ICORS 2026 Announces Bosphorus Cruise Gala for Istanbul Conference

The 29^th International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy (ICORS 2026) is set to take place from August 23–27 in Istanbul, Turkey.¹ Istanbul’s transcontinental geography is positioned to maximize global participation and reinforce ICORS as a central convening venue for a widely distributed Raman community.¹ Three ICORS Raman Awards will target career achievement, early-career scientific impact, and innovative instrumentation, recognizing some of the leaders in the advancement of Raman spectroscopy.¹

As part of the conference program, ICORS has set aside time for attendees to enjoy a social event on the evening of Wednesday August 26^th. The main social event of ICORS 2026 will be a gala dinner cruise along the Bosphorus River.²

The event will take place aboard the boat Baba Refik Sezgün from 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., with attendees directed to a designated pickup point near the Kabataş waterfront.² On the conference website, the conference organizers have published a step-by-step travel guide directing attendees from Taksim Square to the departure point.

There are two routes that conference attendees can take to get to the departure point. The first way to get there is by taking the F1 funicular line, which is a roughly 2.5-minute ride departing every five to seven minutes.² The second route is a 12- to 15-minute downhill walk along İnönü Caddesi past the Atatürk Cultural Center and Dolmabahçe-area streets to the Kabataş tram and ferry docks.² For attendees that opt to take the F1 funicular line, a representative from ICORS 2026 will be stationed at the metro exit to guide attendees to the boat.²

Although the scientific program remains the substantive core of ICORS, the social program gives attendees the opportunity to reconnect with their colleagues and make new friends in a more informal setting. For attendees planning their conference week, the published transit instructions and fixed departure window give a firm data point around which to arrange the midweek schedule, sessions, and any independent travel plans in the city.

References

1. Wetzel, W.; Spectroscopy Staff. The Raman Spectroscopy Community Heads to Istanbul for ICORS 2026. Spectroscopy Online, 2026. https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/the-raman-spectroscopy-community-heads-to-istanbul-for-icors-2026 (accessed August 18, 2026).
2. ICORS, Social Program. ICORS, 2026. https://icors2026.org/social-program/ (accessed August 18, 2026).