Kaiserslautern, 23rd to 25th of September 2026.

Since its beginnings in 1970, HExKoP has brought together cognitive and experimental psychologists each year. The meeting is intentionally small, creating space for open exchange across labs and research backgrounds. Contributions may range from early-stage ideas and theoretical considerations to preliminary results and complete experimental projects. In 2026, after more than a decade, the conference returns to Kaiserslautern, just in time for a special occasion: the city’s 750th anniversary.

Today, 750 years after receiving its city charter, Kaiserslautern is a lively university city with around 100,000 inhabitants. Located on the edge of the Palatinate Forest (”Pfälzerwald”), one of the largest contiguous forest regions in Germany, it combines a close connection to nature with a dynamic academic environment. Internationally, Kaiserslautern is best known for its historic football club, 1. FC Kaiserslautern.

After football matches at the Fritz-Walter Stadium (”Betze”), large numbers of fans make their way into the city centre, where the small but charming old town is a lively meeting point. Its narrow cobblestone streets, lined with half-timbered and historic buildings stretching from Martinsbrunnen to Kaiserbrunnen, create a distinctive medieval atmosphere. Today, the area combines a wide range of pubs, bars, and restaurants with cultural venues, offering much more than just nightlife, and making it well worth a visit even beyond match days. 

In order to appreciate the city in its entirety, it is always worth to take a look from above: the Humberg Tower (”Humbergturm”) on the Humberg, a small hill on the southern edge of the city,  offers a particularly striking panoramic view over Kaiserslautern and the surrounding landscape.

By combining a diverse academic program, including talks and poster presentations, with a varied social program, the conference offers a balanced setting for both engaging scientific discussion and informal exchange among participants.

Researchers at all career stages are encouraged to submit conference abstracts, and we especially encourage PhD students and early-career postdoctoral researchers to submit their work. More information on submission can be found on the link below.

We look forward to welcoming you to Kaiserslautern!

Your organization team at the Center for Cognitive Science
RPTU

For any questions, please contact us at hexkop2026[at]rptu.de