The Olympian Symposium serves as a premier international conference for sharing groundbreaking advancements in astrophysics and cosmology, while actively engaging the public through associated events. This distinguished gathering occurring about once every three years was founded and first launched in 2014 by Dr. Thomas Bisbas.
After a decade of development, the Olympian Symposium has grown into a prominent international meeting of scientific dialogue. It not only provides a platform for astrophysicists to present cutting-edge research but also offers significant networking and presentation opportunities for doctoral students and early-career researchers.
Each past edition has attracted participants from dozens of countries including universities and research institutions, and enjoys considerable influence both socially and within academic circles. The Olympian Symposium has consistently been held at Paralia Katerini, located about 20 kilometers from the legendary peak of Mount Olympus.
Since 2014, the Olympian Symposium has been held four times (and one additional in the form of a summer school), covering themes including star-formation, cosmology, and the interstellar medium attracting over 600 participants and more than 1200 locals to its popular science lectures.
During the 2026 edition marking the 5th Olympian Symposium, a large-scale public engagement under the name of “Astronomy Park” (in Greek only) took place during the weekend of May 16-17, 2026. We anticipate that this, separate, public outreach activity will now run every year in Katerini city and possibly beyond, improving public understanding of astronomy and space science.