WiML Symposium @ ICML 2026

Applications are open! 

The Women in Machine Learning is hosting its annual, fully in-person symposium at ICML 2026. This event is dedicated to bringing together researchers who identify as women, non-binary, and/or gender non-conforming, fostering discussions around research, career development, and community building. This year, we especially encourage mid-career researchers who identify as women, non-binary, and/or gender non-conforming to participate and contribute. While presentations will be led by women, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals, everyone, regardless of gender or career stage, is warmly invited to attend and participate.

📅  IMPORTANT DATES

All deadlines are 23:59 Anywhere on Earth (AoE)

May 4, 2026 — Application form opens → Apply here

May 25, 2026 — Deadline to submit abstract, apply for funding or volunteer

June 1, 2026 — Notification of acceptance (abstract, funding, volunteer)

June 5, 2026 — Deadline to accept funding and confirm attendance

June 18, 2026 — Deadline to upload the final poster

July 7, 2026 — WiML Evening Social

July 8, 2026 — WiML Symposium Day

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE

• Submit an abstract: Accepted presenters will be further invited to present their work.

• Volunteer: Support the event and gain behind-the-scenes experience! We need help with on-site logistics, technical setup and reviewing posters.

• Attend the Symposium: Join us for invited talks and panels, breakout session discussions, coffee chats and mentoring, and networking with peers and mentors

• Attend WiML Socials: Meet other attendees in an informal setting during an off-site evening social. More details will be announced closer to the event.

1. Abstract submission

We invite students, postdocs, and researchers who identify as women or non-binary to submit an abstract on any area of machine learning, including theory, methodology, and applications. Submissions may describe new, ongoing, or previously published work. The presenting author must identify as a woman or non-binary, though they do not need to be the first author.

Abstracts will be reviewed in a single-blind process for clarity, relevance, and compliance with academic integrity standards. Accepted presenters will be invited to display their work during the WiML Symposium.

This symposium is non-archival and has no formal proceedings.

Submission Instructions:

• Upload your abstract via the application form. Please submit a complete abstract as a single PDF file. The abstract must be no longer than 1 page, excluding references.

• Abstracts should align with ICML topics of interest defined here. Off-topic, incomplete or non-compliant submissions will be desk rejected.

• Plagiarism is strictly prohibited. All submissions must comply with academic integrity standards.

• Each presenting author may submit only one abstract for presentation, though they may be listed as a co-author on additional submissions.

• If available, please include a link to an online version of your work (arXiv preprint, published paper, etc.) in the form (optional).

• Further instructions on logistics and poster formatting will be provided after acceptance.

2. Volunteering: We are looking for volunteers to support the success of WiML @ ICML 2026. Volunteers may assist with technical and logistical setup, and on-site support during the event.

You can indicate your availability and areas of interest in the relevant section of the application form.

Note: WiML volunteer and funding opportunities are separate from ICML’s own programs. We encourage you to also explore ICML’s volunteer and funding options directly at icml.cc.

3. Participation instructions: To participate in any capacity—as a poster presenter, volunteer, or funding applicant—you must complete the WiML 2026 application form by the stated deadline.

If you are only planning to attend, we still encourage you to fill out the form to indicate your topic preferences and help us tailor the event experience.

All participants are expected to follow the WiML Code of Conduct.

4. Registration and Travel funding: To be eligible for funding, you must identify as a woman, non-binary, and/or gender non-conforming and commit to attending the symposium. If you receive funding, you are required to volunteer at the event.

Due to limited resources, not all eligible applicants can be funded. However, we aim to support as many as possible. Priority will be given to poster presenters without other sources of funding. We also encourage all eligible participants, regardless of presentation status, to apply, as well as to apply for ICML 2026 Volunteer and Financial Aid, which is independent of WiML funding.

In your application, please:

• List any existing funding sources

• Explain how WiML’s support would enable your participation

Note: Funding Eligibility — Sanctions Compliance

WiML is incorporated in the United States and is required to comply with U.S. sanctions laws administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Accordingly, WiML is unable to provide funding to:

• Individuals or entities identified on any OFAC sanctions list, including without limitation the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List.

• Individuals currently employed by, enrolled at, or otherwise formally affiliated with any institution or entity identified on an OFAC sanctions list.

• Individuals ordinarily resident in, or applying from, a comprehensively sanctioned country or region (currently including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and the Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, although these designations may change from time to time).

OFAC's sanctions search tool is available at: https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/.

All applicants will be asked to certify their eligibility under these requirements as part of the application process. WiML reserves the right to screen applicants against applicable sanctions lists at any time and to deny or revoke a grant award if a sanctions-related concern is identified.

WiML recognizes that these restrictions do not reflect the merit, qualifications, or academic or professional accomplishments of any individual applicant and regrets any inconvenience they may cause.

❓ Questions?

• Check out our FAQs

• Email us at: workshop@wimlworkshop.org

We look forward to welcoming you to WiML @ ICML 2026!