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Coatings 2026: Safe and Sustainable by Design Surface Treatment and Coatings

20 - 22 April 2026
Athens, Greece
Event Announcement

Thank You for Attending Coatings 2026!

We sincerely thank all participants for making Coatings 2026 a great success. Your engagement and contributions made the event truly memorable!

Please check out the Coatings 2026 interview content here:

Discover exclusive insights from leading experts and innovators through our featured interview series from the Coatings 2026 conference.

Welcome from
the chairs

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to welcome you to Coatings 2026: Safe and Sustainable by Design Surface Treatment and Coatings, which will take place in Athens, Greece, from 20–22 April 2026. This conference aims to bring together researchers, industry professionals, and experts from around the world to share the latest advancements, exchange ideas, and foster collaborations in the field of Surface Finishing.

The surface finishing industry faces growing challenges, including stricter environmental regulations such as REACH and the EU Green Deal, increasing demands for pollution control, and the need to adopt cleaner, more sustainable technologies. Balancing high performance with reduced environmental impact calls for a transition toward circular economy practices, smarter formulation and production tools, and the use of less toxic, bio-based materials. By joining forces across research, policy, and supply chains, we can create coatings that meet tomorrow’s standards while protecting our planet. Your presence and active contribution will be essential in shaping a more sustainable future for surface treatment.

Through keynote lectures, oral presentations, and poster sessions, our program is designed to offer an engaging platform for discussing cutting-edge research, emerging challenges, and future directions in the field.

We warmly encourage you to participate actively by presenting your work, joining discussions, and networking with fellow attendees. Beyond the scientific sessions, Athens offers a historic and vibrant setting to connect with colleagues while enjoying its rich culture and renowned cuisine.

We look forward to an inspiring and productive conference, and to welcoming you to Coatings 2026.

Sincerely,

Prof. Dr. Luca Magagnin
Prof. Dr. Eugenia Valsami-Jones
Dr. Alexandros Zoikis Karathanasis

Conference Secretariat

Ms. Shae Turner
Ms. Dušica Radovanović
Dr. Ana Sanchís

Conference Email: coatings2026@mdpi.com

Join us on LinkedIn Events!

If you want to stay updated with the latest information, or if you want to connect with your fellow researchers before, during, and after the event, then be sure to join the Coatings 2026 LinkedIn Event.
See you there!

Follow the conversation on X with #coatings2026!

Meet the Event Chairs

Prof. Dr. Luca Magagnin
Prof. Dr. Luca Magagnin
“Giulio Natta” Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Prof. Dr. Eugenia (Éva) Valsami-Jones
Prof. Dr. Eugenia (Éva) Valsami-Jones
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
Dr. Alexandros Zoikis Karathanasis
Dr. Alexandros Zoikis Karathanasis
Creative Nano, Greece

Important Dates

  • Abstract submission deadlineJan 19, 2026
  • Abstract acceptance notificationFeb 16, 2026
  • Conference Dinner Registration end dateApr 13, 2026
  • Early bird registration deadlineFeb 20, 2026
  • Regular registration deadlineApr 13, 2026
  • Late registration deadlineApr 01, 2026

Meet Our Speakers

View all speakers
Prof. Dr. Nick Birbilis

Prof. Dr. Nick Birbilis

Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Australia;
Professor Nick Birbilis is an internationally recognized leader in materials science and engineering. He is renowned for advancing the understanding of materials' durability and corrosion, including the development of corrosion-resistant materials. His work integrates advanced characterization, electrochemistry, and metallurgy, also having had significant impact across industry and defense (internationally). <br><br>Nick is presently the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment (SEBE) at Deakin University. Prior to joining Deakin, he held roles at the Australian National University as Dean of the College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics; and at Monash University, where he was Head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Professor Birbilis’s research has been recognized by the UR Evans Award and the HH Uhlig Award. He is a Fellow of ASM International, NACE/AMPP, The Electrochemical Society, and International Society of Electrochemistry and Engineers Australia. He has published over 500 papers, holds more than 20 patents, and serves as the Editor-in-Chief of npj Materials Degradation.

Prof. Dr. Eugenia (Éva) Valsami-Jones

Prof. Dr. Eugenia (Éva) Valsami-Jones

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK;
In the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham, Prof. Valsami-Jones is Chair in Environmental Nanoscience and Director of the Facility for Environmental Nanoscience Analysis and Characterisation (FENAC). She is also Editor-in-Chief of Nanomaterials and joint coordinator of the Network for Safety and Sustainability of Chemicals and Materials (https://nsc-community.eu). In her research, Prof. Valsami-Jones is interested in understanding reactivity at the nanoscale, particularly nanoparticles interacting with pollutants and biota, biomineralization processes, and biomedical applications of nanomaterials. The interaction of various carbon- and metal-based nano-objects with biota in vitro and in vivo has been a focus of her work, and she has pioneered novel methods of labelling nanomaterials. She has also contributed to understanding the formation and stability of biogenic apatites.

Session Topics
Explore more details
  • S1. Advances in metallic and metal matrix composite coatings
  • S2. Advances in organic and hybrid coatings
  • S3. Advances in methods and equipment
  • S4. Surface finishing for additive manufacturing
  • S5. Application of the SSbD framework on the surface finishing industry
12

Sponsors and Partners

Co-organizer

MDPIEXELISIS

Platinum

CoatingsELVAL COLOURGEP

Gold

NICKEFFECT

Silver

Gruppo Gaser

Bronze

AppLESThe Institute of Coating TechnologiesM2DESCO

Media partner

HeritageCorrosion and Materials DegradationGelsOpticsLubricantsAlloysMetalsMaterialsPolymersNanomaterialsColloids and Interfaces
Poster Sessions
Poster Session A
  • Posters: A1 – A25
  • Tuesday, 21 April 2026 | 11:00–11:30, 13:00–14:15, 16:00–16:30 EEST
  • Please note that posters should be set up on Tuesday morning (before 11:00) and must be removed by 18:00 on the same day.
Poster Session B
  • Posters: B1 – B24
  • Wednesday, 22 April 2026 | 11:00–11:30, 13:15–14:30, 16:15–16:45 EEST
  • Please note that posters should be set up on Wednesday morning (before 11:00) and must be removed by 19:00 on the same day.
Guidelines:
  • Please print your poster before the conference and bring it with you. We will not provide on-site printing services or print it for you in advance.
  • Posters should not be hung up or taken down during sessions with ongoing presentations. Please do so only during breaks, before sessions begin.
  • Each presenter will be provided with a vertical poster board. Note that the maximum poster size is limited to A0: 84 x 120 cm / 33 x 47 in (width x height) in vertical orientation (portrait).

The list of posters, along with the poster numbers, titles, and presenting authors, can be found below. Please contact us if the poster presenter's name or presentation title is incorrect (last updated on 16 April 2026).

You can view and download the list of posters by clicking below.

Conference Dinner

Tuesday, 21 April 2026, 8:00 pm EST

We invite you to join us at the Conference Dinner at the Royal Olympic Hotel, a family-run five-star property in the center of Athens, which will make your evening at the restaurant an experience to remember. The hotel lays just in front of the famous Temple of Zeus and National Garden, underneath the Acropolis, and only a 2-minute walk to the new Acropolis Museum.

The dinner will be at an additional cost of 70 EUR and will need to be booked separately in an independent registration. Please register and pay for it here before 3 April 2026 and save your seat. During the registration process, please indicate any dietary restriction in the comments.

You are welcome to bring any accompanying persons by booking their seats. Please note that registrations onsite will not be permitted.

The restaurant is located at the top of the Royal Olympic Hotel (Address: Athanasiou Diakou 28, Athina 117 43, Grecia).
Coatings 2026 Satellite Event

SSbD in Practice: Current Status, Critical Barriers and Success Cases

We are pleased to invite you to the workshop “SSbD in Practice: Current Status, Critical Barriers and Success Cases”, taking place on 20th of April 2026, from 09:00 to 13:00, at the ZEUS Wyndham Grand Athens.

The workshop will focus on how Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) is applied in practice, bringing together perspectives from industry, research community, and policy makers. Through engaging talks, real-world examples, and interactive roundtable discussions, the workshop will explore policy drivers, industrial experiences, barriers, and pathways for translating SSbD innovations into market-ready solutions.

Τhe event will cover 3 thematic areas:

  • Thematic 1: SSbD Framework, Policy & Regulatory Readiness
  • Thematic 2: Industrial Success Stories & Real‑World Impact
  • Thematic 3: R&D challenges in SSbD implementation

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please visit SSbD in Practice - Exelisis Events.

Affiliated MDPI Conferences

Pining for more content and congresses on Coating Science to build on our meeting in Athens for Coatings 2026? Our various partnered MDPI conferences have you covered.

These events feature frontline experts in their respective fields, and explore their own unique tracks on the cutting edge of coatings.

Past events:

Upcoming events:



For more information on these conferences, click the banners to visit their sites and contact their respective Secretariats.

Other Events to Attend

Partnership Opportunities

Sponsoring

We invite you and your company to showcase your brand to a diverse audience of professionals and become a vital part of Coatings 2026. Explore our sponsorship opportunities and join us in shaping the future of coating-related research and innovation.

From branding in highly visible conference materials and events to an exclusive presentation opportunity, find the perfect sponsorship package tailored to your needs in our sponsorship brochure by clicking the button below.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss any further options, please do not hesitate to contact the Conference Secretariat. Connect with us today to secure your spot and maximize your impact.

Society Collaboration

Are you part of a society and interested in Coatings 2026? Contact us at coatings2026@mdpi.com to discuss a media partnership where your society members can access a 20% discount on all registration fees!

Coatings2026
coatings2026@mdpi.com
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