COMMISSION ON POLICY : CULTURE, EDUCATION AND MEDIA
20 - 24 July, 2026
Commission On Policy : Culture, Education And Media
ISME Commission Pre-Conference Seminar
Call for Papers 2026
Theme
Exploring Music Education through Political and Apolitical Lenses in a Changing World
Dates
20–24 July, 2026
Venue
TBA
The Commission on Policy: Culture, Education, and Media invites scholars, educators, policymakers, and practitioners from around the globe to submit proposals on a broad range of policy topics.
We invite proposals on any policy-related topic in music education, including but not limited to:
- Advocacy,equity and accessibility
- Governance and sustainable practice
- Technology,digitalization and AI in music education
- Global frameworks such as UNESCO’s Arts and Cultural Education guidelines
- Political and apolitical lenses that explore significant topics in music education
Submission types at a glance
The 2026 Pre-Conference Seminar will offer a variety of presentation formats to encourage interactive and engaging participation:
| Type of submissions | Abstract word limit | Duration (mins) | Max No. of Co-Presenters / Panelists | Max No. of Co- Authors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Spoken Paper | 400 word abstract + 1800 - 3000 words | 25 | 1 - 2 | unlimited |
| Symposia | 800 | 60 - 90 | 3 - 6 | 3 - 6 |
| Lightning Talks and Posters | 400 | 7 | 1 - 2 | 1 - 2 |
| Roundtables | 400 | 20 | 1 | 1 |
Note: In the event that you are unable to attend the conference in person, a limited provision may be made for presenting via a pre-recorded video and/or by a synchronous online discussion. Please check this page periodically for updates or follow us on social media for the latest information.
Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline : 31 October, 2025
Result notification : TBA
Registrations will open : TBA
Submission Guidelines
Multiple submissions Policy for Policy Commission
- Number of Submissions per Author: Each author can submit up to two abstracts.
- Number of Presenters per Abstract: Please check the table above.
Pathways to Publication for Policy Commission
- All accepted abstracts will be included in the Conference Proceedings
- All accepted abstract titles will appear in the Conference Program
- All accepted Full Papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings
Pathways to 37th ISME World Conference, Montreal
All accepted abstracts from the Pre-Conference Seminars will have the opportunity to be presented as Posters at the 37th World Conference at Montreal in July 2026. You will be extended an invitation once your Pre-conference Seminar abstract is accepted.
Submission Types In Detail
Full Spoken Papers
Presentation Format:
Paper presenters will be allocated 25 minutes to present their papers.
In order to facilitate more in-depth reflections and exchanges on the presentations, papers will be presented in groups of three based upon the similarity of topics. After the paper presentations, 50 minutes will be allotted for discussion. The first 15 minutes will be used to address questions and general topics on the paper. The next 35 minutes will be used to discuss questions that are provided by the presenters. Each presenter will be asked to supply three meaningful questions relate to their paper that is capable of generate meaningful discussion on the topics raised in or related to the paper.
All papers will be fully (double-blind) refereed, and those chosen for inclusion in the seminar will be published in the Pre-Conference Seminar Proceedings. Additionally, authors of accepted papers will be invited to present their work as posters at the main ISME conference. Full paper submissions that are not accepted for conference presentation will be considered for presentation as a lightning talk and poster or as a roundtable presentation.
Paper presenters will be allocated 25 minutes to present their papers.
In order to facilitate more in-depth reflections and exchanges on the presentations, papers will be presented in groups of three based upon the similarity of topics. After the paper presentations, 50 minutes will be allotted for discussion. The first 15 minutes will be used to address questions and general topics on the paper. The next 35 minutes will be used to discuss questions that are provided by the presenters. Each presenter will be asked to supply three meaningful questions relate to their paper that is capable of generate meaningful discussion on the topics raised in or related to the paper.
All papers will be fully (double-blind) refereed, and those chosen for inclusion in the seminar will be published in the Pre-Conference Seminar Proceedings. Additionally, authors of accepted papers will be invited to present their work as posters at the main ISME conference. Full paper submissions that are not accepted for conference presentation will be considered for presentation as a lightning talk and poster or as a roundtable presentation.
- The paper should report recently completed research or projects that contribute to the understanding of policy and its application to music education.
- The paper must be submitted in English.
- The paper must be complete and cannot exceed 3000 words, including tables, figures, explanatory notes, and appendices within the file, excluding abstract and references. Tables and figures are encouraged to help readability and flow.
- A template is provided for download. The order of content on the file should be as follows:
- Title of the proposal
- Abstract (up to 400 words)
- Five keywords in alphabetical order
- Full paper (up to 3,000 words)
- Acknowledgements (if any)
- References.
Please, ensure that identifying names are not includedin the full proposal or other document details.
Download Template
Symposia
Presentation Format:
Symposia will consist of a set of 3-6 spoken papers. The commission is particularly interested in panel presentations that are geared to the commission theme, but this is not a requirement for submissions. Each symposium will be led by a panel chair who will submit the proposal on behalf of all presenters. The submission may not contain the name of the panelists or convenor.
Symposia are generally expected to be 50 – 60 minutes. However, the exact length of time will be decided between the panel chair and Policy Commissioners. In addition to the presentation, time for discussion arising from the symposium will be allotted for in the commission schedule. The convenor will be asked to supply questions related to the symposia overall and for the individual papers that are capable of generate meaningful discussion on the topics raised that are relevant for policy issues.
All symposia papers will be fully (double-blind) refereed. The abstracts chosen for inclusion in the seminar will be published in the Pre-Conference Seminar Proceedings. Full papers may be included in the proceedings,if deemed appropriate for inclusion. Additionally, symposium authors of accepted papers will be invited to present their work as posters at the main ISME conference. Individual submissions of symposia that are not accepted for conference presentation may be considered for presentation as a lightning talk and poster or as a roundtable presentation.
Symposia will consist of a set of 3-6 spoken papers. The commission is particularly interested in panel presentations that are geared to the commission theme, but this is not a requirement for submissions. Each symposium will be led by a panel chair who will submit the proposal on behalf of all presenters. The submission may not contain the name of the panelists or convenor.
Symposia are generally expected to be 50 – 60 minutes. However, the exact length of time will be decided between the panel chair and Policy Commissioners. In addition to the presentation, time for discussion arising from the symposium will be allotted for in the commission schedule. The convenor will be asked to supply questions related to the symposia overall and for the individual papers that are capable of generate meaningful discussion on the topics raised that are relevant for policy issues.
All symposia papers will be fully (double-blind) refereed. The abstracts chosen for inclusion in the seminar will be published in the Pre-Conference Seminar Proceedings. Full papers may be included in the proceedings,if deemed appropriate for inclusion. Additionally, symposium authors of accepted papers will be invited to present their work as posters at the main ISME conference. Individual submissions of symposia that are not accepted for conference presentation may be considered for presentation as a lightning talk and poster or as a roundtable presentation.
Proposal Requirements
- The proposal should report recently completed research or projects that contribute to the understanding of policy and its application to music education.
- The abstracts must be submitted in English.
- Each symposium is limited to 800 words.
- The names of all presenters, including discussants must be identified in the application, not within the submissions.
- Title of symposia
- Combined Abstract (up to 800 words)
- Up to Five keywords in alphabetical order
- References
- A template is provided for download. The order of content on the file should be as follows:
Please, ensure that identifying names are not includedin the full proposal or other document details.
Download Template
Lightning Talks and Posters
Presentation Format:
Poster presenters are invited to present their research as a lightning talk and as a Poster to bring to display during the Seminar. A Lightning Talk is a short, high-energy presentation that typically lasts between 3 to 5 minutes. The goal is to quickly and effectively communicate key ideas, insights, or findings without overwhelming the audience with too much detail. Our lightning Talks should focus upon placing your research within the conference theme, Music Education Through Political and/or Apolitical Lenses.Key Features of a Lightning Talk:
Poster presenters are invited to present their research as a lightning talk and as a Poster to bring to display during the Seminar. A Lightning Talk is a short, high-energy presentation that typically lasts between 3 to 5 minutes. The goal is to quickly and effectively communicate key ideas, insights, or findings without overwhelming the audience with too much detail. Our lightning Talks should focus upon placing your research within the conference theme, Music Education Through Political and/or Apolitical Lenses.Key Features of a Lightning Talk:
- Concise & Focused – It presents one main idea or a few key takeaways instead of a deep dive into a topic.
- Fast-paced – The time limit forces presenters to get to the point quickly and keep the energy high.
- Engaging & Memorable – Often used to spark curiosity, encourage discussion, or inspire action.
- Minimal Visuals – Slides (if used) should be simple and highly visual, avoiding text-heavy content.
- Conversational Delivery – More informal and direct than a full conference presentation.
Lightning talks (3–5 minutes) will introduce a broad range of policy research in music education, followed by in-depth discussions during poster and collaborative sessions. Poster presenters must also give a 3–5 minute talk before their scheduled poster session. Posters will be grouped into timed sessions, with specifications provided upon acceptance. Poster titles will appear in the Policy Commission Seminar program, and accepted abstracts will be published in the Conference Proceedings. All presenters will be listed in the conference program.
Proposal Requirements
Abstracts for Lightning Talk/Poster submissions must follow the [provided template]( (please download) and the information below:
- Title of poster
- Abstract 400-word poster abstract
- Five keywords in alphabetical order
- References
Please ensure that identifying names are not included in the full proposal and other document details.
Download Template
Roundtables
Presentation Format:
Roundtable presenters are invited to present initiatives that demonstrate the analysis or implementation of a policy related project. Projects can be either research-based, practice-based or a combination of both. Roundtables will be grouped into presentation categories by the commission. Roundtables are presented as moderated discussions between a roundtable of educators and session attendees. Titles will be listed in the conference program. Abstracts accepted for this category will be published in the Conference Proceedings. All participants will be listed as presenters in the conference program.
Roundtable presenters are invited to present initiatives that demonstrate the analysis or implementation of a policy related project. Projects can be either research-based, practice-based or a combination of both. Roundtables will be grouped into presentation categories by the commission. Roundtables are presented as moderated discussions between a roundtable of educators and session attendees. Titles will be listed in the conference program. Abstracts accepted for this category will be published in the Conference Proceedings. All participants will be listed as presenters in the conference program.
Proposal Requirements: Abstracts for Roundtable submissions must follow the provided template(please download) and the information below:
- Title of project
- 400-word abstract
- Five keywords in alphabetical order
- References
Important Information
Key Resources & links
2026 ISME Pre-Conference Seminar Guidelines
Contact
Chairs – Tuulikki Laes And Daniel Hellman
ISME International Office:
Email: comms@isme.org or visit www.isme.org
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