Abstract
The workshop will focus on the current state of cosmology, aiming to address some of its most pressing challenges, identifying key obstacles, and exploring promising opportunities from observational, phenomenological, and theoretical perspectives. Hosted at the Galileo Galilei Institute, the event will centre on two key themes: testing fundamental physics through upcoming cosmological and astrophysical observations, and resolving persistent issues such as cosmological tensions. The timing of the workshop is particularly significant, aligning with the anticipated arrival of extensive data from a wide array of cosmological and astrophysical probes expected in 2026. Participants will have a unique chance to engage with cutting-edge observations, contribute to their analysis and interpretation, and shape the future direction of cosmological research.

Topics

Week 1: Introduction and Training Week (6th-12th July)
The first week of the workshop will serve as an introductory training program dedicated to students and early-career researchers, aimed at preparing interested participants who may not be experts on the topic. The focus will be on key cosmological observables relevant to the workshop, methodologies for data analysis, and statistical techniques for comparing theoretical models with observations. The school will include lectures, hands-on tutorials, and discussions. Topics covered will include:
- Statistical and Numerical methods for cosmology;
- Large-scale structure and Baryon Acoustic Oscillations;
- Supernovae cosmology & the Cosmic distance ladder;
- CMB cosmology and next-generation surveys;
- Theory of dark energy and dark matter;
- Cosmology with Gravitational Waves.

Week 2: Observations and Systematics (13th-19th July)
The second week of the workshop will focus on observations and systematics across different surveys and probes, to assess the impact of unknown systematics on current cosmological tensions. We will also consider novel probes that offer independent measurements and may help identify hidden biases in existing methods. Topics covered will include:
- The Hubble tension;
- The role of systematic effects and their impact on cosmological tensions;
- Discussion on alternative cosmological probes;
- Other tensions in cosmological data;
- Future outlook: new observables, new surveys, new ideas.

Week 3: Conference Week (20th-26th July)
The third week of the workshop will host a conference focused on new frontiers and emerging directions in cosmology, astrophysics, and astroparticle physics, in light of the wealth of data collected over the past decade. Special emphasis will be given to the interplay between these observations and our understanding of fundamental physics. Topics to be addressed during the conference include
- Inflation;
- Dark Matter;
- Dark Energy;
- Extensions to the Standard Model of particles and their implications for cosmology;
- Modified Gravity Theories and their implications for cosmology.

Week 4: Models and Methods (27th-31st July)
This final week of the workshop is designed to synthesize the key outcomes of the previous sessions, with a focus on the observational tensions discussed throughout. We will examine the most compelling alternative theoretical scenarios proposed to simultaneously explain recent measurements, cosmic tensions, and possible hints of new physics. Topics covered during this week include:
- Review of observational evidence for deviations from ΛCDM;
- Overview of theoretical alternatives and model comparison techniques;
- Model-independent tests of ΛCDM;
- Emerging statistical techniques.

How to apply

If you wish to attend the Training Week or the Conference Week make sure to include the corresponding weeks in your application.

Applicants who are currently PhD or Master’s students should send an e-mail indicating the name of their supervisor, the starting date of their PhD, and a short CV (giare@hawaii.edu, elsa.teixeira@umontpellier.fr). Applications must be submitted by 28 February 2026, and participants will have the possibility to attend either in person or remotely.

Organizers

Eleonora Di Valentino — School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, The University of Sheffield

William Giarè — Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Hawaii

Matteo Martinelli — INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma

Vivian Poulin — Laboratoire Univers & Particules de Montpellier, CNRS

Elsa M. Teixeira — Laboratoire Univers & Particules de Montpellier, CNRS

Luca Visinelli — Dipartimento di Fisica “E.R. Caianiello”, Università degli Studi di Salerno,

Local organizer
William Giarè and Elsa M. Teixeira

Contact
giare@hawaii.edu
elsa.teixeira@umontpellier.fr

Related events
Exploring New Frontiers in Cosmology (Conference) - Jul 20, 2026

Exploring New Frontiers in Cosmology (Training Week) - Jul 06, 2026

Lecturers (Training Week):
Pedro Ferreira
Tanvi Karwal
Antonella Palmese
Anna Porredon
Dan Scolnic
Tristan L. Smith

Current Key Participants (Workshop/Conference):
Richard Anderson
Marika Asgari
Florian Beutler *
Carsten van de Bruck
Clare Burrage
Guadalupe Cañas-Herrera
Jens Chluba
Michele Cicoli
George Efstathiou
Miguel Escudero *
Pedro Ferreira
Dragan Huterer *
Tanvi Karwal
Lloyd Knox
Gaetano Lambiase
Eric V. Linder
Julien Lesgourgues
Alessandro Melchiorri *
Olga Mena
Martin Millon
Vivian Miranda
Michele Moresco
Antonella Palmese
Dominic Pesce
Anna Porredon
Alkistis Pourtsidou
Adam Riess
Jackson Levi Said
Jeremy Sakstein *
Nils Schöneberg
Daniel Scolnic
Alessandra Silvestri
Martin Sloth
Tristan L. Smith
Sherry Suyu
Stefan Taubenberger
Isaac Tutusaus
Sunny Vagnozzi *
More TBA soon
(*=TBC)