RESEARCH COMMISSION
20 - 24 July, 2026
Research Commission
ISME Commission Pre-Conference Seminar
Call for Papers 2026
Theme
Music Education Research in a Diverse and Uncertain World? Opportunities and Challenges
Dates
21-24 July, 2026
Venue
Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario
After a long absence from North America, ISME returns with the 37th World Conference, to be held in July 2026 in Montreal, Canada. This conference embraces the theme “Unity in Music Education: Building Bridges for All,” reaffirming our shared mission to foster a global music education community that is inclusive, innovative, and connected. Through dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas, the conference aims to strengthen international ties and explore diverse perspectives on music education, ensuring that it remains accessible and meaningful for people of all ages and backgrounds worldwide.
As part of this global dialogue, the ISME Research Commission Pre-Conference Seminar will focus on the theme “Music Education Research in a Diverse and Uncertain World? Opportunities and Challenges.” This theme invites critical reflection on the complexities of contemporary music education research, encouraging scholars to examine the ways in which uncertainty and diversity shape our field, and to explore the opportunities that emerge from these dynamics.
Welcome
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:
- examine through research important issues facing music education worldwide;
- develop, refine and demonstrate a range of research approaches, methods and techniques for critically examining issues in music education;
- provide a forum for communication, critical analysis, and dissemination of research innovations in music education;
- deepen and develop the research knowledge base for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers in music education; and
- bring together early career and experienced researchers from a broad geographic representation to build research capacity and promote research expertise in all regions of the ISME membership.
The 31st Research Commission Seminar invites submissions for full and short papers. Full paper presentations will be fully residential, while short paper presenters may participate in the seminar either in person or virtually. The seminar provides an environment where all scholars can refine and enhance their studies through in-depth discussions on methodology, analysis, and implications.
All papers are distributed in advance, allowing presenters and observers to engage in extensive discussions focused on research questions, methodological approaches, data analysis, and the reasoning behind the researchers’ conclusions. This process strengthens music education research worldwide by fostering rigorous scholarly exchange.
We acknowledge the tremendous support and commitment from our hosting institution, the Queen’s University, and the local organizing committee, led by Dr. Julia Brook, Director of the DAN School of Drama and Music at this University.
Submission types at a glance
| Type of submissions | Abstract word limit | Duration (min) | Max No. of Co-Presenters / Panelists | Max No. of Co- Authors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Papers (will be published in Proceedings) | 400 Word abstract + 3000 Word full paper | 15 + 10 | 1 | Any |
| Posters ( will be published in Proceedings) | 400 word abstract | 5+10 | 1 | Any |
Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline : 31 October, 2025
Result notification : TBA
Registrations will open : TBA
Submission Guidelines
Multiple submissions Policy for Research Commission
- Number of Submissions per Author: Each first author can submit one full paper (for full paper presentations) or abstract (for short presentations).
- Number of Presenters per Abstract: Please check the table above.
Pathways to Publication for Research 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.
Copyright
- I hereby assign to the International Society for Music Education (ISME) the copyright of the Full Paper I am now submitting for use by the Society in all formats and through any medium of communication if it is accepted for Publication in the refereed Pre-conference Seminar Proceedings.
- I understand that the Full Paper I am submitting will be refereed for possible inclusion in the Pre-conference Seminar Proceedings and may also appear on the ISME website.
- I confirm that the Full Paper is original and has not been published previously nor is currently under consideration elsewhere and that I have obtained all necessary permissions for the reproduction of content not owned by me (e.g., illustrations, photographs, charts, and other visual material, etc.), and that the contribution contains no unlawful statements and does not infringe any rights of others.
- I understand that I will retain the copyright of the original submission for purposes of duplicating the article, placing it on my personal and institutional websites, etc., but will give ISME the first and exclusive rights to publish the ISME-formatted and edited version in print or online in ISME Conference or Pre-conference Seminar Proceedings and/or journals.
- I understand that if my Full Paper is not selected for publication in the Pre-conference Seminar Proceedings, then upon such notification, the copyright will revert to me (the author).
Submission Types In Detail
Full spoken papers
A full paper submission is one completed paper (max 3,000 words, including endnotes and appendices) with an abstract (max 400 words). The papers should report recently completed research and include the aims, salient literature, methodology, and findings of the study and the implications for theory or practice in music education. References should be included in the submission, although they are not included in the word count. A maximum of two
(2) tables and/or figures may be included. Papers should conform to APA style and be blinded. Full Paper submissions must also conform to the Guidelines for Authors provided on the submission website. Abstracts-only submissions will not be considered for this category. All papers will be fully (double-blind) refereed.
Presentation guidelines:
All paper presenters must attend all the sessions in person. Each invited paper presentation will be allocated 30 minutes, consisting of, at most, a 15-minute presentation and approximately 10-15 minutes for questions and discussion. Accepted papers will be distributed to presenters for reading before the seminar. Presenters are strongly encouraged not to read their paper but rather structure the 15 minutes in a way that speaks to it and engenders an interactive discussion
afterwards. Only one author in a multi-authored paper may present. Presenters will also participate in a break-out session where their paper will be discussed further for one hour.
Seminar Proceedings: All presented papers will be published in the Seminar Proceedings. Authors of accepted papers wishing to submit a revised version of their paper for possible publication elsewhere after the Research Commission Seminar will need to indicate in the paper that, in part, it was previously published in the 31st Research Seminar Proceedings.
Presentation at the World Conference: Authors of full papers accepted for the Research Commission Seminar will be automatically invited to present their work as a Poster at the World Conference in Montreal, based on the recommendation of the Commission Chair. (A separate application to present this work at the World Conference is not required)
Short Papers
Presentation guidelines:
Short paper presenters may present virtually or in person. Each short paper will be allocated 15 minutes, encompassing a 5-minute presentation and 10 minutes of discussion and questions. Short paper presenters will be asked to attend select sessions based on their time zone. Only one author in a multi-authored paper may present. Presenters will also participate in a break-out session where their paper will be discussed further for up to one hour. This session will be shared with one or two other presentations of the same category.
Seminar Proceedings:
All presented abstracts will be published in the Seminar Proceedings.
Presentation at the World Conference:
Authors of short papers accepted for the Research Commission Seminar will be automatically invited to present their work as a Poster at the World Conference in Montreal, based on the recommendation of the Commission Chair. (A separate application to present this work at the World Conference is not required.)
Important Information
Key Resources & links
2026 ISME Pre-Conference Seminar Guidelines
Event Partners / Sponsors
