2026 GigaNet Symposium

Call for Papers: GigaNet Annual Symposium 2026 Onsite & Online 

 GigaNet – the Global Internet Governance Academic Network – warmly invites submissions of extended abstracts for its 2026 Annual Symposia. The onsite symposium will take place on Day Zero of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), scheduled for 14–18 December 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. A separate online symposium will also be held, and this call serves as the entry point for both. 

We welcome papers on any topic related to internet and digital governance, and we strongly encourage multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and global approaches.  

As in previous years, we will endeavour to provide an outlet for publication of the most promising papers presented during the symposium. Papers from previous symposia have been published as a special issue in the journal ‘Telecommunications Policy’. 

Themes for 2026
We invite work across a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:  

 Internet Governance as a field of study
– Narratives, myths, contributing disciplines, and frictions in the construction of the field of internet governance
– Internet governance cultures and power dynamics 
– Theoretical innovations and new methods applicable to internet governance research
– Postcolonial and decolonial internet governance studies 

The evolution of internet governance, institutions, and norms
– Internet infrastructure, standards and protocols
– Accountability in platforms and data governance
– Security and resilience
– Digital rights online
– Digital sovereignty
– Governance of misinformation, disinformation, and online public discourse
– Internet governance and democratic legitimacy
– Regional and global forums for governing the internet
– Content moderation practices and governance 

Critical internet futures
– Sustainability and environmental impacts
– Digital colonialism
– Transformation of internet business models
– Space and internet governance 
– Interdisciplinary perspectives on the governance of frontier technologies (Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, virtual currencies, metaverse, quantum computing), etc. 

Internet governance in a time of war: 
– Online harms, cyberattacks and accountability
– Connectivity and access to information 
– Cyber operations and sanctions
– Neutrality in the cyber domain
– Applicability of international law
– Role of international bodies and/or public-private partnerships 

Papers engaging with other current themes in internet governance research are also very welcome. 

Submission Guidelines
We invite submissions of work in progress as well as more developed research. Extended abstracts should be 800–1,000 words (excluding bibliography) and should address: 

  1. Research question(s)
  2. Data used
  3. Methodology
  4. Main (expected) findings
  5. Contributions to the literature and/or ongoing policy debates

GigaNet encourages emerging scholars and researchers working with diverse methodologies to submit their work to the symposia. Theoretical papers are not required to specify data but should include a clear research question and articulate the theoretical frameworks and literature informing the analysis.  

All extended abstracts will be reviewed anonymously. Please ensure that no personally identifiable information appears in the uploaded file or the body of your submission. 

 In the first line of your abstract, please indicate whether you wish to be considered for the onsite symposium, the online symposium, or both. Where authors indicate availability for both and are shortlisted, the Programme Committee Chair will exercise discretion in shaping the two programmes.  

How to Submit
Submit your extended abstract at: https://symposium.giga-net.org/
Submissions must be in English. 

Participation in the GigaNet Symposium is free of charge. 

Key Dates (Tentative) 

  • Extended abstract submission deadline: 1 August 2026
  • Notification to authors: 15 September 2026

Online symposium 

  • Papers due for online discussants: 1 November 2026
  • Final online programme published: 3 November 2026
  • GigaNet Online Symposium: Week of 15 November 2026

On-site symposium  

  • Accepted authors confirm in-person attendance: 15 November 2026
  • Papers due for onsite discussants: 1 December 2026
  • Final onsite programme published: 3 December 2026
  • GigaNet Onsite Symposium: 13 December 2026 (TBC)

 We look forward to receiving your submissions and to welcoming you, in Nairobi or online, for what we hope will be a rich and inspiring symposium on internet governance!