We are pleased to announce the call for abstracts, full papers, and panel proposals for Data for Policy 2026 (DfP’26), taking place on 8–10 September 2026 at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain. This landmark tenth edition of the conference will bring together leading researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from around the world to advance critical dialogue on the future of AI, governance, and public policy.
Under the theme “Governance of/with AI: Implications for Data, Infrastructure, and Tech Sovereignty”, the conference will examine the transformative and disruptive role of artificial intelligence in reshaping global economies, political systems, and societies. As AI technologies evolve, so too do critical conversations around data sovereignty, accountability, fundamental rights, and global governance. This tenth edition of Data for Policy seeks to advance interdisciplinary dialogue on how AI development can be aligned with human values and ethical principles, while addressing the pressing geopolitical and societal challenges of our time.
This year has witnessed a significant paradigm shift, sparking increased interest in and concern regarding AI governance worldwide. The development of AI and data infrastructure has become essential amid the ‘AI War’ between the United States and China, the hybrid conflicts in Europe, and the deployment of military technologies in the Middle East. Strategic investments now prioritise access to frontier technologies, the securing of critical minerals, energy production, and key locations for water supply and cooling. Emerging developments such as quantum computing are adding new layers of uncertainty to an already complex landscape. We have entered an era where AI influences geopolitics, often at the expense of fundamental rights and values.
Submissions are now open for extended abstracts, full papers, and panel proposals that engage with the conference theme and offer policy-relevant insights informed by regional and global perspectives. While our conference theme provides a frame of reference, we welcome contributions on any topic that adds valuable insights to the ongoing data for policy dialogue, aligned with our standard focus areas.
Submissions may explore, but are not limited to, the following six interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral areas:
- Area 1: Digital & Data-driven Transformations in Governance
- Area 2: Technologies & Analytics
- Area 3: Policy & Literacy for Data
- Area 4: Ethics, Equity, and Trustworthiness
- Area 5: Algorithmic Governance
- Area 6: Global Challenges and Dynamic Threats
Integrated Conference–Journal Review Process
We are also pleased to announce a conference–journal integrated review process with Data & Policy, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by Cambridge University Press (2024 Impact Factor: 2.7, Q2 Public Administration; CiteScore: 3.5, Q1 Social Sciences Miscellaneous). Full papers submitted to the conference will be reviewed simultaneously for both venues, while authors presenting extended abstracts at the conference are also invited to submit full papers to Data & Policy after the conference. Read more about the integrated peer review process on this page.
The Data for Policy 2026 is led by Manuel Portela, Carlos (Chato) Castillo , Vladimir Estivill-Castro, Migle Laukyte and Antoni Rubi-Puig from Universitat Pompeu Fabra, who are delighted to work alongside conference general chairs Zeynep Engin (Data for Policy CIC), Jon Crowcroft (University of Cambridge and The Alan Turing Institute), and Stefaan Verhulst (New York University). Full details of conference committee members can be found on this page.
For detailed information about the submission and post-acceptance process, please visit the Submission & Guidelines page.
For inquiries about local arrangements and registration, please contact dfp26@upf.edu. For submissions, please contact team@dataforpolicy.org.
We warmly invite you to join us in Barcelona for Data for Policy 2026, where global thought leaders, policymakers, and innovators will gather to shape the future of AI governance and its responsible implementation. Join us at UPF Barcelona in 2026!