The 11th International Conference on Behavioral Addictions (ICBA) is bringing together leading researchers and experts from around the world from Aug. 24 to 26 at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, in collaboration with the Turkish Green Crescent Society.
The conference is bringing together more than 400 participants, including researchers, academics, psychologists and health and social care professionals from around the world, with experts from institutions including Yale University, the University of Chicago, the University of Geneva and the University of Lausanne.
The program covers a broad range of topics, including gambling, gaming, problematic internet and social media use, compulsive shopping, binge-watching and eating-related disorders, as well as psychological, clinical and neuroscientific approaches to understanding addictive behaviors.
The conference opened with remarks from Turkish Green Crescent Society President Professor Mehmet Dinç and Zsolt Demetrovics, president of the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Addictions (ISSBA).
Stressing the importance of keeping people at the center of scientific research, Dinç said, “Behind every person is a story and behind every addiction is potential recovery.”
He noted that the Turkish Green Crescent Society believes no one should be reduced to their addiction, with efforts extending beyond treatment to prevention, reducing stigma, strengthening resilience and creating environments where healthy choices are possible.
The opening ceremony also featured three awards honoring outstanding contributions to the field.
Dr. Marc N. Potenza received the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award for the Study of Behavioral Addictions, recognizing his contributions as one of the world's leading experts in addiction science.
Professor Daniel King received the 2026 Great Achievement Award for the Study of Behavioral Addictions for his work on online gaming, simulated gambling and social media.
Maëva Flayelle received the 2026 Early Career Researcher Award for the Study of Behavioral Addictions for her pioneering work on the psychological study of television series binge-watching and research at the intersection of media and clinical psychology.
With the previous edition held in Nantes, France, the next edition is scheduled to take place in Canada in 2027.
The three-day conference will continue at Boğaziçi University through Aug. 26, with further presentations and discussions.
