Convergence 2026: Human-AI Integration for Multilingual and Accessible Communication

Guildford, UK, 17 – 19 June 2026

First call for papers

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/centre-translation-studies/convergence-2026



The conference

Building on the success of the first Convergence conference 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.



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



Submissions and publications

Convergence 2026 invites the following types of submissions on one of the conference themes:



Full 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 aims to be a platform for in-depth discussion of prevalent themes while also offering contributors the opportunity for swift publication of their work. The event will provide the wide community of Translation and Interpreting Studies and the disciplines it intersects with, a space for networking, collective brainstorming and looking into the future of communication, all sustained by a robust set of papers published in the conference proceedings.



Both full and short papers can be associated with rigorous empirical work or conceptual approaches to the themes of the conference. PhD students are also invited to submit papers regardless of the stage of their PhD journey. If accepted, their papers may be selected to any of the sessions of the conference, including a dynamic poster session, in which students may receive feedback and consider new developments for their work.



The papers should be formatted using a style similar to the two column ACL style (available at https://acl-org.github.io/ACLPUB/formatting.html). The next call for papers will provide links to the styles customised for the Convergence 2026 conference.



The submission will be electronic, using the Softconf START conference management system which will be available at the conference website soon. The follow up calls will provide more details about how to submit papers.



Each submission will be reviewed by three members of the Programme Committee. The conference will not consider and evaluate abstracts only.



The final versions of the accepted papers will be published in e-proceedings with assigned ISBN and DOI. Authors may add one additional page to their final submission to incorporate the feedback from reviewers.



Schedule

Deadline for full papers: 16th Feb 2026
Notification to authors: 30th March 2026
Submissions of final papers: 22nd May 2026
Dates of the conference: 17 – 19 June 2026



Venue

The conference will take place in Guildford at University of Surrey.



Further information and contact details

The second call for papers will be published at the beginning of November. The follow-up calls will list keynote speakers, conference chairs and members of the programme committee once confirmed. Meanwhile, if you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us on cts_inquiries@surrey.ac.uk