International Conference on Vertex Algebra,

Category Theory and Related Topics

Chern Institute of Mathematics, Nankai University Tianjin, China

July 12-16, 2026

Vertex operator algebras, introduced by Richard Borcherds in 1986, are now connected with category theory, operator algebras, geometry, topology, group theory, Lie theory, number theory, conformal field theory, and string theory. Recent developments have made the interaction between vertex algebras and modular tensor categories especially prominent.

This conference aims to provide a forum for sharing recent progress, discussing open problems, and encouraging collaboration across vertex algebra and related fields.

Main Topics

· Recent progress in vertex algebras

· Vertex algebras and tensor categories

· Orbifold and coset constructions

Organizing Committee

· Chengming Bai, Nankai University (baicm@nankai.edu.cn)

· Chongying Dong, University of California at Santa Cruz (dong@ucsc.edu)

· Li Ren, Sichuan University (RenL@scu.edu.cn)

· Cuibo Jiang, Shanghai Jiaotong University (cpjiang@sjtu.edu.cn)

· Feng Xu, University of California Riverside (feng.xu@ucr.edu)

Invited Speakers

Drazen Adamovic  University of Zagreb

David Ridout  University of Melbourne

Xuanzhong   DaiKyoto University

Nils R. Scheithauer  Technische Universitat Darmstadt

Yun Gao  York University

Bailin Song  University of Science and Technology of China

Angela Gibney  University of Pennsylvania

Kaiwen Sun  University of Science and Technology of China

Cuibo Jiang  Shanghai Jiaotong University

Shaobin Tan   Xiamen University

Xiangyu Jiao  East China Normal University

Qing Wang  Xiamen University

Ching Hung   LamAcademia Sinica

Yilong Wang  Yanqi Lake Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications

Haisheng Li  Rutgers University

Wenbin Yan  Tsinghua University

Xingjun Lin  Wuhan University

Jinwei Yang  Shanghai Jiaotong University

Zhengwei Liu  Tsinghua University

Nina Yu  Xiamen University

Qiang Mu  Harbin Normal University

Kaiming Zhao  Wilfrid Laurier University

Siu-Hung Ng  Louisiana State University

The schedule for the conference is as follows:

Registration

Online registration is available through the conference registration website（https://cim-va-category-2026.netlify.app/ ）. Participants are asked to provide contact information, arrival and departure details, accommodation requests, banquet plans, talk information, dietary restrictions, and visa invitation letter requirements when applicable.

· On-site registration: 14:00-20:00, July 12, 2026

· Registration place: Jiayuan Hotel, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, P.R. China

· Jiayuan Hotel Tel.: +86 22 2350 6281

Contact Information

Directions

Address: No. 94 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin, P.R.China 300071

地址：天津市南开区卫津路94号. 邮编：300071

Caution: Please choose to enter the school through the west, east or southwest gate of the school, the south gate is not open. Please cooperate with the gate of the teaching area to check your ID card when entering the school, and taxis are not allowed to enter the school. More information is available at http://en.cim.nankai.edu.cn/About_CIM/Contact_CIM.htm

提示：请根据情况选择从学校西门、东门或西南门入校，南门不开。入校时请配合教学区门岗查验身份证，出租车不许入校。

Travel Information/旅行信息

Tianjin is the fourth largest city in China, located 120 km southeast of Beijing, metropolitan population 9-10 million. Tianjin is one of the commercial and industrial centers in mideast-northeast of China. It is also one of the educational centers in China and is the home of the two oldest and well-known universities in China — Nankai University and Tianjin University. In recent years, Tianjin has taken great stride to modernize the city, including its commerce and industries. It is re-emerging as one of the dynamic and bustling metropolitan cities in China. 

Traffic Information/交通信息 (English Version) 

1. For visitors arriving at Tianjin Binhai International Airport, please take metro line 2 (bound for Caozhuang Station) to Tianjin Railway Station, then change to metro line 3 (bound for Tianjinnan Railway Station), get off at Tianta Station and walk to Nankai University. 

2. For visitors arriving at Tianjin Railway Station, please take metro line 3 (bound for Tianjinnan Railway Station) to Tianta Station and walk to Nankai University, or take bus No. 8/No. 832 and get off at Balitai Station (near the north gate of Nankai University), or take bus No. 845 and get off at Shoubiaochang Station (near the southwest gate of Nankai University).  

3. For visitors arriving at Tianjinnan Railway Station, please take metro line 3 (bound for Xiaodian Station) to Tianta Station and walk to Nankai University.  

4. For visitors arriving at Tianjinxi Railway Station, please take metro line 1 (bound for Shuanglin Station) to Yingkoudao Station, then change to metro line 3 (bound for Tianjinnan Railway Station), get off at Tianta Station and walk to Nankai University; or take bus No. 859 at the South Square of Tianjinxi Railway Station and get off at Balitai Station (near the north gate of Nankai University).  

5.Please take the metro line 11（West direction of Water Park Road）to Nankai University, Baitai Station and then walk for 5-15 minutes to Nankai University. 

(中文版)

1. 天津滨海国际机场乘坐地铁2号线（曹庄方向）至“天津站”换乘地铁3号线（南站方向）至“周邓纪念馆站”下车，打车（8分钟）或步行（20分钟左右）至南开大学。  

2. 天津站乘坐地铁3号线（南站方向）至“天塔站”下车步行至南开大学，或乘坐公交8路、832路至八里台（南开大学东门），845路至手表厂（南开大学南门）下车。 

3. 天津南站乘坐地铁3号线（小淀方向）至“周邓纪念馆站”下车，打车（8分钟）或步行（20分钟左右）至南开大学。  

4. 天津西站乘坐地铁1号线（双林方向）至“营口道站”换乘地铁3号线（南站方向）至“周邓纪念馆站”下车，打车（8分钟）或步行（20分钟左右）至南开大学，或在西站南广场乘坐公交859路至八里台（南开大学东门）下车。  

5. 换成地铁11号线（水上公园西路方向）至“南开大学八里台站”下车，后步行5-15分钟至南开大学。

南开大学校园图.pdf