Invitation to Host ACM Multimedia 2026 in the Americas

The ACM Multimedia Steering Committee invites prospective parties to submit proposals to host and organize the ACM Multimedia conference (ACM MM) in 2026.
 
ACM Multimedia is the flagship conference supported by ACM SIGMM, the ACM Special Interest Group on Multimedia. Since the founding of ACM SIGMM in 1993, ACM Multimedia has been the worldwide premier conference and a key world event to display scientific achievements and innovative industrial products in the multimedia field. The conference hosts technical sessions covering all aspects of multimedia, as well as industry-oriented sessions such as the multimedia grand challenge or the industrial track, which recognize those research works with significant industrial values. We welcome brave new ideas on shaping the research landscape, open source software competition, and also an interactive arts program stimulating artists and computer scientists to meet and discover together the frontiers of artistic communication.

MM is an international venue, and it is held every year in a different continent, rotating between  the Americas, Asia/Oceania, and Europe/Africa. The past ACM Multimedia conferences were successfully organized in Nice, France (2019), Seattle, US (2020), Chengdu, China (2021) and Lisbon, Portugal (2022). The next editions will be held in Ottawa, Canada, in 2023;’ Melbourne, Australia, in 2024; and Dublin, Ireland in 2025. The continents where ACM MM 2026 is scheduled to be held are the Americas.

Parties interested in hosting MM 2026 are invited to submit their proposals (20 pages or less) by Sunday, October 15th, 2023 (11.59PM AOE time) by email with the subject line of “Proposal of Hosting MM 2026 to the ACM Multimedia Steering Committee Chair, Miriam Redi (miriam [AT] wikimedia [DOT] org).

Proposals will be judged on the strength of the organizing committee (track records in multimedia computing, diversity and experience of international members), the plan for the conference (budget, vision, novel ideas, main conference program, Workshops Tutorials and side events program, globalization, etc.), and location (appeal, accessibility, etc.).

Valid proposals will be invited to present at the SIGMM Business lunch during MM 2023, and a decision will be made by the steering committee after the conference. The winning bid will be selected by the ACM Multimedia Steering Committee via  majority vote.

INSTRUCTIONS

Proposal format: Proposals should be submitted in PDF format. They should not exceed the 20 pages, and should include the following items:

• Main points of contact
• Proposed dates and location, with main highlights of the conference
• Names and bios of the members of the proposed organizing committee
• Information about the proposed location such as: landmarks of the city, events, hotels, and transport links
• Potential venue for main conference, workshop/tutorials sessions
• Potential plans and venue for welcome reception (if any) and gala dinner
• Draft of the programme of the main conference, including potential with new ideas or initiatives
• Draft of Workshops program, potential Tutorials and side events plans
• Actions in support of diversity and inclusion
• Promotion plans for the conference
• Budget overview

Conference schedule and timing: The ACM MM conference is usually scheduled between the second half of October and the first week of November and the targeted paper submission deadline is in April. The conference event typically includes 3 full days for the main Conference and 2 days for Workshops, Tutorials and side events. Industry exhibits are typically held during the main conference.

Conference location: The conference location should be easily accessible by people from around the world, with good transport connections. The bid should include a short description of the locality, its landmarks and features that make it attractive to conference participants, as well as rail, air, and road links.  Proposers should demonstrate that there exists suitable accommodation for participants for the whole duration of  the conference, potentially including low-cost accommodation for student delegates.

Budget plan:  Proposals must include a provisional budget for the conference, providing a breakdown of income and expenses. It is expected that the conference should break even at a minimum. Incentives for early registration and student registrations are advisable. Budgets should include the ACM contingency fee and the VAT if applicable.