and applied concepts of HVAC&R design are included.
Abstracts (400 words or less) are due by Wednesday, May 28. If accepted, final conference papers (eight pages maximum) are due Wednesday, Sept. 3. In addition, technical papers (complete 30 pages maximum papers) are also due Wednesday, May 28.
All accepted papers will be considered for publication in Science and Technology for the Built Environment.
For questions regarding abstract submissions, email Haley Booker-Lauridson at [email protected].