The 20th European Research Conference on Homelessness is a two-day in-person research conference in Lisbon that brings together researchers and practitioners working on homelessness and housing exclusion across Europe and beyond.1 It is organised by FEANTSA’s European Observatory on Homelessness together with the Catholic University of Portugal, and it is positioned as Europe’s leading research conference on homelessness.1
The event is aimed at a scholarly and policy-oriented audience: established researchers, early-career researchers, PhD students, and others interested in the evidence base on homelessness, housing exclusion, and related social policy questions.1 The page specifically notes that early-career researchers are invited to present, which suggests a strong focus on research exchange and academic development.1
Its core theme is broad rather than narrowly sector-specific. According to the event description, the conference will explore recent evidence on homelessness and housing exclusion “from across Europe and elsewhere,” indicating a comparative and international outlook.1 The programme also includes keynote presentations, with named speakers such as Isabel Baptista and Simone Tulumello, whose profiles point to topics including poverty, social inclusion, gender-based violence, housing policy, urban studies, and political economy.1
The conference will take place at the Catholic University of Portugal in Lisbon, Portugal, on 24–25 September 2026.1 The scheduled structure includes optional field visits on Thursday morning and a conference dinner on Thursday evening, which indicates a format that combines formal research sessions with site-based learning and networking.1 Registration is due to open on 2 June, while the call for abstracts is already closed.1