Call for Proposals:

12th Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN2026) Conference
Theme: “From Plato’s Cave to Open Immersive Societies: Transforming Learning and Knowledge”
In-person: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
June 27-30, 2026
Online: Hosted across global iLRN Chapters
June 28-30, 2026
Conference website: https://immersivelrn.org/ilrn2026/

Deadlines for submissions:

• Special Tracks Proposals: July 31, 2025
• Academic submissions: October 1, 2025
• iLEAD submissions: January 12, 2026

The Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN) invites proposals for its 12th annual conference, building upon the momentum of iLRN2025’s focus on multimodal literacies to further develop the contextual foundations, aims, and integrative methods of a new multidisciplinary science of immersive learning.

Our 2026 theme—“From Plato’s Cave to Open Immersive Societies: Transforming Learning and Knowledge”—invokes the allegorical origin of Western philosophical inquiry and pairs it with the horizon-expanding potential of immersive technologies. As we gather in Athens, Greece, the birthplace of classical thought and the methodological roots of scientific discourse, we acknowledge a historical continuity: the pursuit of understanding how humans come to know the world and their place in it. In this era, that inquiry is shaped not by shadows on a cave wall, but by immersive systems designed to cultivate insight, experience, and co-created meaning.

Today’s immersive environments—virtual, augmented, mixed, and extended realities—offer powerful multimodal frameworks that engage learners in embodied, interactive, and meaningful experiences. These platforms are not merely tools but cultural infrastructures, shaping how knowledge is constructed, shared, and lived.

iLRN2026 convenes scholars, designers, educators, technologists, artists, and industry professionals to explore how immersive technologies can be harnessed to build more open, participatory, and just societies. Submissions are welcomed that investigate the interplay between immersive media and learning, particularly those that advance inclusive pedagogies, interdisciplinary inquiry, and ethical design.

We are especially interested in contributions that extend iLRN’s mission to improve immersive learning in service of humanity—through rigorous research, innovative practice, and collaborative experimentation that transcend disciplinary silos.

At this pivotal moment—when immersive learning stands at the confluence of technological advancement, cultural change, and epistemological redefinition—iLRN2026 offers a space to imagine, examine, and enact the future of learning. Join us as we return to the intellectual soil of Athens to help seed a new era of immersive, equitable, and expansive education.

SUBMISSION TYPES

Submissions for publication and presentation can be made in two streams:

• Academic Stream (Peer-reviewed Scientific Papers)
• iLEAD (immersive Learning Education And Design) Stream

Accepted submissions from both streams will be presented at the iLRN2026 conference, either online or in person. All presentation formats require registration of at least one author / speaker in the respective registration category.

All online presentations will also include the publication and distribution of a pre-recorded video through the iLRN YouTube channel, so that all online presenters will be required to submit a video abstract prior to the conference (except Keynote and Featured Speakers, Invited Panelists).

Academic Stream: Refereed Scientific Papers:

We welcome a variety of submission types to accommodate the diverse interests and expertise within our community. All Academic Stream submissions require the submission of a scientific paper that will be published in the respective proceedings upon acceptance, including only original and unpublished work:

Published in Scopus-Indexed Springer CCIS Conference Proceedings:

• FULL PAPERS (12-15+ pages) for oral presentation: Comprehensive reports of research, development, and application of immersive learning/technologies and multi-modal literacies. Oral presentations include live recording and global distribution.

Included in iLRN Conference Proceedings with individual DOIs (not indexed):

• SHORT PAPERS (8-11 pages) for oral presentation: Concise reports or preliminary findings of ongoing research. Based on reviews and quality, selected short papers have the chance to be published in the indexed Proceedings. Oral presentations include video recording and global distribution.
• EXTENDED ABSTRACTS (4-7 pages) for poster presentation: This includes submissions of work that is still in progress, describing early-stage research with theoretical background, methodology, and, if applicable, first data collections and a description of next steps, or completed work, condensed research concepts that may be read and understood within an hour. All poster presentations will also include the publication and distribution of a pre-recorded video through the iLRN YouTube channel.
• DOCTORAL COLLOQUIUM PAPERS (4-7 pages) for oral presentation in the doctoral colloquium. Both doctoral level as well as master’s by research students/candidates are eligible to submit to the DC. The DC will be held as a session in addition to the regular paper sessions, with students presenting their research to each other (in English).

Immersive Learning Education And Design (Ilead) stream:

iLRN’s Innovation Garden is home for iLEAD! Proposals in the iLEAD stream include the submission of an extended abstract for various presentation formats. Potential iLEAD presentation formats are:

• Oral presentation
• Poster presentation
• Workshop proposal
• Special session proposal
• Panel session proposal
• Guided Virtual Adventures
• Product Demonstrations

For all iLEAD presentation formats, please submit an Extended Abstract (2-5 pages) with a summary of your contribution to immersive learning education and design. Publication of this Extended Abstract in the iLEAD 2026 Conference Proceedings (not indexed) is optional but encouraged.

TOPIC AREAS

iLRN welcomes all submissions on the topic of learning and instruction with an immersion perspective. This includes but is not limited to immersive technology like VR, AR, XR, games or 360° videos. We encourage submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Immersive digital humanities
• Shaping the Immersive Learning discipline & community of practice
• Designing Open Immersive Societies: Ethics, Accessibility, and Inclusion
• Innovations in Immersive Technologies for Knowledge Transformation
• From Plato’s Cave to Participatory Learning: Philosophical and Pedagogical Perspectives
• Immersive Learning for Social Impact and Sustainability
• XR Epistemology
• Evidence-based practices in immersive learning
• The Ethics of Immersive Learning
• Neurophysiological measures in immersive learning
• Generative AI & XR
• Cognitive, affective, and psychomotor immersive learning
• Design and implementation of tools for immersive learning
• Cross-cultural and inclusive approaches to immersive learning
• Case studies and best practices in immersive learning

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

iLRN prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion as fundamental values for our community. Therefore, for iLRN2026, we encourage authors to:

• Use inclusive language throughout (please refer to the guidelines provided at https://www.apa.org/about/apa/equity-diversity-inclusion/language-guidelines).
• Provide detailed descriptions of sample characteristics, including demographic data, methods for inclusive and representative sampling, and ethical considerations in your research methodology.
• Explore connections between theoretical frameworks and findings with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Discuss implications and offer appropriate interpretations of findings in relation to these principles.

PUBLICATION INDEX

All accepted, registered, and presented Full Papers and selected Short Papers in the Academic Stream at iLRN2026 will be published in the Scopus-indexed Springer CCIS Conference Proceedings. All other accepted, registered, and presented papers in the Academic Stream will appear in the iLRN Conference Proceedings with individual DOIs (not indexed). Additionally, authors of selected papers will be invited to submit expanded versions of their work for consideration in various Scopus and Web of Science-indexed journals.

Submitting Extended Abstracts in the iLEAD 2026 is optional but encouraged. Accepted abstracts will appear in the iLEAD Conference Proceedings with individual DOIs (not indexed).

PROGRAM TRACKS

Papers and proposals may be submitted to one of 10 program tracks:

Track 1. Foundations of Immersive Learning Research and Theory (not linked to any particular application area)
Track 2. Assessment and Evaluation (A&E)
Track 3. Galleries, Libraries, Archives, & Museums (GLAM)
Track 4. Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, & Social Justice (IDEAS)
Track 5. STEM Education
Track 6. Language, Culture, & Heritage (LCH)
Track 7. Medical & Healthcare Education (MHE)
Track 8. Nature & Environmental Sciences (NES)
Track 9. Workforce Development & Industry Training (WDIT)
Track 10. Self and Co-Regulated Learning with Immersive Learning Environments (SCILE)

Academic communities wishing to cater to other topics are welcome to propose a special track by submitting a Special Track proposal at the following URL: https://tally.so/r/w824qz no later than July 31, 2025, with a short description, rationale for immersive learning, and its program committee following the Special Tracks Template.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

General Chairs

• Tassos Anastasios Mikropoulos, University of Ioannina, Hellenic Scientific Association of Information & Communication Technologies in Education, Greece
• George Koutromanos, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
• Stylianos Mystakidis, Hellenic Open University, Greece
• Daphne Economou, University of Westminster, UK

Academic Chairs

• Stavros Nikou, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
• Tharrenos Bratitsis, University of West Macedonia, Hellenic Scientific Association of Information & Communication Technologies in Education, Greece
• Genevieve Smith-Nunes, University of Cambridge, UK (Online Academic )

iLEAD Chairs

• Chryssoula Lazou, Democritus University of Thrace
• Emmanouel Fokides, University of Aegean, Hellenic Scientific Association of Information & Communication Technologies in Education, Greece
• Paula MacDowell, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

KEYNOTE AND FEATURED TALKS

Keynote 1 – Guido Makransky, University of Copenhagen
Keynote 2 – David Joseph Brown, ‪Nottingham Trent University
Keynote 3 – Eleni Kyza, Cyprus University of Technology

Featured Speaker 1 – TBA
Featured Speaker 2 – TBA

IMPORTANT DATES

Special Tracks Proposal Submission Deadline: July 31, 2025

Academic submissions:
Submission Deadline: October 1, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: December 15, 2025
Camera-Ready Submissions: February 1, 2026
Academic Author Registration Deadline: February 15, 2026

iLEAD submissions:
Submission Deadline: January 12, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: February 8, 2026
Camera-Ready Submissions: March 1, 2026
Early Bird Registration Deadline: March 15, 2026
Online Conference Dates: June 28 – 30, 2026
In-person (Athens, Greece) Conference Dates: June 27 – 30, 2026

* All deadlines are 23:59 AoE (https://www.timeanddate.com/time/zones/aoe)

** All online presenters except Keynote and Featured Speakers and invited panels will be required to submit a 3 – 5 minute video depending on the submission type.

We look forward to receiving your proposals and to the rich discussions and collaborations that will emerge at iLRN2026. Join us in exploring how immersive technologies can revolutionize the ways we read and interact with the world.

CONTACT

For more information, please visit our conference website at https://www.immersivelrn.org/ilrn2026/

Feel free to reach out to us at ilrn2026@immersivelrn.org for any inquiries.