The study of phonons–a core discipline in the conventional condensed matter physics literature–is currently being viewed in a new light. With a focus on both elucidation and manipulation of phonons across multiple scales, the emerging field of phononics has been vigorously gathering pace in recent years. In 2011, Phononics 2011 was launched as a prime international conference for the field to take place on a biannual basis. Phononics 2023, the sixth in the series, welcomes scientists and engineers from across disciplines and from across the world.