Oral submission deadline: 15 February 2026

IGNITE - Panel - Symposium - Paper - Workshop - Plenary/Invited

Results of oral submissions will be emailed out in the last week of March or the first week of April 2026.

Poster submission deadline: 20 March 2026

Poster

Results of poster submissions will be emailed out in April.

Chapter/SIG meeting deadline: 1 May 2026

Chapter/SIG Meeting

*Due to local technological capabilities, all presenters will need to be at the conference in Lyon and present in-person. No virtual presentation option will be available. 

General Submission Tips and Information

Submission types: 

IGNITE

The Ignite presentation is a short, structured talk in which presenters present on ideas and issues they are most passionate about using a “deck” of 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds (no exceptions). Exactly 5 minutes total. Topics may be empirical, conceptual, philosophical, historical, or methodological. Presentation should be well-practiced and high energy (perhaps even... fun!). 

In addition to any topic within CBS, we are specifically soliciting research-related submissions as these are a unique opportunity for oral presentation of research.  We encourage researchers to consider this format for pilot data; what you would do differently if you could re-run your study; theoretical innovations (ideas that have not been yet tested but are either up and coming or something they want feedback on); program evaluations/ reflections on running CBS interventions with specific populations; conceptual innovations/ new models; "what if" presentations (what if research was conducted this way); methodology presentations on something very concrete (like sampling in CBS or recruitment best practices); qualitative research (focus groups, needs assessments) done with stakeholders receiving CBS services; and more!

Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum
For more on Ignite presentations, see:

http://igniteshow.com/

http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/06/how-to-give-a-great-ignite-talk/

Panel Discussion

Panel discussions are 75-90 minute sessions and consist of 3 to 5 speakers selected for some shared interest or expertise in an area. Panelists respond to one or more questions or issues, with time allotted for interaction among the speakers and with the audience. A panel discussion is organized by a chairperson who serves as the session’s moderator. Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum

Symposia (chair, 3 - 5 papers and a discussant)

Organized by a chairperson who moderates the 75 or 90 minute session, symposia are a series of three to four 15-20 minute presentations focused on either empirical research or conceptual, philosophical, historical, or methodological issues. A discussant highlights and integrates the contributions of various speakers in the symposium and moderates questions from the audience. Chairpersons are encouraged to use symposia as an opportunity to integrate related work by: 1) bringing speakers of different affiliations together rather than showcasing the work of a single group and 2) incorporating different kinds of talks (e.g., historical, conceptual, and research-based) on the same topic into one symposium. Papers from submissions that are not accepted may be considered for a poster session. This year, we are prioritizing submissions that are research and data driven. In service of being more data aware, we encourage you to include research citations (data citations) with your proposal. The Program Committee will not split apart symposia that are submitted together. Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum

Symposium organizers: You may send this document to the presenter of each of the papers in your symposium to collect the needed information from them. The symposium organizer will then submit all of the information for the session to ACBS via the submission link below (prior to the February 15 deadline):

Paper (not part of a pre-arranged symposium)

Paper submissions are individual, oral presentations, usually concerned with conceptual, philosophical, historical, or methodological issues. A paper submission will usually report on data. All paper presentations will be 15-20 minutes long. Accepted submissions will be organized into paper sessions of 75 or 90 minutes. Submissions not accepted will be considered for a poster session. We are prioritizing submissions that are research and data driven. In service of being more data aware, we encourage you to include research citations (data citations) with your proposal. Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum

Workshop

Workshops are training sessions of 1.25/1.5 or 2.75 hours and usually focus on a combination of experiential and/or didactic exercises. Workshop submissions are highly competitive (note: based on past events, the acceptance rate for workshops is approximately 60-70%, and of workshops submitted only 20%-35% receive 2.75 hour slots). Please put your best workshop/abstract forward keeping this in mind when determining your desired length. Keep in mind as well that most workshops selected are for the 1.25/1.5 hour slots. Be sure to clearly state your goals and objectives for participant education in your submissions. Workshops should be regarded as opportunities to directly train specific skills rather than to present research findings, discuss conceptual, philosophical, or methodological issues, or share opinions. However, in service of being more data aware, we encourage you to include research and data citations supporting your topic with your proposal, and to briefly present these (1-2 slides) during your workshop. Submissions that are not clearly focused on training should be submitted for other formats. Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum

Poster

Posters usually report empirical research and will be organized into one or more sessions, during which attendees will be invited to review the research presented and discuss findings with poster presenters. Presenters must be at their poster during their assigned time of the poster session and may choose to provide handouts. (Poster size: no larger than 36 inches tall by 48 inches wide, or A0 size. Smaller is also permitted). Abstract word limit: 175 words maximum

Plenary/ Invited Address (use only if instructed) 

Chapter/SIG/Committee Meeting

This gives Chapters/SIGs (or forming chapters and sigs) the opportunity to reserve a space and time to get together to network with others who share the same area of interest or geographic setting. This form allows SIGs and Chapters to request a time in the program for this purpose. Deadline: 1 May 2026

Tips for Submissions

• Questions about the submission website? Check out some FAQs here.
• Are you wondering how to increase the chance of acceptance for your submission? Click here for tips.
• Unsure about writing Educational Objectives? Click here to learn more about them.
• Are you submitting a poster? Check out the poster guidelines here. 

ACBS Junior Investigator Poster Award: 

The purpose of this award is to recognize and help develop junior investigators conducting research in contextual behavioral science and who are presenting the results of this research at the Association's annual meeting.

ACBS Student Spotlight Program: (Accepted November 1-November 30)

The Student Spotlight Program highlights students who are doing important work in the CBS community whether for research, clinical, and/or volunteer-humanitarian efforts. It is a way to highlight their achievements, let the ACBS community know important work students are doing, and provides a platform for mentoring/collaboration/professional development/conversations around highlighted areas.

Developing Nations World Conference Scholars: (Application closes February 1)

ACBS is an international society but in many corners of the world it is difficult for professionals to attend ACBS conferences and trainings due simply to cost. The Developing Nations Fund helps disseminate CBS in the developing world and provides scholarships for attendees and presenters from developing nations to attend the world conference.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion World Conference Scholars: (Application closes February 1)

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is aiming to bring increased diversity to our annual conferences by providing funds for individuals who come from diverse backgrounds and who would not be able to attend an ACBS conference without this added financial support. Both trainees and professionals are eligible for this competitive award.

Early Career Research Paper Award: (Accepted papers will be emailed regarding eligibility)

The Award recognizes an outstanding empirical research abstract from an early career researcher, with the goal of stimulating that person’s long term participation in the ACBS conference as an outlet for presenting empirical science within the broad domain of CBS.

Michael J. Asher Student Dissertation Award: (Application closes February 1)

This award is given to students based on their doctoral dissertation proposal related to the use of Contextual Behavioral Science with children/adolescents. Michael J. Asher, Ph.D., ABPP passed away in 2016 and was a clinical psychologist at Behavior Therapy Associates, P.A. since 1988. He was passionate about his work, loved psychology, cognitive behavior therapy, and especially enjoyed learning about and practicing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

ACBS Foundation Student Scholarship: (Application closes February 15)

The goal of the ACBS Foundation is to support existing activities within ACBS and explore areas for future development. The ACBS Foundation Student Scholarship that will cover the full student registration fee for attending the annual ACBS World Conference.

Student World Conference Scholars: (Application closes February 15)

The mission of the ACBS Student Special Interest Group is to work to support students of contextual behavioral science by advocating for their professional and personal development and facilitating their contribution to ACBS and the larger community. One step in moving towards this mission has been to create a Student World Conference Scholarship that will help subsidize the costs of attending the annual ACBS World Conference.

Type of credit available:

• CE credit for psychologists 

  The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

• ACBS will be applying for CEs for BCBAs

• Certificate with Number of Hours Attended

  As an alternative to a CE certificate, some credentialing agencies (please check with yours) may accept a certificate with the number of hours attended. This requires that an individual verifies their attendance by signing in and out of each session that they attend during the event. The cost for this type of certificate is €12.

Not sure if you need CEs?

Check with your licensing agency, and/or sign in/out on the yellow sheets provided, and you can determine your eligibility immediately after the event (still adhering to the evaluation deadlines mentioned above). If you do not scan or sign in/out, or complete necessary evaluations by the deadline, that cannot be “corrected” later.

Information about the CE Process:

CEs or certificates with the number of hours attended are available for a one-time fee for the entire event.

CE rules require that we only issue credits to those who attend the entire session. Those arriving more than 15 minutes late or leaving before the entire session is completed will not receive CE credits.

Evaluations will be available, but are not required to earn CE credits.

CEs are only available for events that qualify as workshops, symposia, invited lecture, panel discussion, or plenary sessions. Poster sessions, IGNITE sessions, sessions shorter than 1 hour, Chapter/SIG/Committee meetings, and some other specialty sessions do NOT qualify for Continuing Education credit.

Note: CE credits are only available for those registered as a professional. You may not earn CE credits with a student registration.

Fees:

A €65 fee will be required to earn CEs. If you attend either a pre-conference workshop(s), World Conference, or both, only €65 is due. If you register for multiple events separately, please only pay the fee one time. This fee is non-refundable (unless you cancel your registration in its entirety before the cancellation deadline). Attendance verification (sign in/out) and evaluations also may be required.

The cost for a certificate indicating only the number of contact hours (not a CE certificate) is €20.

Refunds & Grievance Policies: 

Participants may direct any questions or complaints to ACBS Executive Director Emily Rodrigues, [email protected], or through the Contact Us link on this website.

Hotel Information & Reservations Flight Discounts

World Conference 2026 Program Co-Chairs

Jacqueline A-Tjak, Ph.D. is a registered Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist and has worked in inpatient and outpatient facilities in the Netherlands, with patients with different kinds of disorders. She was trained in CBT and is a Supervisor with the VGCt. She started her training in ACT in 2004, is a peer reviewed ACT trainer, and a ACBS Fellow. She attended almost all World conferences since 2006. In her PhD research she compared the efficacy of CBT with ACT for depression.

Dr. Jean-Christophe Seznec is a psychiatrist, former head of clinic, sports medicine physician, lecturer, author of numerous books on ACT, and blogger. He was the president of the French ACT chapter. He teaches meditation and has developed several programs for phone apps, as well as ACT. He teaches at numerous universities. He is a member of the scientific committee of Santé Publique France for the development of soft skills in adolescents, of InspiR, which implements soft skills programs for adolescents, and of La Vie Kintsugi, for the development of health coaching in cancer. He is a specialist in trichotillomania and sports psychologie. He is a member of the medical committee of the French Rugby Federation. He is a trained clown and developed ACT through clowning.

Please submit here if you're a member interested in reviewing submissions for the conference.  Oral submission reviewing occurs during the last 2 weeks of February, poster reviewing occurs during the last 2 weeks of March.

Enter your email address below to be sure to get email updates about the 2026 ACBS World Conference. (Submission open/close, speaker information, registration opening & deadlines, program, etc.) (Note, if you are an ACBS member you will receive these updates automatically.)

To be removed from this email list email [email protected] at any time.

Gain visibility and access to a highly engaged audience of professionals and thought leaders in contextual behavioral science. Your sponsorship helps advance ACBS’s mission while positioning your brand at the forefront of innovation and professional excellence.

• Showcase your products and services to an engaged global network of 50,000+ decision-makers and practitioners in the field.
• Build brand recognition through conference materials, signage, and digital platforms.
• Align your organization with ACBS’s commitment to advancing science and practice.
• Position your organization as a leader of innovation and professional excellence. 
   

In addition to on site engagement opportunities, sponsors gain access to our global network of industry influencers and tastemakers.

• Fast growing social media community of 33,000+ active followers and counting!
• 13,000 members in email distribution list
• Your logo shared digitally through email and social media each day of the conference.
• Even more reach! Social media posts during the 2025 World Conference garnered more than 100,000 impressions.
• Conference microsite landing page received more than 40,000 visits in 2025.

Registration will be available online in late January 2026.

General Information about the ACBS World Conference