Glycoconjugates belong without doubt to the most complex and diverse molecules found in nature. They are crucial for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic life despite the fact that the glycosylation pathways and building blocks do diverge tremendously between the different phylogenetic kingdoms [1]. Research over the past decades has impressively demonstrated the importance of glycoconjugates in numerous, almost uncountable aspects of cellular life such as cell-cell interaction, pathogen recognition, immune system modulation cell adhesion, endocytosis, receptor activation, signal transduction or molecular trafficking [1, 2]. Glycoproteins represent one particular large group of glycoconjugates that are the major focus of this Glycomics and Glycoproteomics special issue. The ultimate aims of these –omics branches range from detection and sequencing of glycans and glycoproteins, understanding the basic principles of protein glycosylation function to the identification of glycan & glycoprotein based disease markers or therapeutic targets. Deciphering disease induced molecular effects associated with altered glycosylation patterns has uncovered fundamental relationships of health and disease state with associated glycosylation patterns. Moreover, the tremendous complexity of glycoconjugates within a single organism, their systematic sequencing and collection of these data still represent major challenges towards a global understanding of the effects glycosylation alterations induce in living beings.