Following last year’s successful conference, which drew around 600 participants, the 2026 Geothermal Conference (DGK) will take place from October 20 to 22 at the Kongresshotel Potsdam. The German Geothermal Association (BVG) is inviting submissions with its official call for papers, thereby kicking off the final phase of preparations.

The DGK is the central industry gathering for everyone involved in geothermal energy from a scientific, economic, or political perspective.

With its versatile event spaces, professional conference facilities, and attractive location on Lake Templin, the Kongresshotel Potsdam offers the ideal setting for Germany’s most significant professional congress on geothermal energy. The combination of modern conference infrastructure, ample capacity, and a tranquil environment creates optimal conditions for exchange, networking, and expert discussion at the highest level.

Key Topics:

The range of topics is once again impressive this year. The lectures and presentations will focus on the following areas, among others:

• Deep and medium-depth geothermal energy (including exploration, drilling technology, seismology, reservoir management, and system integration)
• Near-surface geothermal energy (e.g., post-mining reuse, cold networks, neighborhood solutions, operational planning and optimization)
• Heat and cold storage (including high-temperature storage, ATES)
• Energy and research policy (e.g., municipal heat planning, permitting practices, financing, and funding programs)

Submissions and support for early-career researchers:

With this Call for Papers, the German Geothermal Association invites all interested parties to present their current research findings at the DGK 2026. Abstracts may be submitted until May 31, 2026. Young scientists are also invited to participate in the Science Bar. The Science Bar poster competition offers the opportunity to present bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral theses to a specialist audience. The best presentation will be awarded the Young Scientist Prize. Full-length versions of the papers can be submitted starting in August—ideally until shortly before the conference begins. Each contribution will receive a DOI number via Zenodo. There is also the option to publish presentations in the digital conference proceedings.

Abstract submission: by May 31, 2026
For more information and to submit your abstract, please visit:

Der Geothermiekongress: Call for Papers

If you have any questions regarding submissions, please contact the organizing team at dgk(at)geothermie.de.