Call For Papers​​

 

Music Beyond Tools and Rules

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Have you ever experienced the thrill of creating music with an instrument, software, or interactive system that seems to listen, respond, and even inspire you in return? At InMusic 2026, we want to explore the mutual relationships between humans and non-human systems in music, where listening, interaction, and co-creation open new possibilities for sound, composition, performance, and sonic experience.

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We invite researchers, practitioners, creatives, producers, artists, industry professionals, technology developers, and equipment manufacturers to examine how technology can become a collaborative partner—not just a tool—in music-making, listening, performance, and interactive sound experiences. How do humans and technology resonate together? How does the act of listening and the conditions for creative decisions change when mediated by algorithms, AI, or interactive systems? And how can co-creation with technology generate new forms of musical expression, perception, and experience?

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Music tools and digital platforms also drive connections between artists and fans, including rapidly evolving tools for distribution, continuous engagement, licensing and social media sharing. At InMusic 2026, we are interested to hear how these tools are shaping a new music industry, and the potential gains and losses from such new approaches. We are equally interested to explore scenarios where tools are being abandoned or rejected, in order to go ‘beyond’ and discover (or rediscover) alternative modes of creativity, as well as ways in which established musical, social, or industry rules are challenged, bent, or reimagined. While our focus includes human–technology interaction and co-creation, we encourage abstract submissions on all kinds of ‘innovation in music’, related to topics such as:​

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• Innovative production, recording, mixing and mastering techniques

• Innovative approaches to composition, songwriting and performance

• Innovative approaches to music business, events, management and enterprise

• Innovations in music technology

• Innovative approaches to music research

• Innovative approaches to co-creation

• Innovative experiments in immersive sound, spatial audio, and interactive installations

• Innovative applications of AI or adaptive systems in music 

• Innovative approaches to promoting diversity, equality and representation in music

• Innovative approaches to sustainability and sustainable practices in music

 

 

Paper Presentations

 

Presentations are by default in the format of 15-minute talks, followed by 5 minutes Q&A. Abstracts should give a summary of original research and an outline of the presentation to be given, and be 300-500 words. After the conference, presenting authors will be invited to submit a full paper (4,000-6,000 words) for peer review and inclusion in the book of proceedings, published by Routledge (subject to contract). The abstracts submission deadline is 12 January 2026.

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Submit your 300-500 word abstract in EasyChair at the following link:

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https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=inmusic26

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Performance and Workshop Proposals

 

Proposals are also welcome for presentations combining academic talks with innovative or interactive performances, workshops and demonstrations appropriate to the conference scope. If you would like to submit such a proposal, please get in touch with the organising committee prior to submitting your abstract for a discussion of technical requirements and possibilities, by emailing info@innovationinmusic.uk