Photonics plays a fundamental role in many next-generation materials and devices for energy conversion. It has enabled key advances in emerging technologies and must be considered alongside materials science when designing or implementing innovative energy conversion systems. This symposium will provide a forum to discuss research at the intersection of optics, materials, and energy technologies. The main goal is thus to promote interdisciplinary interaction within the wider photonics community and advance on efficient, versatile and sustainable solutions. The topics will span research across multiple scales, from nanoscopic light–matter interactions to optical effects that influence the overall performance of energy conversion devices. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of photonic phenomena in thin film and nanostructured systems for light absorption and emission, as well as on photonics-based methodologies for their analysis and optimization. By bringing together experimental, theoretical, and engineering perspectives, the symposium aims to highlight current challenges and emerging opportunities in incorporating photonic concepts into energy conversion materials and devices