IMPORTANT NOTICE: THE FUEL TECHNOLOGY AWARDS PRESENTATION WILL TAKE PLACE DURING THE CONFERENCE BANQUET NIGHT

PROGRAM

The ICNF 2026 Program Booklet contains the conference schedule, plenary and technical sessions, special events, technical tours, speaker information, and other resources for participants. It serves as a comprehensive guide to all conference activities and events. 

The full Conference Program can be accessed here. OR 

By Scanning the QR Code: 

PROCEEDINGS

The ICNF 2026 Conference Proceedings contain the accepted abstracts, full papers, and presentation materials from the conference. The complete proceedings package will be available online to registered participants for download after August 28, 2026. 

The Conference Proceedings will be available to access and download here. OR 

By Scanning the QR Code: 

IAEA SPONSORSHIP (CLOSED)

As in the past, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continues to patronize this Conference as an in-cooperation meeting and have approved funds to support travel of experts who will attend this conference from the Member States involved in pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) fuel development.

The IAEA has limited funds at its disposal to help meet the travel costs of participants from these countries.  Preference will be given to participants who are expected to make an important contribution to the event, and such assistance will be limited to normally one participant per country.

If organizations wish to apply for a grant on behalf of one of their specialists, please ensure that application for grant is:

• Accompanied by a duly completed and signed Grant Application Form giving detailed information on the scientific qualifications of the candidate and signed by the head of the applicant’s organization.
• Submitted by June 30, 2026., directly to the IAEA, or National Atomic Energy Authority) of his/her country for subsequent transmission to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) either electronically by email to: Official.Mail@iaea.org or by fax to: +43 1 26007 (no hard copies needed). Please also send a copy by email to the Scientific Secretary ([a.khaperskaia@iaea.org] and to the Administrative Secretary ([u.kalender@iaea.org]).

Applications which do not comply with the above conditions will not be eligible to receive IAEA grant. The grants awarded will be in the form of a lump sum, usually covering part of the travel cost of attendance.

For further details and enquiries please contact Anzhelika KHAPERSKAIA at a.khaperskaia@iaea.org

CALL FOR PAPERS (CLOSED)

Following the success of the 15^th conference held in Ajax, Ontario in 2022, the 16^th CNS International Conference on Nuclear Fuel, to be held in Burlington, Ontario on August 23-26, 2026, will once again bring together international experts in the nuclear fuel industry.

We encourage participation and papers from not only experts in traditional CANDU fuels, but all fuels that are aimed at deployment in Canada, including SMRs.

 The sessions will include the following topics:  

A. Fuel Manufacturing: Fuel manufacturer experience, advances in manufacturing & inspection technologies, additive manufacturing, blending RU and DU, fuel manufacturing challenges and improvements.
B. Fuel Performance: Fuel behavior (normal operating conditions and extended burnup), station experience and Hot Cell work & capabilities. 
C. Fuel Defects: Detection, monitor, discharge & handling, in-bay inspection and PIE.
D.  Fuel Safety: Performance improvements, Licensing issues, accident studies, fission gas release, fuel behaviour, LOCA initiatives and experimental simulation, fuel deformation, and dryout.
E.  Fuel Design, Development and Research: Modifications to fuel designs and quality assurance in fuel design and development, fuel acceptance criteria, fuel testing, inert matrices, DUPIC, slightly enriched uranium (SEU), recovered uranium (RU), Gen IV Fuel Types, economical and societal implications of fuel cycles.
F.  Fuel Modelling, Simulation, and Code Development: Predictive capability on thermal, mechanical, irradiation and fission-gas release behaviour under normal operating and accident conditions and predicting aerosol behaviour. Advanced code/model development, which may include radiation protection/ shielding. Models that are being developed to further support fuel performance and safety assessment. Multi-physics/multi-scale simulation.
G.  Fuel Management: Fuel management schemes, load following, fuel physics analysis and specific operational challenges.
H.  Used Fuel Management: Fuel handling technology spent fuel storage, and in-storage fuel behaviour.
I.  SMR Fuel: Design, development, modelling, fabrication/synthesis and supply-chain.
J. Fuel Bundle Thermal Hydraulics: Critical Heat Flux (CHF) assessment and testing, Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling, effects of reactor and pressure tube aging.  
K. Advanced Fuel Cycles: Improved fuel utilization, reprocessing & recycling of nuclear fuel (MOX), Thoria fuel cycle.

For further details and guideline on Call for Papers please (Click Here) or refer to SUBMISSIONS section below.

IMPORTANT DATES (CLOSED)

The link for submissions of full papers is here. Some important dates to remember are:

• May 29, 2026                        Fuel Technology Awards Nomination (Closed)
• June 22, 2026                       On-line Submission of Full Papers (CLOSED)
• June 30,2026                      Notification of acceptance of full papers (CLOSED)
• June 30, 2026                       IAEA Grant Application Submission Deadline (CLOSED)
• July 10, 2026                         Early Bird Registration Deadline (CLOSED)
• July 31, 2026                        On-line submission of full final revised papers 
• August 10, 2026                  On-line submission of final PowerPoint Presentations
• August 23-26, 2026             16^th ICNF Burlington, Ontario, Canada
  • August 23, 2026   Opening Reception 
  • August 24, 2026   Day 1 – Plenary and Technical Sessions
  • August 24, 2026   Technical Tour
  • August 25, 2026   Day 2 – Plenary and Technical Sessions
  • August 25, 2026   Banquet Dinner, Recognitions and Awards
  • August 26, 2026   Day 3 – Plenary and Technical Sessions
  • August 26, 2026   Final Announcements and Conference Closing Remarks

SUBMISSIONS (CLOSED)

Abstract and full paper must be prepared and submitted in MS Word according to the guidelines provided herein.

ABSTRACT

The abstract is to be no more than 200 words. You can submit your abstract here. On-line submission of Abstracts is due November 30 2025.

FULL PAPER

The required full paper is to be submitted in Microsoft Word, and shall use this provided template. Final papers should be submitted directly here using the pass code that each author will receive upon acceptance of the Abstract. 

On-line submission of final version of papers is due April 10, 2026. 

Should you have any issues submitting, please contact, Markus Piro at pirom@mcmaster.ca

PROGRAM

The full program of the conference will be posted later.

REGISTRATION

Note: All fees in CAN$.
Note: To register as a CNS member, your membership must be in good standing for 2026.
All prices include HST (#870488889 RT).

To register online click here.

Registration includes one ticket to the Conference Banquet (details to be announced later). If you need additional tickets for the Conference Banquet, please request it through the link above.

FUEL TECHNOLOGY AWARD (CLOSED)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: THE FUEL TECHNOLOGY AWARDS PRESENTATION WILL TAKE PLACE DURING THE CONFERENCE BANQUET NIGHT

As always, we are also accepting nominations for the CNS Fuel Technology award to recognize senior or retired individuals who have contributed greatly to the field of Nuclear Fuel.   The eligibility parameters will be provided later. 

Please send your nomination letters to Milan Gacesa through milan@gacesa.ca by May 29, 2026.

Please provide your full name and address, the full name of the nominee with a one-page summary stating:
i) the significance/impact of the contribution.
ii) the reputation or standing of the recipient in the domestic and international fuel community.
Iii) his/her mentorship of junior scientists and engineers.
iv) the length of career in the nuclear industry.

If you would like more information pertaining to this award, please use this nomination guideline or contact Mukesh Tayal @tayal2000@gmail.com.

VENUE AND ACCOMMODATIONS

The conference will take place at the Holiday Inn Burlington Conference Centre with accommodations available at the hotel. Burlington, Ontario, is a vibrant lakeside city nestled between Toronto and Niagara Falls.  Known for its scenic Lake Ontario waterfront, parks, cultural attractions, and thriving downtown, Burlington offers a mix of urban amenities and natural beauty.

This facility provides excellent services and is conveniently located 43 km from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport (YYZ), and 28 km from Hamilton Airport (YHM).  From the Toronto airport, transportation is available through trains and taxis. The hotel is 4.8 Km from the Appleby GO Train station, which is less than one hour by train from Union Station (downtown Toronto).

HOLIDAY INN ACCOMMODATION:

The CNS room block will be available for reservation starting September 15, 2025.

Special Room rates under the CNS Block are available:

• Standard Room with one king bed and a double bed pullout couch CAD145 (plus applicable tax, per evening).
• Standard Room with two queen beds CAD145(plus applicable tax, per evening).

Complimentary parking and Wi-Fi is included for all guests. Guestrooms are fully equipped with Keurig Coffee Makers and a mini fridge.

Room block Room rate in the CNS Block: $145/night + tax, Standard 2 Queen or 1 King Executive.

Cut Off Date

In order to benefit from the discounted rate, all reservations must be made by July 22, 2026.  The rate is available on a first come first serve basis and will be available until the date when the assigned CNS block is full.

To book by Internet:

Attendees can book directly online by clicking the following link which has your negotiated rates preloaded: Canadian Nuclear Society – CNS 2026.

To Book by Phone:

Call the Hotel’s Toll-Free Reservation Line at 905-639-4443 and ask for reservations.  In order to receive the group rate, the caller must ask for Canadian Nuclear Society – CNS 2026,  Group Code :NUC.

Cancellation:

Reservations can be modified up to 72hours prior to arrival. Cancellations after this time are subject to a charge of 1 night room rate plus applicable tax.

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