IEEE WCCI 2026 is the world's largest technical event in computer science, bringing together three major conferences — IJCNN, FUZZ-IEEE and IEEE CEC — under one roof. Held from 21–26 June 2026 at MECC Maastricht, the congress brought together roughly 2,500 scientists from across the globe.
Organised in partnership with Maastricht University, DACS and the Maastricht Convention Bureau, WCCI 2026 explored neural networks, evolutionary computing and fuzzy systems — with both in-person daytime sessions and online sessions for participants unable to travel.
New for 2026 was an Industry Day, focused on collaboration between academia and industry — alongside an exhibition showcasing the latest developments in computational intelligence and a full social programme.
2026 was a landmark edition in that respect: alongside the in-person sessions in Maastricht, WCCI ran a full online programme — literally around the clock — so that scientists unable to travel due to circumstances beyond their control could still take part. It meant no time zone, no visa restriction and no travel disruption stood between researchers and the congress.