GlobalSouthAI @ NeurIPS 2026 is an official NeurIPS Affinity Event dedicated to strengthening artificial intelligence and machine learning research for, from, and with the Global South.

The event brings together researchers, students, practitioners, educators, policymakers, and community leaders addressing issues across the Global South, including Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and other historically underrepresented regions.

Our goal is simple: To make global AI research more representative, accessible, impactful, and connected.

Topics of Interest

We welcome work spanning AI, machine learning, data science, computer vision, NLP, multimodal learning, and related areas. Topics include, but are not limited to:

Efficient & Resource-Aware AI

• Efficient and resource-aware AI systems

• Model compression, quantization, pruning, and distillation

• Edge AI and on-device intelligence

• AI for low-power and bandwidth-constrained environments

• Data-efficient and compute-efficient learning

• Sustainable AI and energy-efficient computing

Foundation Models & Generative AI

• Foundation models for low-resource environments

• Efficient LLMs and multimodal foundation models

• Generative AI for resource-constrained settings

• Small language models

• Adaptation and personalization of foundation models

• AI agents for emerging economies

Language, Culture & Representation

• Multilingual AI

• Low-resource and underrepresented languages

• Speech and language technologies

• Culturally aware AI

• Indigenous and local knowledge

• Dataset development for underrepresented communities

AI for Social Impact

• AI for healthcare

• AI for agriculture

• AI for education

• AI for climate and sustainability

• AI for financial inclusion

• AI for disaster response

• AI for development

Responsible & Inclusive AI

• Fairness and representation

• Trustworthy and responsible AI

• Human-centered AI

• Participatory AI

• Algorithmic accountability

• AI safety in resource-constrained environments

• AI governance and digital sovereignty

AI Ecosystems & Capacity Building

• AI education and training

• Research capacity building

• Community-driven AI initiatives

• Open-source AI

• Research infrastructure

• AI policy and governance

• Technology transfer

• Building sustainable AI ecosystems in emerging economies

Call for Contributions

We invite contributions from students, researchers, educators, practitioners, community leaders, and policymakers.

We particularly encourage work that combines technical innovation with real-world relevance and demonstrates how AI can be developed, evaluated, or deployed in diverse and resource-constrained environments.

We welcome:

• Technical research contributions

• Emerging ideas and early-stage research

• Position papers

• Demo papers

• Experience reports

• Case studies

• Deployment experiences

• Community initiatives

• Educational and mentorship programs

• Responsible AI perspectives

• AI policy and governance perspectives

Contributions may be theoretical, empirical, applied, interdisciplinary, or community-driven.

All submissions will undergo peer review.

All the accepted contributions will be presented as posters, and selected submissions will be invited for lightning talks and the 3MT Competition.

Submission Requirements

We invite students, postdocs, and researchers from all areas of AI and ML to submit short papers (upto 4 pages, excluding references and appendices). Submissions may include technical contributions, case studies, or actionable strategies that advance equitable AI research.

Papers should be anonymized to the best of the authors' ability and follow the NeurIPS 2026 submission format. The review process is double-blind. Submissions are non-archival, and accepted work may be submitted to or published at other venues.

All submissions must be made via OpenReview: NeurIPS 2026 GlobalSouthAI Submission Link

Important Dates

• July 20, 2026 – Paper Submission Opens

• September 5, 2026 (AoE) – Paper Submission Deadline

• September 20, 2026 (AoE) – Decision Notification

Visa-Friendly Track

Designed for participants who require early decisions for visa applications.

• Submission Deadline: August 10, 2026 August 15, 2026

• Notification: August 22, 2026

Authors who require an early decision are encouraged to submit through the Visa-Friendly Track.

Early decisions are intended to facilitate visa planning but do not guarantee visa issuance or entry into the host country.

Presentation Information

All accepted papers will be presented during the Poster Session at NeurIPS 2026. 

Selected papers will be featured in the Contributed Talks session.

Top contributions will be invited to participate in the 3-Minute Presentation (3MT) competition.

3-Minute Presentation (3MT) Contest

A subset of papers will be selected to participate in a 3-Minute Presentation (3MT) Contest, following the global 3MT format: one static slide, no transitions or animations, and a strict three-minute limit.

A special prize committee will recognize the most impactful presentations through the following awards:

3MT Awards

🥇 3MT Winner Award
🥈 3MT Runner-up Award
🌍  3MT People’s Choice Award

Paper Awards

🎓 Best Paper Award
🎓 Best Student Paper Award

🎓 Best (UG) Student Paper Award

Poster Awards

🎓 Best Poster Award

🎓 Best Student Poster Award

🎓 Best (UG) Student Poster Award

Demo Awards

🏆 NeurIPS Bridging the Future Best Demo Award

🥈 NeurIPS Bridging the Future Best Demo Runner-up Award

Reviewer Appreciation Awards

🎓 Most Responsible Reviewers Award (x 5) - (Register as Reviewer: https://forms.gle/GsdmHeGBqkP3tmZC7)

🎖️ All presented works will receive certificates of recognition and appreciation. 

Registration Details

To be updated...  

Travel Support

Travel support opportunities may be available through NeurIPS programs and external sponsors, subject to funding availability.

Additional information will be announced as funding opportunities become available.

Participation costs can be a significant barrier for researchers from low-resource institutions and underrepresented regions.

We are working to provide travel support opportunities for selected participants, including accepted presenters and early-career researchers.

Support may contribute toward:

• Conference registration

• Travel

• Accommodation

• Visa-related expenses

Travel support is subject to funding availability and eligibility criteria. Additional details and application procedures will be announced as funding becomes available.

Call for Sponsors

We welcome organizations and individuals to support travel grants, 3MT Competition Prizes and event activities, helping empower underrepresented AI researchers. Sponsors will be recognized on the website, during the event, and in all event materials.

Invited Keynote Speakers

Organizing Team

NeurIPS Bridging the Future – Efficient AI Training Program Ambassadors

3MT Mentorship Initiative Team

Program Schedule

TBD

Accepted Works

3-Minute Presentation (3MT) Contest Finalists:

TBD

About GlobalSouthAI

GlobalSouthAI is a growing international community dedicated to advancing AI research, education, and collaboration across underrepresented regions of the world. Our mission is to create sustainable pathways for participation in global AI research while promoting innovations that address local and regional challenges. Together, we aim to build a more inclusive and globally representative AI ecosystem.

About NeurIPS Bridging the Future - Efficient AI Training Program

GlobalSouthAI @ NeurIPS 2026 is supported by the NeurIPS Bridging the Future Grant, enabling initiatives focused on expanding access to efficient AI research, training, mentorship, and participation.

Efficient AI Training Program Ambassadors

Our ambassadors help expand access to practical knowledge and opportunities in efficient and resource-aware AI, particularly for researchers and learners working in resource-constrained environments.

About 3MT Mentorship Initiative

The 3MT Mentorship Initiative connects selected participants with experienced researchers and previous 3MT presenters to help them transform complex research into clear, compelling three-minute presentations.

Contact Email

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us: globalsouthai-neurips-26@googlegroups.com