The 14th International Polychaete Conference took place from 3–7 July 2023 in Stellenbosch, South Africa—the first time the IPC was hosted on the African continent. Organized by Stellenbosch University and the Iziko South African Museum, the event brought together 119 participants from 25 countries, including 35 students and postdocs, and received 159 abstracts from 31 countries. Held in honor of Prof. John Day, whose 1967 monograph remains a foundational text, the conference celebrated both scientific achievement and regional heritage. A pre-conference taxonomy workshop and a new session on Systematics and Phylogenetics broadened the program. Across 72 talks and 72 posters, researchers presented on topics ranging from deep-sea biodiversity and reproductive biology to applied taxonomy and polychaete-based environmental monitoring.

The meeting also featured cultural excursions, a lively banquet, and a celebration of IPC’s 40th anniversary. The conference proceedings, published in African Zoology, include a selection of taxonomic and ecological papers, many with a regional focus. IPC14 reinforced the global and collaborative spirit of polychaetology, and set the stage for IPC15 in Frankfurt in 2026.