MedCHI_Connect 2026

Connecting Mediterranean Research and Communities

Drawing by Valentina Nisi

October 12-13 2026

University of Salerno
Fisciano (Salerno), Italy

The Connecting Mediterranean Research and Communities event is an initiative of the ACM Mediterranean SIGCHI (MedCHI) aimed at strengthening collaboration across the Mediterranean HCI community while supporting the next generation of researchers.

The Mediterranean region is characterized by unique cultural, social, environmental, and technological challenges that require interdisciplinary perspectives and locally grounded solutions. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) has the potential to play a central role in addressing these challenges by designing interactive technologies that are inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of diverse communities.

This event provides a forum for researchers, practitioners, PhD candidates, MSc students, and industry professionals to exchange ideas, present ongoing research, and build collaborations around Mediterranean-specific societal issues. Emphasis is placed on mentorship, community building, and fostering dialogue between established researchers and early-career scholars.

Why Submit?

Accepted papers will be presented during the Research Paper Sessions and will become part of an international discussion on the future of Human-Computer Interaction in the Mediterranean region.

The event offers opportunities to

· receive feedback from leading international HCI researchers;

· network with the MedCHI and ACM SIGCHI communities;

· engage with industry and public-sector stakeholders;

· participate in workshops, panels, and collaborative design activities;

· connect with fellow PhD students and early-career researchers.

Important Dates

Paper submission
September 10, 2026 *

Notification to Authors
September 24, 2026 *

Camera-ready submission
October 1, 2026 *

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Call for Research Paper

Call for Young Researchers Poster & Demo Showcase

Call for Doctoral Consortium

* Each deadline is 23:59:59 AoE (Anywhere on Earth)

Topics of Interest

We welcome contributions including, but not limited to, the following topics:

Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence and Designing Inclusive AI Systems
Accessibility, Assistive Technologies, and Universal Design
Extended Reality (XR) for Education, Culture, and Social Good
Digital Wellbeing, Mental Health, and Healthy Technology Use
Technology for Aging Populations and Age-Friendly Communities
Inclusive Tourism and Accessible Travel Experiences
Cultural Heritage, Digital Humanities, and Interactive Storytelling
Coastal Sustainability, Climate Change, and Citizen Engagement Technologies
Smart Cities, Smart Communities, and Urban Informatics
Sustainable Interaction Design and Environmental HCI
Participatory Design and Community-Centred Innovation
Human–AI Collaboration and Future Work in Mediterranean Contexts
Civic Technologies, Digital Democracy, and Social Participation
Humanitarian HCI, Migration, and Technologies for Social Inclusion
Education, Digital Literacy, and Youth Empowerment
Cross-Cultural Design and Intercultural User Experience
Ethics, Privacy, Trust, and Responsible Innovation in Interactive Systems
Social Computing, Online Communities, and Community Resilience
Health, Wellbeing, and Human-Centred Healthcare Technologies
IoT, Smart Environments, and Human-Centred Intelligent Systems
Designing for Underrepresented and Marginalized Communities
Emerging Interaction Paradigms, Embodied Interaction, and Sensorimotor Experiences