4th Workshop on XR Technologies for Medicine and Healthcare

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Call for Papers

Digital eXtended Reality (XR) technologies are increasingly adopted in many domains. Notably, XR technologies are being experimented with in healthcare, wellbeing and medicine. To address the growing research in these areas, the XR Health 2026 workshop will occur during IEEE VR 2026 (Daegu, Korea), focusing on XR (AR/VR/MR) technologies broadly applied to health, wellbeing, and medicine. It builds upon the 2022, 2023, and 2025 editions.

The ubiquitous use of XR devices creates an excellent opportunity to further XR research to help support healthcare professionals and the wellbeing of people. XR has demonstrated many advantages to various healthcare and wellbeing areas; however, more research is required. Therefore, we aim to gather the intersection of researchers working in XR for healthcare, wellbeing, and medicine from the VR/AR/MR, AI, and HCI communities to come together to share their ideas and discuss possible future grand challenges.

The organizers solicit short paper submissions (up to 4 pages excluding references in VGTC conference format submitted via precision conference). Paper submission must be anonymized to ensure double-blind review process. Three submission types are welcome: Technical papers presenting innovative XR systems, techniques, or prototypes; evaluation papers reporting quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method studies on XR use in healthcare contexts; and position papers offering conceptual, theoretical, or methodological perspectives that open new research directions. The articles are to appear in the IEEE Digital Library.

The workshop provides a platform for early-career researchers to present their work and engage directly with peers and experienced professionals. The program includes a keynote, a panel discussion, paper sessions, posters, and demo presentations, all designed to encourage vivid exchange, constructive feedback, and community building. Two paper sessions will feature the highest-rated submissions as oral presentations, while all other accepted contributions will be presented as posters or demos. A Best Workshop Paper Award will recognize an outstanding contribution to the field. XR Health 2026 will be held fully on site to foster active participation and in-person interaction.

Topics

We invite contributions that explore the application of XR technology within the broader contexts of health, wellbeing, and medicine.
Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:

XR for Surgery and Diagnostics: Applications in minimally invasive interventions, surgical procedures, and diagnostic imaging, including cardiac, general, dental, or orthopedic surgery; MRI, CT, PET, or X-ray imaging; and radiation therapy.
XR for Clinical Therapy: Applications enhancing therapeutic interventions in clinical settings, such as patient safety, clinical care, mental health treatment (e.g., depression, PTSD, stress, anxiety), pain management (e.g., chronic pain, acute pain), and addiction treatment (e.g., support for recovery processes).
XR for Rehabilitation and Supportive Care: Applications facilitating patient recovery and ongoing support, including rehab and physical activity, cancer pain and palliative care, neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism, ADHD), nursing and midwifery, and long-term recovery support.
XR for Remote Care: Applications enabling remote healthcare delivery and emergency medical services, such as telehealth solutions and emergency medical care.
XR for Training and Education: Applications enhancing the education and training of healthcare professionals, including clinical skills development, surgical simulations, and immersive learning experiences.
XR for Wellbeing: Applications promoting wellness and preventive health, such as stress management, mental health support, and tools for enhancing overall wellbeing.
XR for Chronic Disease Management: Applications to promote home-based health education and health behavior change interventions, particularly for chronic disease self-care.