Call for proposals 2026
The Multimodal Communication Research (MCR) Working Group invites the submission of abstracts for its 2026 conference, to be held from 28 June to 2 July 2026 in Galway, Ireland, hosted by the University of Galway.
The deadline for submission is 3 February 2026 at 23:59 UTC.
Download this call for papers as a PDF file
Theme
IAMCR conferences cover a wide range of topics defined by our thematic Sections and Working Groups (S/WG). Each year, a central theme invites participants to engage in shared reflection across these diverse areas, fostering dialogue and collaboration.
The 2026 central theme, Peripheries and Connections: Media, Communication, and Transformation, addresses the complexities of contemporary media systems in a polarised and interconnected world. By interrogating the tensions between centrality and marginality—whether geographical, cultural, political, or conceptual—this theme aligns with IAMCR’s commitment to fostering critical and inclusive dialogues across diverse perspectives.
Consult a detailed description of the main theme
Moving beyond assumptions that text is the only format in which media and communication research takes place, MCR welcomes projects in any modality other than a traditional research paper (e.g., ethnographic or documentary film, audiovisual essay, podcast, photo essay, exhibition, installation, performance, data visualization, game, animation, etc.). We feature peer-reviewed, multimodal research projects that rely upon arts-based methodologies to consider a range of epistemological, theoretical, ethical, and socio-cultural questions central to media and communication research. For some examples, please consult the 2025 IAMCR Report, Media and Communication Studies Through a Multimodal Lens. In addition to featuring the multimodal projects throughout the conference, MCR asks authors/creators to give a short presentation about their research project. Authors/creators of accepted multimodal proposals are thus required to attend the conference in person to present their work.
MCR encourages submissions that reflect on the 2026 IAMCR conference theme. Projects that address other topics are also welcome.
Submission instructions
Each submission will consist of two parts: (1) an academic abstract and (2) a basic script and/or a link to the proposed multimodal project. The academic abstract should describe the research project and its significance (e.g., research question, theoretical framework, methodology, research design and corpus, original argument, and contributions to the field). It will also reflect on how and why the research is best addressed in a multimodal format. In addition, the submission should include a basic script of the proposed multimodal work and/or a link to an appropriate sample of the multimodal work (e.g., a link to a trailer, photo gallery, clip of a performance, etc.). Please note that MCR has no funds to assist with any exhibits/installations. If you are proposing such a project, it is important to include a comment about your ability to feature the work at the conference at no cost to MCR.
The submission should be around 1,000 words in length. Specifically, the academic abstract should be between 600 and 700 words. The basic script should be between 300 and 400 words. Submissions must be made using IAMCR's submission platform from 28 November 2025 through 3 February 2026 at 23:59 UTC. Abstracts submitted by email will not be considered.
Scholars who submit pre-recorded audio/visual work have the option to share their project in a continuous loop exhibition open to all conference participants as part of the Flow34 programming. Please indicate at the end of your abstract whether you would like your project to be considered for this opportunity. To be featured in the Flow34 exhibition programme, audio/visual projects cannot exceed the maximum length of 30 minutes.
Below are some examples of earlier audio/visual projects presented at IAMCR conferences (in an earlier Flow34 edition or other platforms):
- Bodega Memories by Arlene Fernandez (University of Pennsylvania).
- Audiovisual Reflections: Self Territory, by Carmen Gaona Pisonero, Ana Sedeño-Valdellós and Concha Mateos Martín (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos).
- The Moments When We Freeze: Working with Family Archive through Reenactment by Anastasiya Maksymchuk (Lusófona University, Lisbon).
It is expected that each person will submit only one abstract. However, no author’s name should appear on more than two abstracts, either individually or as part of any group of authors and authors should not submit more than one abstract to any single section or working group. The same abstract, or a version with minor variations in title or content, must not be submitted to more than one Section or Working Group. Such submissions will be deemed to be in breach of the conference guidelines and will be rejected. Authors submitting the same work to multiple Sections or Working Groups may be removed entirely from the conference programme.
Evaluation criteria
Submitted abstracts will generally be evaluated on the basis of:
Each submission will go through a double-blind peer review process. It will be evaluated based on its technical merit, readability, originality and/or significance, use of or contribution to theory, and relevance to MCR. We will also take into account the feasibility of featuring the work at the conference venue (e.g., exhibitions that require professional gallery resources and long time to set up are not the most appropriate proposals for MCR).
Languages
Abstracts and scripts must be submitted in English. The final work can be in any language as long as there are subtitles in English.
Statement on use of AI tools
IAMCR does not encourage or condone the use of generative AI tools to prepare abstracts submitted for consideration for our conferences. IAMCR values originality, integrity, and transparency in academic work, and believes that human-authored contributions best support rigorous and innovative scholarship in media and communication research. Should an author choose to use a generative AI tool in the preparation of an abstract, we require that they include a clear statement within their submission disclosing the tool's use. This statement must specify: (1) the name of any AI tool used; (2) how the tool was used in preparing the abstract, and; (3) the reason for using the tool. Failure to disclose the use of generative AI in accordance with these guidelines may impact the evaluation and acceptance of the submission.
Intention to attend
Each abstract submitted to IAMCR represents a real cost to the Association and contributes to the workload of volunteer reviewers and organisers. As the number of submissions each year far exceeds the available presentation slots, we ask authors to submit only if they genuinely intend to attend and present their work at the conference if accepted.
Deadlines and key dates
The deadline to submit proposals is 3 February 2026, at 23:59 UTC. Other key dates. Dates are subject to change.
Multimodal Communication Research Working Group
Learn more about the work and scope of the Multimodal Communication Research Working Group
Contact the Working Group
Chair: Sandra Ristovska, sandra.ristovska@colorado.edu
Vice-chair: Aysu Arsoy, aysu.arsoy@emu.edu.tr
Vice-chair: Pedro Pinto de Oliveira, ppo@terra.com.br
