ICMI 2026 CALL FOR MULTIMODAL GRAND CHALLENGES !!! DEADLINE EXTENSION !!!
============================================ 5-9 October 2026, Napoli - Italy https://icmi.acm.org/2026/ ============================================
-> THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS EXTENDED TO JANUARY 16, 2026
We are calling for teams to propose one or more ICMI Multimodal Grand Challenges.
The International Conference on Multimodal Interaction (ICMI) is the premier international forum for multidisciplinary research on multimodal human-human and human-computer interaction, interfaces, and system development.
The conference's goals are to implement believable, autonomous, adaptive, context-aware Human Computer Interaction (HCI) systems able to infer how organizational, cultural and physical contexts shape individual perception, choices and actions. Such systems, e.g. synthetic agents, robots, avatars or analysis systems act in real-time, sustain dyadic/group interactions and actively cooperate in discussion, decision-making, problem solving, learning/knowledge building. These systems gather information and meanings in the course of everyday activity and build knowledge and practical ability to render the world interpretable while interacting with users attuned to behavioural sequences that underpin collaboration.
ICMI Multimodal Grand Challenges aim to inspire new ideas in the ICMI community and create momentum for future collaborative work. Analysis, synthesis, and interactive tasks are all possible.
Challenge papers will be indexed in the main proceedings of ICMI.
We invite the ICMI community from various fields related to multimodal interaction to collectively define and tackle these scientific Grand Challenges in this domain including but not limited to the following categories: 1. DATA CHALLENGES: gathering new experimental data and theories across a spectrum of disciplines; 2. ALGORITHM CHALLENGES: developing algorithms, models and computational paradigms that may equip machines with human level automaton intelligence; 3. APPLICATION CHALLENGES: implementing HCI systems that enhance quality of life in society and simplify the user access to future telecommunication services; 4. MULTIDISCIPLINARY CHALLENGES: promoting multidisciplinary exchanges, educational initiatives, and new socio-psychological and computational approaches towards socially-emotionally-context-aware Information Communication Technologies (ICT).
Prospective organizers should submit a five-page maximum proposal containing the following information: 1. Title 2. Abstract appropriate for possible Web promotion of the Challenge 3. Distinctive topics to be addressed and specific goals 4. Detailed description of the Challenge and its relevance to multimodal interaction 5. Length (full day or half day) 6. Plan for soliciting participation 7. Description of how submissions (challenge's submissions and papers) will be evaluated, and a list of proposed reviewers 8. Proposed schedule for releasing datasets (if applicable) and/or systems (if applicable) and receiving submissions 9. Short biography of the organizers (preferably from multiple institutions) 10. Funding source (if any) that supports or could support the challenge organization 11. Draft call for papers; affiliations and email address of the organisers; summary of the Grand Challenge; list of potential Technical Program Committee members and their affiliations; important dates
Proposals will be evaluated based on originality, ambition, feasibility, and implementation plan.
A Challenge with dataset(s) or system(s) that has had pilot results to ensure its representativity and suitability to the proposed task will be given preference for acceptance; an additional 1 page description must be attached in such case. Continuation of or variants on the 2025 challenges are welcome, even if we require submissions of this form to highlight the number of participants that attended during the previous year and describe what changes (if any) will be made from the previous year.
The ICMI organizers will offer support with basic logistics, which includes rooms and equipment to run the Workshop, coffee breaks can be offered if synchronised with the main conference.
=============================================== Important Dates and Contact Details =============================================== -> Proposals due: January 16, 2026 EXTENDED Proposal notification: February 7, 2026 POSTPONED Grand challenge date: October 5, 2026 ===============================================
Proposals should be emailed to the ICMI 2025 Multimodal Grand Challenge Chairs, Sebastian Zepf (sebastian.zepf@mercedes-benz.com) and Alessandro Vinciarelli (Alessandro.Vinciarelli@glasgow.ac.uk).
============================================ CALL FOR WORKSHOPS ============================================
Please note that the call for workshops remains open until January 16, 2026.
We are seeking workshop proposals on emerging research areas related to the main conference topics and those that focus on multi-disciplinary research. We would also strongly encourage workshops that will include a diverse set of keynote speakers (factors to consider include: gender, ethnic background, institutions, years of experience, geography, etc.).
The content of accepted workshops is under the control of the workshop organizers. Workshops may be of half-day or one-day duration. Workshop organizers will be expected to manage the workshop content, solicit submissions, be present to moderate the discussion and panels, invite experts in the domain, conduct the reviewing process, and maintain a website for the workshop.
Workshop papers will be indexed by ACM Digital Library in an adjunct proceedings, and a short workshop summary by the organizers will be published in the main conference proceedings.