Registration

✅ Four days of conference planning
✅ Lunches and coffee breaks
✅ Icebreaker event
✅ Social events
✅ Free, unlimited entry to Cologne Zoo by showing your Conference badge (Offer period: October 25 – 29, 2026)
✅ Gala Dinner
✅ Conference ticket for the public transportation
✅ Access to the Conference App for for getting all important information about the program and the locations
✅ Updates during the conference

Accompanying guests are invited to discover Cologne through a varied and engaging programs. Highlights include a classic guided walking tour through the historic city center and a visit to the renowned Cologne Chocolate Museum, offering fascinating insights and sweet indulgences along the Rhine.

Guests will also enjoy an exclusive fragrance workshop at the legendary 4711 House, exploring the art and tradition of perfumery. The program concludes with TimeRide Cologne, an immersive augmented reality experience that brings the city’s history vividly to life.

This accompanying program offers a perfect blend of culture, tradition, and innovation for an unforgettable stay in Cologne.

And, of course, all WAZA Conference social events are included: icebreaker, visit to Cologne Zoo with guided tours and a look behind the scenes, followed by a barbecue at the zoo & gala dinner.

The Companion Package can only be purchased in conjunction with a full registration by a registered attendee. It is not a standalone registration.

⁠The Companion Package includes:

• Access to all 81st WAZA Annual Conference social events: Ice breaker, Visit & Concert in the Cologne Cathedral, Zoo Visit & Barbecue, Gala Dinner
• Activities: guided walking tour, visit of chocolate museum, fragrance workshop at 4711, visit of TimeRideCologne
• Conference ticket for the public transportation

Access to plenary sessions is strictly prohibited for Companion Package holders.

Please note that admission and refunds cannot be offered to non-members who register without the required letter of permission from WAZA.

We are unable to offer refunds for registrations submitted under an incorrect category.

If you have selected a category with a lower fee than the one that applies to you, please ensure the difference is paid in full before the conference. Unfortunately, admission cannot be granted if there is an outstanding balance.

Once your full registration payment has been received and confirmed, the conference organising team will send you a final confirmation email.

Cancellation policy:

• Cancellations by June 30, 2026: 75% refund of fees paid.
• Cancellations July 1 – Sept 30, 2026: 50% refund of fees paid.
• Cancellations from October 1, 2026: No refunds available.

After filling the registration questionnaire, you will be directed to the payment platform, which accepts credit card payments and provides instructions for making direct bank transfers. Successful credit card payments will be automatically acknowledged via email with an attached receipt.

If you choose “bank transfer” as your payment method, you will receive an invoice immediately after registration. Please pay the invoice amount within 14 days to the account number shown on the invoice, quoting the correct invoice number. All costs associated with the transfer are at your expense.

This information is correct at the time of publishing. The conference managers reserve the right to delete, modify or alter any aspect of the Conference program, and delivery at their sole discretion and without notice. Neither the host organisation nor the conference managers will accept any liability for any loss or inconvenience caused to any party consequent to such changes.

The conference managers reserve the right to use any recordings whether audio or video and/or any photographs taken at any stage during the meeting for promotional, advertising or reporting of the meeting and/or its content at their sole discretion.

WAZA is an association with members all over the world. Different cultures, languages, and experiences, come together at our annual conference and other WAZA in-person or virtual meetings.

The WAZA Code of Conduct for Events is available to avoid unintentional and/or intentional harassment in our community. WAZA is committed to providing a harassment-free and inclusive conference experience for all participants. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.

In the attached document, you will find all information on “personal data use” in connection with the 81st WAZA Annual Conference 2026 in Cologne.

During the conference, we will be taking photographs and filming for both documentation and marketing purposes. Further information can be found here.