General information
Where will the 2026 International Forum on Artistic Research take place?
The 2026 Forum on Artistic Research is set to take place at the University of Galway, from 23 to 26 June 2026, it will be held on the university's campus, hosted by the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies and the Institute for Creativity.
What is the Society for Artistic Research (SAR)?
The Society for Artistic Research (SAR) connects, showcases and facilitates artistic research in all its forms, facets and dimensions, and advocates for it. As an international academic society, SAR establishes and maintains the frameworks required to preserve and promote the diversity of approaches, methods, outcomes and impacts of artistic research across creative disciplines. SAR is a non-profit, member-led organisation supporting artistic research in academic institutions, while also serving artists and professionals with an interest in artistic research.
Will there be possibilities for remote participation?
The 2026 International Forum on Artistic Research will be an in-person event only. There will be no opportunity to participate remotely. However, selected sessions will be recorded on video and made available online afterwards.
When will the full agenda for the Forum be available?
The detailed program for the 2026 Forum on Artistic Research will be available by the end of April 2026.
How can I contact the Forum organisers?
If you want to contact the Forum organisers, please use the contact form.
How can I receive updates on the Forum preparations?
If you want to receive regular updates on the preparations of the Forum, you should sign up for the Forum newsletter.
Call for contributions
Can I start working on a submission and continue editing it until the deadline?
Yes, you can save a draft of your proposal and edit it until midnight on 1 March 2026. You can also access and edit your submission until then.
How can I access and edit my contribution proposal after submitting it?
You can access and edit your proposal until the 1 March 2026 deadline. If you have created a user account on the SAR26 website, log in with your credentials and open the sliding sidebar by clicking on the menu icon (also known as the 'hamburger' icon) in the top-right corner of the screen. Once the sidebar is open, select the menu item 'My account'. This will take you to your account page, where you will see a ‘Submissions’ tab. Selecting this will display your submitted proposal.
Will the deadline for the call for contributions be extended?
The deadline of 1 March 2026 cannot be further delayed due to the tight schedule. Please make sure that you submit your proposal in time.
Why do I have to create an exposition in the Research Catalogue as part of my proposal?
You only need to create an exposition in the Research Catalogue (RC) if you are submitting a project presentation proposal. All other formats should be proposed by completing and submitting the webform on the SAR2026 website. The RC exposition is intended to provide peer-reviewers with further details of your artistic research project, enabling them to evaluate the elements of your proposal that cannot be summarised in a short abstract more adequately. We encourage you to take full advantage of this opportunity.
I have a user account at the Research Catalogue, but I forgot my password. What can I do?
Please go to: https://www.researchcatalogue.net/portal/forgotten-password and enter your email address you used when you created the account. You will receive further instructions by email.
What if I don't have access to the email that I used when I created the RC account?
If you need to reset your password on the Research Catalogue and do not have access to your email address used for registration, please contact: support@researchcatalogue.net
Forum Website
How can I login on the Forum website?
If you have created a user account by checking the box before submitting your proposal, you can log in with the user name displayed in the form. You should also receive an automatically generated email with login instructions. Check your spam or junk folder, if this email does not appear in your INBOX. You may also reset your password by entering your user name or email address in the form for resetting your password
Registration, tickets and fees
Can I attend the conference even if I don't plan to give a presentation?
Of course, you are most welcome to attend, even if you are not presenting a contribution. Early bird registration opens in February. Students and researchers who are not affiliated with an institution will receive a special discount on the registration fee.
What will the conference fee be?
The early general registration fee for non-members of SAR is €400. The late general registration fee for non-members of SAR is €450. The early general registration fee for individual members of SAR and employees of institutional members of SAR is €300. The late general registration fee for individual members of SAR and employees of institutional members of SAR is €350. The early general registration fee for students or individual members of SAR without institutional affiliation is €80. The late general registration fee for students or individual members of SAR without institutional affiliation is €100.
When will the reduced fee for early registration end?
The early bird registration fee discount offer will end on 30 April 2026. It also includes the option of affordable on-campus accommodation.
Will the Forum organisers cover my travel expenses, if my proposal is successful?
No, unfortunately this is not possible. The SAR conferences and fora on artistic research are academic conference formats. Usually, the institution of the presenter covers the costs for travel, accommodation and the conference fee.
What if I am not affiliated with an academic institution that would cover my expenses?
We can offer a reduced participation fee of EUR 80 for researchers who are not employed or affiliated with an organisation or an institution of higher education in the arts, but individual members of SAR.
Why do I have to pay the conference fee, although I am invited to give a presentation?
The Forum is an academic event whose costs are covered by registration fees. These fees are relatively low compared to academic conferences in other disciplines. However, we want to ensure that we do not exclude participants and presenters who do not have a permanent academic position or an institutional affiliation that would cover the cost of the conference fees by default or on special request. Therefore, the SAR conference operates with a reduced fee for participants who are individual SAR members without institutional affiliation and employment. To maintain this model, we rely on the solidarity of institutional representatives for non-institutional participants in addition to the financial commitment of the University of Galway as the host university.
How can I find out whether my institution is a member of SAR?
Please double-check if your institution is a member of SAR according to the list of institutional members. You may apply for membership in SAR through the membership application form.
How can I become a member of SAR?
Applications for individual or institutional membership must be submitted online via the SAR website.
Travel and venues
How do I get to Galway?
Perched on Galway Bay on the wild and rugged west coast of Ireland, Galway (Gaillimh) is Europe's most westerly city. The closest airports are Shannon, Knock and Dublin. For direct buses from Dublin Airport (2.5 hours) and Shannon Airport (1.5 hours) to Galway visit the City Link website. For train connections to Galway, visit Iarnród Eireann - Irish Rail. For bus connections, visit Bus Eireann.
Do I need a visa to enter the Republic of Ireland?
Whether you need a visa for Ireland depends on your nationality, but if you're from the EU, EEA, Switzerland, or the UK, you generally don't; non-EEA/Swiss/UK citizens must check the official Irish Immigration or Department of Foreign Affairs website, as many countries require a visa for stays under 90 days, while others may qualify for visa-free entry or schemes like the UK/Irish Visa Waiver for shorter visits, though a valid passport and proof of purpose are always needed for immigration.
How can I find accommodation in Galway?
Hotel room rates in Galway can be quite high. It is recommended to book your accommodation as early as possible. However, early bird registration will include a special offer on affordable on-campus accommodation.
What if I have special accessibility needs?
The 2026 Forum on Artistic Research aims to be accessible to all attendees, regardless of their abilities, backgrounds or requirements. When registering, please provide the necessary information in the registration form (available soon).