CAP2026 conference brought the global astronomy communication community to Yerevan

From 25 to 29 May 2026, Yerevan, Armenia, hosted the Communicating Astronomy with the Public Conference 2026 — CAP2026.

The event was hosted in partnership by the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, the Armenian Astronomical Society, the International Astronomical Union Commission C2 — Communicating Astronomy with the Public, and the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach. The conference was organised with the involvement of international and Armenian partners, including the International Astronomical Union, the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, the Armenian Astronomical Society, the Armenian Virtual Observatory and the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.

CAP2026 brought together astronomy communicators, educators, researchers, journalists, planetarium professionals and outreach specialists to exchange ideas, share best practices and discuss the future of public engagement with astronomy.

The theme of this year’s conference, “Democratising Astronomy Communication in the era of accessible Artificial Intelligence,” reflected one of the most timely questions in science communication today: how new digital and AI tools can help make astronomy more accessible, inclusive and engaging for different audiences around the world.

CAP2026 once again highlighted the importance of astronomy communication as a bridge between scientific discovery and society — helping people connect with the Universe, understand research, and take part in the wider conversation about science.