Annual Meeting of the Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution
We would like to welcome you to Québec City for the 2027 annual Conference of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution, which will be from June 20th to June 24th, 2027. The meeting will be held in one of the most beautiful cities in North America. It will be hosted by Université Laval at the Quebec Convention Centre, which is within walking distance of the Old City, most tourist attractions, hotels, and some of the best restaurants in Canada. The convention center offers state-of-the-art facilities to support an inclusive and accessible meeting.
The conference will open with the first plenary lecture on Sunday June 20th and will be followed by a welcome reception. The plenary lectures will cover the most exciting topics of interest to the membership of SMBE, including evolutionary systems biology, evolution of genomic conflicts, evolution interaction plants-pathogens and human genetics. The meeting will also feature 30 symposia, 22 of which will be selected from proposals to be received in the Fall of 2026. Two poster sessions will take place Monday and Tuesday nights. The Tuesday morning session will be dedicated to the Graduate Student Excellence Award symposium, one of the most distinctive sessions of the SMBE conferences, which features work from the latest generation of SMBE trainees. The seated banquet will be hosted at Le Manège militaire Voltigeurs de Québec, one of Canada’s national historic sites, which is located on the spectacular Plains of Abraham, one of the most important sites of Canadian history.
We are excited to commit to making this meeting inclusive for all participants, with travel grants, career grants, discounts for students and members studying or working in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, free childcare, a code of conduct, and a commitment to accessibility at all events. We are also aiming for a sustainable meeting using various approaches: reduced use of plastic and paper, sustainable catering, and complimentary bus passes to travel within the city.
We are looking forward to hearing about your most recent and exciting work in molecular biology and evolution,
The Local Organizing Committee
Our Keynote Speakers
Important Dates
SYMPOSIA & ABSTRACTS
Call for symposia opens: August 20, 2026
Call for symposia closes: September 20, 2026 23:59 EDT
Abstract submission opens: November 20, 2026
Abstract submission deadline: February 1, 2027
Abstract selection notice for oral presentation (first round): March 1, 2027
Abstract selection notice for oral presentation (second round): March 15, 2027
REGISTRATION
Early bird registration opens: October 20, 2026
Deadline for early bird registration: March 30, 2027
Deadline for regular registration with banquet (if tickets remaining): May 1, 2027
Deadline for regular registration without banquet: June 20, 2027
AWARDS
Award applications open: November 20 2026
Award application deadline: February 1, 2027
Award notice: starting March 1, 2027
PRESENTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES
Oral presenters: March 30, 2027
Poster presenters: May 30, 2027
ON-SITE ACTIVITIES
Pre-meeting workshops: June 20, 2027
Welcome Reception: June 20, 2027
Banquet: June 23, 2027
Meeting Conclusion: June 24, 2027 (1:00pm)
Local Organizing Committee
If you have any questions, please contact us:
smbe2027@neoevents.ca
If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please consult the sponsorship package and contact:
smbe2027@neoevents.ca
About our logo
The logo created for the 2027 meeting of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution in Quebec City was designed to reflect the connections between evolution, biodiversity, culture, and place within the goal of inclusivity and respect for the people in and around the city. It draws from a diversity of symbols deeply associated with Québec’s landscapes and identities.
The silhouette of the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac anchors the logo within Québec City’s skyline and immediately evokes the unique European style architecture of Quebec as the host city.
At the center of the composition, a sugar maple leaf (Acer saccharum) progressively transforms into a flying snow goose (Anser caerulescens). This transition uses local symbols to display themes of biodiversity, adaptation, and evolutionary change - all at the core of molecular biology and evolution. The maple leaf symbolizes the forests and traditional sugar maple production, while the snow goose signifies migration, movement, and ecological connectivity across the province. Together, these symbols bridge the gap between diverse aspects of Canada’s culture, existing within First Nations, Quebecois, and Anglo-Canadian traditions.
Forming the foundation of the composition are eleven flossing blue-grey lines, meant to represent the St. Lawrence River. The Saint-Lawrence is a defining geographical feature of Québec and one of North America’s great ecological corridors. Simultaneously, the eleven lines also symbolize the eleven First Nations of Québec, and recognize their enduring contributions to the province’s development. It is also a nod to the province’s name; the word Quebec famously comes from the Algonquin term for “where the river narrows” in reference to the narrowing of the river around Quebec City. This triple symbolism demonstrates the interplay between communities, landscapes, history, and living organisms.
Text Credit: Ethan Alexander Yarus, Jean-Baptiste Leducq
Location
Hybrid event:
Québec City Convention Centre
1000 Boulevard René-Lévesque Est
Québec, Québec
Canada, G1A 1B4
Dates
Submission period:
August 20, 2026 - 1:00 AM EDT - September 20, 2026 - 11:59 PM EDT
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact smbe2027@neoevents.ca