European Strategy For Particle Physics Reaches An Important Milestone

At its 225th session, the CERN Council received the recommendations for the update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics, the aim of which is to develop a common vision for the future of the field. The recommendations will be reviewed by the Council in the coming months. A final decision is expected at a dedicated Council Session in Budapest in May 2026.

Launched in March 2024, the update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics (ESPP) process is designed to develop a visionary and concrete plan that greatly advances human knowledge in fundamental physics through the realisation of the next flagship project at CERN. This plan is geared towards attracting and promoting international collaboration and allowing Europe to continue to play a leading role in the field.

The ESPP is a bottom-up process that involves the European particle physics community and includes national input from CERN's Member and Associate Member States and from international partners. This input is assessed and consolidated by the European Strategy Group (ESG), a body appointed by the CERN Council.

For the 2026 update of the ESPP, the CERN Council requested that the Strategy update should include the preferred option for the next collider at CERN and prioritised alternative options to be pursued if the chosen preferred plan turns out not to be feasible or competitive. The ESG drafted its recommendations during a dedicated meeting held in Ascona, Switzerland, from 1 to 5 December 2025.

At its 225th session on 12 December, the Council thanked the ESG for its outstanding work and took note of its recommendations. It will assess them in the coming months, with a view to taking a decision in May 2026, at a dedicated Session to be held in Budapest.

The recommendations address a broad range of topics and goals related to research in high- energy physics in Europe and beyond.

The electron–positron Future Circular Collider (FCC-ee) is recommended as the preferred option for the next flagship collider at CERN.

It would provide a platform for a visionary physics programme addressing many of the open questions in particle physics, notably about the Higgs boson, that are critical to understanding the foundations of the Standard Model and to opening up opportunities for discovering new physics beyond the Standard Model, while at the same time driving the development of new technologies that will have a significant positive impact on society.

The ESG presents a descoped FCC-ee as the preferred alternative option for the next flagship collider at CERN.

“During the strategy process we have seen a very strong engagement of the European particle physics community and beyond, expressing their views on the next flagship collider, on other physics and technology areas and topics of import for our field. Based on this input, we had constructive discussions that, in the end, brought out a very clear picture and strong support for CERN to host the electron-positron Future Circular Collider, FCC-ee, as the next flagship project. In addition, many other important recommendations have been made for the future of our field,” said Karl Jakobs, Chair of the Strategy Secretariat.

“The high-energy physics community passed an important milestone in the process, converging on important recommendations for the future of the field,” said Council President Professor Costas Fountas. “I’m looking forward to working with the Member and Associate Member States to establish a vision for the future of high-energy physics in Europe that will maintain a leading role for CERN and open up further long-term collaboration with international partners.”

“The ESG recommendations represent a pivotal milestone in the Strategy process and for the future of the field,” said CERN Director-General Fabiola Gianotti. “The proposed strategic directions, in particular concerning the next flagship collider at CERN, will inspire the next generation of scientists and ensure that CERN and its international partners remain at the forefront of discovery and technology in our discipline.”

The recently completed FCC Feasibility Study provides the basis for continued work on multiple aspects of the project.

A decision by the CERN Council on the possible construction of the FCC is expected around 2028.