📢 Call for Papers deadline: November 1, 2026
Last verified: October 30, 2026 · how we verify
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SciPy India is the country's long-standing conference on scientific computing with Python and free and open source software. The 2026 gathering is the fourteenth edition, organised by the SciPy India team with incubation support from the FOSS United Foundation and recognised as an official community partner of the Python Software Foundation. It welcomes researchers, educators, research software engineers, data scientists, HPC specialists, students and developers working on scientific computing, research software and AI and machine learning applications with a scientific flavour. After a pause since 2021, the event returns on 19 and 20 December 2026 and is hosted at IIT Madras in Chennai, its first edition in the city. Workshops take place on the Saturday at the Department of Physics, while the main conference day follows on Sunday at the IC&SR Building, with the programme conducted in English. The call for proposals invites talks, workshops and posters, giving both seasoned contributors and newcomers a platform to present their work. Conference-day sessions are planned to be recorded and published afterwards. For India's scientific Python community, this open source conference in Chennai offers a rare national forum to connect academia, industry and open source maintainers around shared tools.
SciPy India 2026 takes place December 19–20, 2026 in Chennai, India.
SciPy India 2026 is an in-person event.
The Call for Papers is open — submissions close on November 1, 2026.
Travel questions? See Good to know in the travel guide below.
SciPy India meets in Chennai in late December, comfortably the best time of year to be on the Coromandel Coast: the northeast monsoon has largely passed and days settle into dry warmth rather than the punishing heat of summer. Chennai pairs a serious engineering and research base with deep Tamil cultural roots, which suits a scientific-Python gathering. The city sprawls, so pick lodging near your venue.
Chennai International Airport (MAA) sits about 20 km southwest of the centre and connects to the city by metro from the adjacent station, a genuinely useful rail link that avoids the traffic. Chennai Central and Egmore are the main long-distance rail terminals with services across southern India. Suburban trains, metro and app-based taxis cover the rest. Allow extra time at peak hours.
Skip the taxi queue — pre-book a fixed-price airport transfer with Kiwitaxi. Exploring beyond the city? compare rental cars on EconomyBookings.
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Wi-Fi is standard in hotels and campuses, though speeds vary. Visitor SIM registration in India is paperwork-heavy, so an eSIM purchased before arrival is the practical choice for data on a short trip. Set up an eSIM with Airalo before you board and you're online the moment you land.
Marina Beach. One of the longest urban beaches in the world, running for kilometres along the city's eastern edge and busiest at dawn and dusk. December evenings are cool enough to walk the promenade comfortably. Swimming is not advised because of currents, but the sunrise crowd is worth seeing. An hour or two.
Kapaleeshwarar Temple. A working Dravidian temple in Mylapore, its gopuram tower stacked with painted figures and the surrounding streets full of flower and bronze sellers. Dress modestly and remove shoes before entering; non-Hindus may find some inner areas restricted. Around an hour, best in the early morning.
Government Museum Egmore. The second-oldest museum in India, notable above all for its bronze gallery of Chola-period sculpture, which is among the finest collections of its kind anywhere. The colonial-era buildings themselves are worth the visit. Two hours; closed on Fridays, so check before you go. Tickets on Klook →
Mahabalipuram. A UNESCO site of seventh-century rock-cut temples and the Shore Temple, about 55 km south along the coast road and roughly 90 minutes by car. December weather makes the open-air site genuinely pleasant to walk. Budget a full day including travel, and start early to beat the tour groups. Tickets on Klook →
What is the weather like in Chennai in December?
Dry and warm rather than hot, typically in the mid-to-high twenties Celsius, with the northeast monsoon mostly finished. It is the most comfortable month of the year here.
Is the airport metro useful?
Yes. The metro station adjoins the airport and reaches central Chennai without getting caught in road traffic, which is the main reason to use it.
Do I need to cover up at temples?
Yes. Shoulders and knees should be covered and shoes are removed before entering. Some inner sanctums are restricted to Hindus.
Travel notes written for SciPy India attendees. Links marked above are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Verify schedules and opening hours on official websites before you travel.
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