The moment we look forward to every year has arrived: the VWBPE 2026 Call for Proposals opens November 24, and we’re inviting educators, creators, researchers, and innovators from across the metaverse to bring their best ideas forward. Whether you explore virtual worlds daily or you’re just beginning to experiment with them, this is your opportunity to help shape one of the most vibrant and enduring conferences in immersive education.

Our theme for 2026 is INSIGHTS — the unexpected moments of clarity, discovery, and connection that emerge when teaching and learning extend beyond the boundaries of physical classrooms. We’re looking for projects that illuminate these moments and help others see what’s possible.

The pace of technological change has never been faster. AI, immersive simulations, and augmented realities are transforming not only how students engage with content, but how educators define their own roles. With these shifts come pressing new challenges:

• Establishing guardrails for emerging tools;
• Protecting privacy and ethics in a data-driven age;
• Scaling immersive technologies.

Augmented learning environments, digital twins, and AI teaching assistants offer new pedagogical possibilities—but also bring steep learning curves, infrastructure costs, and questions of access.

This year’s CFP includes four categories, each offering a unique way to contribute your expertise:

• Presentations – Share research, experiences, innovations, or frameworks.
• Immersive Experiences – Lead others through environments or activities that reveal insights through embodied practice.
• Posters (including Machinima) – Highlight visual storytelling, snapshots of practice, conceptual models, or short-form explorations.
• Exhibits – Showcase creative works in virtual worlds through artistic expression in order to promote your organization or achievements.

Whether your work is deeply scholarly, boldly experimental, quietly reflective, or wildly creative, VWBPE has a place for it.

You’ll find the full CFP details at: www.vwbpe/cfp2026.

The submission deadline is January 15, 2026 for presentations and immersive experiences; it is February 15, 2026 for exhibits and posters, so now is the perfect time to gather your ideas, assemble your team, sketch out your concepts, and start building.

We encourage you to take this step. Share what you’re doing. Inspire others. Help us uncover the insights that will guide the next chapter of virtual education.

IMPORTANT DATES

24 November 2025 – Call for Proposals Opens
30 November 2025 – Thinkerer Award Nominations Opens
04 January 2026 – Call for Volunteers & Film Crew opens
15 January 2026 – CFP for Presentations, IEs closes
22 January 2026 – 1st Networking Social (Theme: Frost Fair)
15 February 2026 – CFP for Exhibits, Posters closes, Call for Sponsors closes
19 February 2026 – 2nd Networking Social (Theme: Fishing Spot)
March 19-21, 2026 – VWBPE 2026 Conference – INSIGHTS