Call for Abstracts, Full Papers and Panels for Data for Policy 2026 (DfP’26)

Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

8th & 10th September 2026

We are thrilled to announce the 10th Data for Policy Conference will be hosted by Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain, from 8–10 September 2026.

The Conference Chairs warmly invite submissions in the form of abstracts, full papers and panel proposals for Data for Policy 2026 under the following theme: Governance of/with AI: Implications for Data, Infrastructure, and Tech Sovereignty.

The tenth edition of the conference will focus on the reshaping effects of AI in governance and decision making.  This year has witnessed a significant paradigm shift, sparking increased interest in and concern regarding AI governance. 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 prioritize access to frontier technologies, the securing of critical minerals, energy production, and key locations for water supply and cooling. AI is challenging not only global economies but also political systems. We have entered an era where AI influences geopolitics, often at the expense of fundamental rights and values.

The theme “Governance of/with AI” addresses the diverse global perspectives on this evolving technology. As AI continues to transform, it presents both unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges; furthermore, emerging developments such as quantum computing heighten existing uncertainties. 

This theme calls for a responsible and ethical societal response while fostering debate across multiple disciplines. We invite reflections and evidence-based research that explore and contest these views. Ranging from geopolitical promises to large-scale investments, social consequences, and legal frameworks, AI has become a truly transdisciplinary field. We welcome contributions from engineering, the humanities, and the social sciences that offer transformative perspectives on our collective future.

Submissions are organised into six broad, interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral areas of interest, which form the standard tracks of the conference. (see linked page for full description)

• 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

For full information on the submission types and process, please see the information for authors.

We are 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. Read more about the integrated peer review process on this page.

Local chairs Manuel Portela, Carlos (Chato) Castillo , Vladimir Estivill-Castro, Migle Laukyte and Antoni Rubi-Puig from Universitat Pompeu Fabra are delighted to work with 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.

We eagerly anticipate receiving your exciting and innovative submissions that will enrich Data for Policy 2026 and contribute to shaping the future of AI-enabled governance. Join us at UPF Barcelona in 2026!

Submission Deadline: 01 June 2026, Submission links can be found on this page.

For inquiries or further information about local arrangements and registrations, please contact dfp26@upf.edu.  

For submissions, please contact team@dataforpolicy.org