PIDfest 2026 will bring together the global community of researchers, infrastructure providers, funders, publishers, and policymakers to accelerate adoption and innovation in persistent identifiers (PIDs). The event combines plenary talks, workshops, unconference-style sessions, and networking opportunities to strengthen the foundation of open science.

This PIDfest edition the theme is: "Keeping Knowledge Connected"

We warmly invite you to submit proposals for presentations, discussions and workshops. Together we will create a program that inspires, challenges and connects. If you would like to propose a session, please complete and submit this form by March 22.

All proposals will be reviewed by the PIDfest Program Committee, and you will be informed of our decision by April 2026.

Please note that we strongly encourage and welcome proposals that encompass and reflect a range of perspectives (organizational, functional, geographic, demographic, etc).

You can choose from these formats:
All formats include in total 5 minutes intro and outro.

• Lightning Talk
  Max. 10 minutes | Short, impactful insights or early-stage ideas | No Q&A.

• Short Presentation
  20 min. presentation + 10 min. Q&A | Case studies, project results, or best practices.

• Workshop
  60 minutes | Hands-on activity or collaborative problem-solving | 10 min. intro – 40 min. activity - 10 min. reflection.

• Interactive Presentation
  60 minutes | Combination of presentation and interactive elements | 20 min. presentation + 30 min activity - 10 min. reflection.

• Birds of a Feather (BoF)
  Duration: 45 minutes
  45 minutes | Peer-to-peer discussion on focused theme | Minimal presentation, maximum exchange.

• Poster
  On-site poster with 1-2 min. plenary pitch | Continuous display in shared area | Ideal for visual project summaries, pilot results, workflows, or community initiatives and informal knowledge sharing. Ideal for: Contributors who prefer informal, continuous engagement rather than structured talks.

For the question: 'Alignment with Subtheme' you can choose from:
● Strengthen Community
●. Address Challenges
● Demonstrate Value

When you submit your proposal, we assume that you are available to host your contribution on all three days.
On our website, you will find a short guide with instructions on how to write a good concrete session text and title. Read this carefully so the reviewing team, but especially your listeners, know what to expect and what will be the key takeaways from your session.

If your proposal is selected for PIDfest26, we will contact you in April 2026. Do you have any questions? Feel free to contact us via pidfest@surf.nl.

We look forward to your proposal and your contribution to PIDfest26!

Team PIDfest 2026