ICSE 2026 is designed to be an in-person conference. In-person attendance provides opportunities to meet colleagues, grow professional networks, and engage in the spontaneous hallway conversations that are often the most valuable part of academic conferences. Authors submitting to ICSE 2026 should do so with the understanding that they are expected to attend and present in person, and should make every effort to arrange an in-person presentation. However, we recognize that exceptional circumstances may prevent some participants from traveling to Rio de Janeiro. ICSE 2026 enables virtual attendance in situations such as:
- You are unable to obtain a visa to enter Brazil, or your application has not been approved in time
- You are from a disadvantaged country and have been unable to obtain travel support
- You have medical reasons that prevent travel (including pregnancy)
- You have family or caregiver responsibilities and are unable to arrange alternative care
- Your institution has imposed a travel ban
- You face other compassionate circumstances that make in-person attendance impossible Virtual attendees are still required to pay registration fees, as conference expenses—including publication costs and the infrastructure required to support virtual participation—must be covered regardless of attendance mode.
How to Request Virtual Attendance
If you have a legitimate reason for attending virtually, please contact your track chair or session chair, who will provide you with a request form. We will not deny virtual attendance to registrants who complete the form. We operate on an honor system and trust that requests are legitimate. Please remember that virtual attendance by presenters may affect the experience of those who have invested significant time and resources to attend in person. We ask that you request virtual attendance only if in-person attendance is genuinely not possible.
How Virtual Attendance Works
Attending Sessions Remotely
All conference rooms will be set up with Zoom sessions throughout the week. A spreadsheet containing Zoom webinar links for each room, organized by day, will be shared with all registered attendees approximately one week before the conference. The access password will be included in that communication and will also be available at the registration desk.
Presenting Remotely via Zoom
Remote presenters will deliver their talks via Zoom. If approved for a virtual presentation:
- You will be asked to upload your slides in advance.
- You must also upload a backup video of your presentation in case of connectivity issues. We hope not to use these backup videos, but they ensure your work is presented even if technical problems arise.
- The AV provider will send you a personal Zoom presenter (panelist) link by email before the conference begins. Keep this link secure and do not share it.
- Connect to your presenter link at the start of your session and wait for the session chair to introduce you before sharing your screen and unmuting.
- You will be able to take questions from the audience. Please respect your allocated time strictly; session chairs will need to move on if presentations run over.
- If you have an accepted paper, you are responsible for presenting it, even if the session falls at an inconvenient time in your local timezone.
Rooms with Full Broadcast Capability
While all rooms will have Zoom sessions available, smaller rooms may not provide full visibility of other speakers (you will hear them and may see their shared screen, but camera views are not guaranteed). The following rooms will have dedicated broadcast capability with cameras and operators. Virtual attendees are encouraged to prioritize sessions in these rooms for the best remote experience: [Room assignments to be confirmed closer to the conference]