Convergence 2026: Human-AI Integration for Multilingual and Accessible Communication Guildford, UK, 17 - 19 June 2026 Third call for papers https://www.surrey.ac.uk/centre-translation-studies/convergence-2026
New submission deadline: 14th March 2026
The conference
Building on the success of the first Convergence conferencehttps://www.surrey.ac.uk/centre-translation-studies/convergence-2023 in 2023, which explored the responsible and intelligent integration of human and machine capabilities in translation and interpreting, the Centre for Translation Studies at University of Surrey, UK, is proud to announce Convergence 2026: Human-AI Integration for Multilingual and Accessible Communication. The second edition of the Convergence conference will create an opportunity to bring together innovative research on the evolving landscape of AI in the context of multilingual and accessible communication, reflecting on the complexity and effects of using AI-driven technologies in these fields. The conference will foster a multidisciplinary dialogue that will generate new theoretical perspectives and practical research, focusing on themes such as the ethical aspects of AI in translation and interpreting, AI-enabled digital accessibility and societal inclusion, and the impact of Generative AI on language mediation. We will also examine the evolving role of language professionals, the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) in supporting multilingual communication, and the crucial need for responsible use of language AI in the public sector. The conference will publish full papers in open access proceedings with assigned ISBN and DOI.
The conference will be preceded by a Summer school on Artificial Intelligence for Accessible Communication between 15th and 17th June 2026. The application process for the summer is currently open at https://www.surrey.ac.uk/centre-translation-studies/convergence-2026/summer-...
Conference themes Theme 1: Ethical aspects of AI in translation and interpreting Theme 2: AI-enabled digital accessibility and societal inclusion Theme 3: Which creative turn? Language mediation in the era of GenAI Theme 4: The evolving role of language professionals in the era of AI Theme 5: LLMs supporting multilingual communication Theme 6: Responsible use of language AI in the public sector Full description of the themes is available on the conference website: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/centre-translation-studies/convergence-2026#themes
Submissions and publications Convergence 2026 invites the following types of submissions on one of the conference themes:
* Long papers - describing original completed research. Allowed paper length: maximum 8 pages + unlimited number of pages for references and appendices * Short papers - describing work in progress. Allowed paper length: maximum 4 pages + unlimited number of pages for references and appendices
The conference will not consider and evaluate abstracts only. Full details about paper submission are available on the conference website at https://www.surrey.ac.uk/centre-translation-studies/convergence-2026/submiss...
Invited speakers
* Horacio Saggionhttps://www.upf.edu/web/horacio-saggion, Chair in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence and Head of the TALN Group and Large Scale Text Understanding Systems Lab at the Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra. * John Anthony O'Sheahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/johnanthonyoshea/, LL.B, LL.M, Founder of Jurtrans, Chairperson of FIT-Europe, member of EU's Language Industry Expert Group
Programme committee The programme committee is available at https://www.surrey.ac.uk/centre-translation-studies/convergence-2026/committ...
Important dates
* 7th March 2026: Registration of intention to submit a paper (optional) * 14th March 2026: Submissions of full papers * 16th April 2026: Notification of acceptance * 29th May 2026: Camera ready papers for the draft proceedings * 15th - 17th June 2026: Summer school on Artificial Intelligence for Accessible Communication * 17th - 19th June 2026: The Convergence conference * 1st Sept 2026: Camera ready papers for final proceedings
Venue The conference will take place in Guildford at University of Surrey. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us on cts_inquiries@surrey.ac.ukmailto:cts_enquiries@surrey.ac.uk
Conference organisers Conference chair: Prof Sabine Braunhttps://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/sabine-braun Programme chairs: Prof Constantin Orasanhttps://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/constantin-orasan and Dr Diana Singureanuhttps://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/diana-singureanu Proceedings chairs: Dr Felix do Carmohttps://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/felix-do-carmo and Prof Constantin Orasanhttps://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/constantin-orasan Summer school chairs: Dr Elena Davittihttps://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/elena-davitti and Prof Sabine Braunhttps://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/sabine-braun Sponsorship chairs: Sara Palmerhttps://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/sara-palmer and Aimee Savagehttps://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/aimee-savage Local organisers: Aimee Savagehttps://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/aimee-savage and Dr Yuan Zouhttps://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/yuan-zou
--- Prof Constantin Orăsan Professor of Language and Translation Technologies
Centre for Translation Studieshttps://www.surrey.ac.uk/centre-translation-studies, University of Surrey, UK Personal page: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/constantin-orasan