Submissions​

Call for Abstracts Etmaal 2026

We are pleased to invite submissions for Etmaal van de Communicatiewetenschap 2026, organized by Wageningen University & Research. This edition will take place at Papendal, the Olympic training center of the Netherlands – a location that invites both physical and intellectual movement. The center is hidden in the forests of the Veluwe, on the outskirts of the city of Arnhem.

The conference theme Moving Through Communication encourages participants to reflect on the dynamic nature of communication and the role it plays in driving change in individuals, relationships, organizations, and society. We study how communication can move people by informing, persuading, and connecting them, but also how communication evolves alongside technological, cultural, and political developments. This theme invites exploration of how our field itself is in motion, and how we, as scholars, move with or ahead of it.

We welcome contributions that connect to this theme but encourage submissions on all topics within the broad domain of communication science and media studies.

If you would like to organize a preconference or propose a full panel, please see the details below.

Scholars are invited to submit an abstract to one or more of the NeFCA divisions or temporary working groups (TWG):

  • Health communication

  • Human-machine communication

  • Intercultural communication and diversity

  • Journalism

  • Media industries and policies

  • Media psychology

  • Organizational communication

  • Persuasive communication

  • Political communication

  • Popular media and culture

  • Science communication

  • TWG Environmental communication

  • TWG Children, adolescents and media

  • Educational network*

In addition to the divisions and TWGs, you will have the ability to indicate that your submission fits within the conference theme Moving Through Communication. This will allow us to organize theme-related sessions.

Submission guidelines

Submission can be submitted at https://coms.app/etmaal26 from September 22nd, 2025. The deadline for submissions is November 9th, 2025, 23:59h (CET).

Submissions should take the form of 600-word abstracts (excluding references). Abstracts should at least include an introduction to the study, the methods, (preliminary) results, conclusion and discussion.

Please submit your abstract using the submission form. Since we want to give as many researchers as possible the opportunity to share their work with colleagues, each researcher may be the first author on one abstract.

Decisions about the acceptance of abstracts will be based upon a review process. Each abstract will be assigned to two reviewers. Reviewers will review abstracts and assign a quantitative score for the study’s originality, research quality, and significance/contribution to the field. Scores will be accompanied by qualitative feedback.

If you have any questions about Etmaal 2026, you can reach out to the organizing committee: etmaal2026@wur.nl

*Abstracts for the Educational Network are expected to have a specific focus. The Educational Network fosters the exchange of ideas and experiences related to educational matters that are of interest to those involved in teaching communication science at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, Research Master’s, and postgraduate levels. The network invites submissions that explore topics such as innovative teaching methods, successful or challenging cases in communication science education, or connections between academic education and the professional field. Contributions can take the form of theoretical reflections, case studies, best-practice presentations, or empirical research focused on any of these themes.

Panel and Preconference Submissions

If you would like to organize a preconference or propose a full panel, please contact us at etmaal2026@wur.nl.

Panels will be added to the program, if accepted and the program allows it.

Preconferences can take place on Thursday, February 5, between 9 and 11.

In your email, add a document in which you state:

  • The title of the panel or preconference

  • Names of presenters or panelists

  • Description (max 500 words)

In addition, for a pre-conference proposal:

  • Include a short motivation for why you think this preconference is necessary and will attract sufficient participants

  • The anticipated number of participants

  • If the preconference is accepted, organizers are responsible for creating a registration link

The deadline for submitting pre-conferences and/or panels is November 9th, 2025, 23:59h (CET).

About Etmaal

Etmaal van de Communicatiewetenschap

February 5 & 6, 2026

Call for Abstracts

Contact

Strategic Communication Group

Wageningen University & Research

Email: etmaal2026@wur.nl

BlueSky: etmaal2026.bsky.social