IFLA Symposium on Artificial Intelligence 2026

About the Symposium

Theme: “Building an AI-Empowered World: Practical/Real-World Applications of AI”

Date: 09–13 November 2026

Venue: To Be Confirmed

Libraries are at the crossroads of information stewardship and emerging technology. As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes how we discover, curate, and deliver knowledge, librarians worldwide are experimenting with real-world AI solutions that enhance services, improve accessibility, and deepen community engagement.

This Symposium explores the synergy between building an intelligent future in advancing human creativity using artificial intelligence, and envisioning how this partnership can accelerate innovation, knowledge and sustainable development across disciplines.

The University of the Free State, IFLA Information Technology Section and IFLA AI SIG, is hosting this event in collaboration with LIASA, National Library South Africa and University of Lesotho, on November 09-13, 2026.

Call for Papers

We invite proposals for paper presentations, panels and poster presentations on the topics below:

Topics of Interest

Abstracts may cover (but are not limited to) the following themes:

• Practical Application of AI
  • Case studies of AI-driven cataloguing, recommendation engines, or automated reference services.
  • Implementation frameworks, workflow integration, and lessons learned.
  • Data sovereignty in an AI world.
  • National or regional perspectives on AI strategy, access and policy.
• AI: Beyond the Horizon
  • Explorations of cutting-edge AI research with potential library impact (generative models, multimodal retrieval, semantic search).
  • Futuristic concepts such as AI-mediated learning spaces or autonomous collection development.
• The Human-AI Synergy
  • Studies on collaborative workflows where librarians and AI systems co-create value.
  • Collective intelligence and hybrid decision-making systems; ethical considerations and privacy.
  • Evaluations of AI frameworks, policy, and principles in practice.
• Economic and Societal Transitions in an AI World
  • Future of work, AI as collaborator/mentor, digital scholarship.
  • Human–AI teamwork in research and publishing.
• Sustainable & Inclusive AI Futures
  • AI for sustainable development, innovation and resilience.
  • Social justice, inclusion, and equitable access to AI technologies.
  • Indigenous knowledge and culture-based AI design.

Submission Guidelines

Abstracts should include:

• Title of the presentation/panel/poster
• Abstract (300–350 words)
• Author(s) and affiliation(s)
• Contact information for corresponding author
• Type of presentation (oral, panel, poster)
• Special requirements (AV, internet, etc.)
• Submit in PDF format (not zipped)

Submit abstracts via email: aiconference@ufs.ac.za

Important Dates

• 31 May 2026: Deadline for submissions
• 10 July 2026: Notifications to authors
• 21 October 2026: Deadline for submission of presentation slides
• 09–13 November 2026: Symposium dates

Registration & Attendance

The event is in-person. Registration details will be provided soon.

• Early Bird Registration: 14 August 2026
• Early Bird Fee: R5 900.00
• Standard Registration Fee: R6 500.00
• Students/Pensioners: R3 000.00
• Group of 10: R50 000.00

Contact

For enquiries regarding submissions, formatting, or sponsorship:

Email: aiconference@ufs.ac.za