The Sixth International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration will be held September 5–9, 2016, at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik, Iceland. Reykjavik was chosen as the site of the sixth conference because of its relative accessibility to North American and European contributors and its proximity to excellent polar geomorphic terrains including ice sheets and active glaciers. Expert guidance from local scientists at the University of Iceland and the University of Nantes will assist in the organization of multi-day pre-conference and post-conference field trips along with several options for a one-day mid-conference field trip. To take full advantage of the opportunities Reykjavik and Iceland provide, the conference technical sessions will be held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, with a choice among three mid-conference field trips held on Wednesday. Additional details about the field trips, including the opportunity to bring family members, are included on the field trips page. The Sixth International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration is the latest in a series of meetings intended to promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas between planetary and terrestrial scientists interested in Mars polar and climate research. In recognition of the broad scope, interdisciplinary nature, and strong international interest in this topic, we welcome the participation of any interested scientist with relevant theoretical, experimental, or field experience. The conference is designed to pull together the current state of Mars polar research from many fields, including geology, atmospheric, and climate sciences. The primary focus will be on advancements since the fifth conference based on current mission data, and attendees will have the opportunity to share their advancements with like-minded colleagues. Additional foci will be on terrestrial analogs that can enhance our interpretation of remote sensing data from Mars and on concepts for future missions. One goal of this meeting is to set options and priorities for such missions and to serve as an important resource for those scientists wishing to develop instruments, propose spacecraft, or participate as a member of a science team in response to future Announcements of Opportunity. During the technical sessions, outstanding questions and methods to address them will be recorded and published at a later date.