XMC III: Clouds over the Pyrenees workshop | Benasque, Spain, 6-19 Sept 2026

[Óscar Jiménez Arranz]

Dear colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the third edition of the XMC workshop series, taking place in Benasque, Spain — a beautiful village in the heart of the Pyrenees:

XMC III: Clouds over the Pyrenees

Benasque, Spain | 06-19 September 2026 | Limited to 50 participants

The Clouds — our nearest galactic neighbours — continue to provide a unique window into galaxy formation and evolution in the low-mass regime. Their interacting system offers insights into linked star-formation histories, three-dimensional structure from time-domain studies, and internal/global kinematics when combined with Gaia astrometry and spectroscopic surveys. Recent results also highlight the profound influence of the LMC on the Milky Way’s gravitational potential and on the dynamics of its satellites and stellar streams.

Following the success of XMC: Milky Clouds over Manhattan (2024) and XMC II: Clouds over Yellowstone (2025), this workshop will build on ongoing discussions and open new ones on the formation, content, and evolution of the Clouds, and their interactions with each other. 

Workshop's topics 

• Internal Kinematics and Structure
• XMC Periphery and their Streams
• LMC-SMC interaction
• Star Formation History / Abundances
• Stellar populations
• ISM
• Lessons from the Milky Way: transferable methods to the XMC
  
  

Workshop format

• Duration: Two weeks
• Capacity: Limited to 50 participants
• Format: The workshop is designed for in-person participation, which is strongly encouraged. Limited online attendance may be explored for some activities. Dedicated time will be reserved for group discussions and co-working sessions, complemented by contributed talks from participants. Our goal is to create an open environment where ongoing projects can advance, and new collaborations can naturally emerge.

Important dates

    Jan 15, 2026                Abstract Submission Deadline
    Mar 01, 2026                Notification of Decisions
    May 01, 2026               Application Deadline
    Sep 06–19, 2026         XMC III: Clouds over the Pyrenees in Benasque, Spain

SOC

Óscar Jiménez-Arranz (Lund University)

Mercè Romero-Gómez (University of Barcelona)

Danny Horta (University of Edinburgh)

Nico Garavito-Camargo (University of Arizona)

Gurtina Besla (University of Arizona)

Further details, including registration and abstract submission, is available on the workshop webpage: https://benasque.org/2026cop/.

This is the first announcement. A second and final announcement will be circulated on December 15th, one month before the registration deadline closes.

We look forward to welcoming you in Benasque for an engaging and collaborative meeting!

Best regards,
Óscar Jiménez-Arranz, on behalf of the SOC

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