ICML returns to Seoul. Top-tier machine learning research with strong APAC representation.
The International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) is held in Seoul for 2026 — the first time the conference has come to South Korea — drawing an estimated 10,000+ ML researchers from academia and industry to COEX. ICML covers a broader ML landscape than ICLR's deep-learning focus: reinforcement learning, probabilistic methods, causal inference, optimisation theory, and ML-for-science all receive primary tracks, making it the most comprehensive research venue for teams building models beyond standard transformer architectures.
The Seoul edition is particularly significant because Korea has invested heavily in domestic ML research infrastructure through KAIST, POSTECH, and the AI Institute of Korea — co-located events and pre-conference workshops will feature Korean academic-industry collaborations that are rarely visible internationally. For teams considering Korean AI research partnerships or recruiting from Korean universities, ICML Seoul is the most efficient networking moment of the decade.
AIMenta will publish a post-ICML briefing on proceedings relevant to APAC enterprise AI deployments, focusing on practical RL applications in supply-chain optimisation and causal inference methods for regulatory compliance modelling — two areas where ICML advances most directly benefit our client base.