Invitation to Host ACM Multimedia 2028

The ACM Multimedia Steering Committee invites prospective parties to submit proposals to host and organize the ACM Multimedia conference (ACM MM) in 2028.

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. 

ACM Multimedia is an international venue. In recent years, it has been successfully hosted in Ottawa, Canada (2023) and Melbourne, Australia (2024) and this year will be held in Dublin, Ireland; next editions will be in Newark, USA in 2026 and in Hong Kong in 2027. However, in light of increasing difficulties in travelling and in obtaining travel visas, the steering committee has decided to temporarily pause the geographic rotation policy across the Americas, Asia/Oceania, and Europe/Africa. For ACM MM 2028, proposals from all regions are welcome. However, particular priority will be given to locations that are accessible and visa-friendly for the majority of our international research community, in order to support a broad and inclusive in-person participation.

Parties interested in hosting MM 2028 are invited to submit their proposals (20 pages or less) by Sunday, October 12th, 2025 (11.59PM AOE time) by email with the subject line of “[ACM MM 2028] Proposal to Host MM 2028” to the ACM Multimedia Steering Committee Chair, Silvia Rossi (s [DOT] rossi [AT] cwi [DOT] nl ).

Proposals will be judged on the strength of the organizing committee (track records in multimedia computing, diversity and experience of international members), the scientific vision for the conference (quality and innovation of the technical program, workshops, tutorials and side events program, globalization, etc.), the overall plan (budget, promotion, diversity and inclusion), and the location (appeal, accessibility, etc.).
Given current global challenges, particular priority will be given to locations that are more accessible and visa-friendly for the international community.

Valid proposals will be invited to present at the SIGMM Business lunch during MM 2025, 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. 

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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;
• Visa accessibility report, highlight the accessibility of the proposed location for international participants;
• Potential venue for main conference, workshop/tutorials sessions;
• Potential plans and venue for welcome reception (if any) and gala dinner;
• Detailed vision for the scientific program, including plans for the main technical tracks, potential innovative session formats, and new initiatives that will ensure high- quality and impactful contributions;
• Draft of Workshops program, potential Tutorials and side events plans;
• Actions in support of diversity and inclusion;
• Plans to attract and engage top researchers from diverse fields around multimedia research community, including strategies for keynote selection, and paper review quality assurance;
• 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.