The conference 'Symbiotic stars, weird novae, and related embarrassing binaries' will take place from June 3 to June 7, 2024, hosted at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University. Nestled in the heart of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, our conference venue resides in a city steeped in rich cultural and scientific heritage. Prague hosts the oldest operational astronomical clock in the world and has been witness to significant astronomical discoveries, echoing the intellectual pursuits of scientific pioneers like Johannes Kepler, Tycho Brahe, or Albert Einstein.

This historical backdrop provides an inspiring setting for the exchange of knowledge and groundbreaking ideas. The conference aims to unite a global community, fostering discussions on recent advancements in the field achieved through dedicated ground- and space-based observations and the introduction of innovative data analysis methods. We anticipate that this event will facilitate intensive idea exchange, discussions, and the initiation of new collaborations, potentially shaping novel research directions. While the core conference topics include symbiotic stars, novae, peculiar cataclysmic variables, red novae, and other mergers, along with extreme Algols and W Ser-type interacting binaries, their relationships, behavior, parameters, and evolution, the program's final shape will be driven by contributions submitted by participants. On Friday, a part of the program will spotlight projects and their outcomes stemming from collaborations between professional and amateur astronomers.