Category: News

With more than 250 detected events, the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA network has successfully concluded on November 18, 2025, the third part of the O4 observing run (O4c). An intense activity to analyze the collected data is ongoing, and in the meantime plans for upgrades toward O5 are prepared, to further increase the number of detected coalescences and with the aim of possibly detect new classes of gravitational wave emitters. 

At the same time, the preparatory work for third generation ground-based interferometers Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer is in full swing, with many R&D activities going on, new laboratories coming online and new concepts being elaborated, while the quality of the candidate sites are assessed. Lots of activities are also surrounding the preparation for the LISA mission, expected to probe a completely different band of the gravitational wave spectrum.

The gravitational wave community worldwide is growing, stimulated by the challenges of new detectors on Earth and in space. The Gravitational Wave Advanced Detector Workshop (GWADW) series is one of the main opportunities worldwide to present the work on detectors leaving, as is tradition, ample space for informal discussions.

The scientific programme will consist of plenary sessions only, with two poster sessions on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. The daily work schedule will be concentrated in the morning and in the evening leaving room for informal discussions around lunch time.

GWADW 2026 will begin on Sunday, May 17th and finish on early morning of Saturday May 23rd.

Workshop Website

The second generation of Gravitational wave (GW) detectors has been operating until recently at unprecedented sensitivity, providing observations of binary system coalescences, whose sources are neutron stars and black holes with masses ranging from one to one hundred solar masses.

The new (3rd) generation of gravitational detectors consists of two projects: Cosmic Explorer (CE) and Einstein Telescope (ET), supported respectively by US and European collaborations with Latin America (LATAM) scientists involved in both projects.

With the intent of covering the wide range of fundamental physics, astronomy and cosmology topics that can be addressed by the upcoming gravitational wave detectors, the goal of the workshop is to spur the contribution of LATAM researchers to the field, with dedicated sessions to all aspects of GW science including Cosmology, Fundamental gravity, Astrophysical populations, Multimessenger astronomy, Neutron stars, Dark matter, Data analysis and Instrument science.

This workshop will be preceded by the School on Astroparticle and Multi-messenger Astrophysics from June 15-26.

Organizers:

• Raul Abramo (USP, Brazil)
• Miguel Quartin (CBPF, Brazil)
• Davi Rodrigues (UFES, Brazil)
• Riccardo Sturani (IFT-UNESP, Brazil)

Workshop Website

This is an exciting time in gravitational-wave astronomy! LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA just finished their fourth observing run (O4). Data from the past three observing runs (O1, O2, and O3) and the beginning of O4 (O4a) are publicly available, and include over 200 detections of compact object mergers. And the list continues to grow as more confirmed detections are added.

After you enroll, you will receive a crash-course in gravitational-wave (GW) data analysis. By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Describe the basics of how LIGO and Virgo record data
• Find and download LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA data
• Make plots of real data and simulated waveforms
• Use matched filtering to identify transient signals in LIGO/Virgo data
• Use parameter estimation to extract astrophysical information from transient signals

This course includes lectures, software tutorials, quiz questions, and a data challenge. Complete the course and data challenge to receive a certificate.

Workshop Website

The discovery of gravitational waves has opened an entirely new observational window on the Universe, and eccentric systems represent one of the most exciting frontiers. While most detected binaries to date are consistent with circular inspirals, there is mounting evidence that eccentricity may already be present in current events, with claims ranging from high-mass and low-mass black hole binaries to neutron star-black hole systems. Understanding, modeling, and interpreting eccentric sources is both timely and urgent. The workshop will bring together experts in theory, numerical relativity, data analysis, and astrophysics, as well as early-career researchers entering these fields. We aim to create a collaborative environment where participants can share results, exchange ideas, and identify the next key steps.

The core program of the workshop will take place on September 1st-4th, 2026 at the Corfu Summer Institute, which is located in Mon Repos park, a short walk from Corfu town. In addition, the conference center will also be open and available to us on September 5th-6th; attendees can take it as an opportunity to work in small groups while enjoying Corfu’s seaside, beaches, and great food.

The workshop will have a conference fee of 350 Euros (250 Euros for students) covering coffee breaks, lunches, welcome reception, conference dinner, and two excursions (hopefully on a boat). While we are unable to provide travel support, accommodation in Corfu in September is relatively inexpensive (but the beaches are still great!). The workshop will be in person without remote options.

Workshop Website