The 52nd International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings and Thin Films (ICMCTF 2026) will be held at the Town & Country Resort, San Diego, California, USA, from April 19-24, 2026. ICMCTF is the premier international conference in the field of thin film deposition, characterization, and advanced surface engineering, promoting a global exchange of ideas and information among scientists, technologists, and manufacturers. The ICMCTF 2026 technical sessions will feature an overarching theme that emphasizes materials, surface engineering, processes, and applications relevant to the development of future materials, and will include a Topical Symposium focused on sustainability. The Conference includes more than 90 high-profile invited speakers, in over 50 sessions, across technical symposia, plenary and keynote lectures, short courses, an awards program, and daily social networking events.
A major exhibition of equipment, materials, technical literature, and new technologies is a key part of the conference. Attendees from all over the world come to present their findings, exchange ideas, share insights, make new friends, and often establish collaborations. The Conference typically draws 500 attendees.
Secure Your Visa Early: Due to increasing delays in securing visas it is strongly encouraged that you begin this process immediately to ensure approval. Please click here for additional information and assistance. Should you need an invitation letter, please contact icmctf@icmctf.org as early as possible to ensure you receive your visa well in time for the meeting
The Opening Plenary talk on Monday morning is given by Professor Pulickel M. Ajayan, Ph.D, Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor of Engineering Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University on:
Nano-Engineered Materials: Heterostructures and Composites
Monday, April 20, 2026, 8:00 a.m.
The Exhibitors Keynote is given by Ryan Evans; Director of Research & Development The Timken Company, on:
Thin Film Tribological Coatings to Enhance the Durability of Engineered Bearings and Industrial Motion Components
Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 11:00 a.m.
The Keynote Lecture is given by David Ruzic; Emeritus Professor in the Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA, on:
HiPIMS with Cathode Reversal – Physics and Applications
Monday, April 20, 2026, 1:00 p.m.
The 2nd Keynote Lecture is given by Krasimir Vasilev; College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Australia, on:
Nanoengineered Materials and Coatings for Medicine and Beyond
Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 1:00 p.m.
In addition to the technical program, the Conference features a major exhibition of equipment, materials, technical literature, and new technologies is a key part of the conference. Attendees from all over the world come to present their findings, exchange ideas, share insights, make new friends, and often establish collaborations. The Conference typically draws 700 attendees. The Exhibition is open to the public. An educational program of Short Courses will be offered throughout the week.
Each year, the R.F. Bunshah Award Laureate, the Bill Sproul Award winner and three outstanding Graduate Student Award winners are celebrated during a special convocation late Wednesday afternoon, followed by a festive buffet reception in the evening.
ICMCTF will again publish excellent scientific and technical work in peer-reviewed special issues of the two Elsevier journals Vacuum and Surface & Coatings Technology. Articles in the ICMCTF special issues will have complementary open access for one year after publication.
The Town and Country Resort Hotel and Convention Center, located in sunny San Diego of Southern California, will be the official conference venue, providing a relaxed atmosphere for discussion and networking among attendees.