From the Standard Model of particle physics to concordance cosmology, the most compelling theories that deepen our understanding of the universe converge within the framework of the dark sector. The 20th Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs, and WISPs, hosted by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) in Tenerife, Spain, from September 22–26, 2025, will bring together today’s esteemed experts and the next wave of young thinkers to push the boundaries of the field. As the latest chapter in a prestigious series that began at CERN in 2005, the workshop will delve into groundbreaking theoretical advances, direct and indirect probes of dark matter and dark energy, and frontier work to unveil weakly interacting particles, advancing our understanding of their properties. This year, emphasis will be placed on astrophysical insights into the dark sector, drawing on the IAC’s rich scientific environment, home to the reference astronomical observatories in the Northern Hemisphere.
The workshop will dive deep into the fascinating physics behind axions, WIMPs, and WISPs, exploring both direct and indirect searches for dark matter and dark energy, as well as cutting-edge efforts to detect new weakly interactive particles. Alongside these exciting experimental pursuits, we’ll also delve into the latest theoretical breakthroughs shaping the field.
