News from LVK meeting in Pisa, 9-13 March 2026

The annual meeting of the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA (LVK) Collaboration in 2026 was held in Pisa, Italy, in close proximity to the Virgo gravitational-wave observatory, whose 3-kilometre-long interferometric arms make it one of the world’s leading facilities for gravitational-wave detection. The conference took place from 9–13 March 2026 and brought together researchers from across the global gravitational-wave community.

Members of the Polgraw group actively participated in the meeting, contributing to scientific discussions and collaborative activities. A central theme of this year’s meeting was the planned transition from the LVK Collaboration to the International Gravitational Wave Network (IGWN), reflecting the continued expansion and globalisation of gravitational-wave science. This transition aims to foster broader international cooperation and enhance the scientific reach of current and future observatories. Throughout the conference, scientists from a wide range of institutionspresented their latest research findings through both oral presentations and poster sessions. These contributions covered key developments in gravitational-wave detection, data analysis, astrophysical interpretation, and instrumentation.

The meeting concluded with a guided visit to the Virgo observatory. Early-career members of the Polgraw group had the valuable opportunity to tour the facility, including the Virgo control room, the central building, and the on-site exhibition spaces. This visit provided first-hand insight into the operation and infrastructure of one of the leading detectors in the global gravitational-wave network.