Get ready to bring your prototypes, performances, and products to life! CHI invites students, researchers, designers, artists, technologists, and practitioners to be part of the Interactive Demos track, a vibrant space where research meets real-world interaction. This is your opportunity to move beyond the written word and let people touch, try, feel, and experience your research.
The Interactive Demos track offers a unique opportunity to showcase interactive systems and prototypes that push the boundaries of human–computer interaction in a live, hands-on format. Whether you’re building cutting-edge interfaces, creating immersive experiences, or crafting speculative futures, Interactive Demos at CHI are your chance to showcase your work. Submissions are encouraged from academic labs, industry R&D groups, startups, independent artists, and makers from all backgrounds. If your work invites interaction and provokes discussion, we welcome your contribution.
Please note: CHI 2026 will be held entirely in person in Barcelona. Remote participation is not supported for the Interactive Demos track.
Demo Week Format
Similar to previous years, Interactive Demos will follow a full week schedule:
- Monday: Demo Reception, an opening evening event featuring all demos in an informal, social atmosphere
- Tuesday to Thursday: Demos on display during designated afternoon blocks
- Friday: No demos; teardown and equipment removal
This scheduling aims to provide concentrated visibility and engagement with the CHI community during key periods of the conference week.
Submission Requirements
Each submission must include the following components:
- A 6-page non-anonymized paper (ACM single-column format, excluding references)
- A demo walk-through video (maximum 5 minutes)
- A high-resolution promotional image (minimum 1500×1200 px) with a descriptive caption
- A floor plan and setup description, including spatial and technical requirements
Submissions should clearly articulate the nature of the demo, its contribution to the CHI community, and how it advances or complements prior work (if applicable). Full author names, affiliations, and contact information must be included.
Important: Submissions that are based on accepted CHI papers must be submitted separately to the Demo track. There is no automatic fast-track.
The submission deadline is Thursday, January 22, 2026. Detailed submission guidelines can be found at: CHI 2026 Interactive Demos
New for 2026: Child-Friendly Demos
In coordination with the CHI 2026 Family Chairs, we encourage authors to submit demos that are suitable for children and families. To improve discoverability and safety:
- Authors can indicate child-appropriateness during submission by selecting the new “Child-Friendly” checkbox in the PCS system.
- At the conference, all designated booths will display clear signage to help families identify demos appropriate for children and youth.
If your work is engaging, safe, and enjoyable for younger audiences, we strongly encourage you to submit a child-friendly demo. These demos will be highlighted for conference participants traveling with families.
Awards & Ballot Voting
On-site ballot voting will be used to recognize outstanding demos. Attendees will be invited to cast votes via ballot boxes located at the demo venue. Further information on categories and procedures will be announced closer to the event.
Sustainability and Accessibility
We encourage all contributors to adopt sustainable demo practices, minimizing shipping, material waste, and environmental impact where possible. Submissions that explicitly address ecological or accessibility issues are especially welcome and may be highlighted by the program.
Contact Us
Questions? Please reach out to the Interactive Demos Chairs:
Ana Tajadura-Jiménez, Karan Ahuja, Lisa Izzouzi, Mark Billinghurst
demos@chi2026.acm.org
We look forward to your submissions and to experiencing the future of human–computer interaction together, live in Barcelona!