Baltic Nordic Acoustic Meeting (BNAM)
In May 2026, Gothenburg hosted the Baltic Nordic Acoustic Meeting (BNAM), one of the most important conferences on acoustics in the Nordic and Baltic regions. The event took place on 4–6 May at Chalmers University of Technology and brought together researchers, consultants, companies and students from across the region. BNAM attracted around 300 people from 21 countries, with 37 exhibitors and 114 presentations.
A biennial conference since 1954
BNAM is a biennial conference dating back to 1954 and is organised every two years in various Nordic and Baltic countries. The conference covers a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from building acoustics and noise to psychoacoustics, sound design and vibration engineering.
The conference in Gothenburg featured a large number of presentations, parallel sessions and meetings where participants shared the latest research and practical experiences. The focus was both on current challenges – such as noise in urban environments and sustainable construction – and on new technologies such as digital simulation, artificial intelligence and advanced measurement techniques.
However, given the demographic trends we are facing in Sweden – and in many other countries alongside us, where the over-80s population is growing – it was somewhat surprising that no sessions at BNAM addressed acoustics in the residential and care facilities that will be needed in the future. We hope to see more of this in Iceland in 2028, when BNAM will be held there.
In addition to the presentations, there was an extensive exhibition where we at Ecophon, together with other companies, showcased the latest equipment and materials.
The conference also served as an important platform for meeting our colleagues in the industry, as well as providing an opportunity to meet new faces and students who will represent the future.
Interesting conference insights….
The first day began with a journey into the animal world, featuring Professor Helge Rask Andersen and his talk on why crocodiles have such good hearing even as they get older – perhaps it’s because they’ve been around for so many millions of years longer than us humans. We learnt a great deal about the sense of hearing in certain animals, such as crocodiles and birds – did you know that they can regenerate damaged hair cells in the inner ear? By understanding how these processes work, researchers hope to pave the way for future treatments to help people with hearing loss.
Overall a great success
BNAM 2026 was characterized by high attendance and engagement, with a focus on knowledge-sharing and collaboration. By bringing together stakeholders from across the industry, the conference helped to strengthen the development of future acoustic solutions – from improved sound environments in schools and offices to innovative tools for analysis and design.
We would like to thank everyone for the many pleasant meetings and conversations that BNAM provided, both at our stand and, above all, between sessions and during the valuable coffee breaks!
The last time at BNAM 2024:
