The International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) represents the pinnacle of academic and industrial research in the field of artificial intelligence. As the 43rd edition of this prestigious event, ICML 2026 is scheduled to take place at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center in Seoul, South Korea, from July 6 to July 11, 2026. For researchers and practitioners aiming to present their work, adhering to the strict submission timeline is the first and most critical step.

The key deadlines for ICML 2026 are as follows:

  • Abstract Submission Deadline: January 23, 2026 (Anywhere on Earth)
  • Full Paper Submission Deadline: January 28, 2026 (Anywhere on Earth)
  • Author Notification: April 30, 2026

Submissions must be handled through the official OpenReview portal. Late submissions are strictly prohibited, and no extensions will be granted under any circumstances.

Important Dates for ICML 2026 Researchers

Navigating the ICML calendar requires a clear understanding of multiple stages, ranging from initial account creation to the final camera-ready submission. All times are strictly based on the "Anywhere on Earth" (AoE) standard, which corresponds to UTC-12. This allows researchers in any time zone to submit as long as it is still the designated date somewhere on the planet.

When is the ICML 2026 abstract submission deadline?

The abstract submission deadline is January 23, 2026. This is a hard deadline. By this date, authors must provide a full title, a complete author list, and a finalized abstract. It is important to note that the author list cannot be changed after this deadline. Any additions or removals of authors after January 23 require written justification and must be approved by the Program Chairs, which is only granted in exceptional circumstances. While titles and abstracts can be edited slightly until the full paper deadline, placeholder abstracts are strictly forbidden and may result in desk rejection.

When is the ICML 2026 full paper submission deadline?

Following the abstract registration, the full paper submission deadline is January 28, 2026. This five-day window between the abstract and full paper deadlines is intended for final polishing of the manuscript. Authors must upload their papers as a single PDF file following the specified LaTeX style templates provided by the conference.

When will ICML 2026 author notifications be sent?

The peer review process concludes with the author notification on April 30, 2026. This announcement follows a rigorous double-blind review phase, which includes a rebuttal period where authors can respond to reviewer feedback and clarify technical points.

Additional Key Milestones

  • Tutorial Community Nomination Deadline: December 7, 2025.
  • Submission Site Opens on OpenReview: January 8, 2026.
  • Workshop Application Deadline: February 13, 2026.
  • Early Pricing Registration Deadline: May 24, 2026.
  • Conference Dates: July 6–11, 2026.

ICML 2026 Venue and Conference Schedule in Seoul

The choice of Seoul, South Korea, as the host city for 2026 highlights the global nature of machine learning research. The COEX Convention & Exhibition Center, located in the heart of the Gangnam district, provides a world-class infrastructure for large-scale academic gatherings.

Conference Structure and Daily Breakdown

The week-long event is structured to maximize networking, learning, and the dissemination of research:

  1. July 6: Expo and Tutorial Day. This day is dedicated to industry exhibitions and deep-dive tutorials led by experts in specific subfields of machine learning. It serves as an introductory phase for students and professionals to catch up on the latest tools and theoretical foundations.
  2. July 7–9: Main Conference Sessions. These three days form the core of the event, featuring keynote speeches, oral presentations, and poster sessions. Accepted papers are presented here, grouped by thematic tracks.
  3. July 10–11: Workshops. The final two days are reserved for specialized workshops. These sessions are often more informal and focused on emerging trends, niche topics, or collaborative brainstorming on unsolved problems in the field.

Core Submission Policies and New Changes for 2026

ICML 2026 introduces several significant policy updates that distinguish it from previous years. These changes are designed to improve review quality, transparency, and accessibility.

Mandatory Reciprocal Reviewing Requirements

One of the most notable changes for ICML 2026 is the refined reciprocal reviewing policy. To manage the immense volume of submissions, the conference requires that for every submission, at least one author must agree to serve as a reviewer.

New for this year is a cap on reciprocal reviewing: an individual author can be designated as the reciprocal reviewer for at most two of their own submissions. Furthermore, any author who submits four or more papers is automatically required to serve as a reviewer, provided they meet the qualifications outlined in the peer review FAQ. This policy aims to distribute the reviewing load more equitably across the community and prevent "reviewer burnout" while ensuring that those contributing the most papers also contribute significantly to the evaluation process.

Policy on LLM Use in Peer Review

As Large Language Models (LLMs) become more integrated into professional workflows, ICML 2026 has established a clear policy regarding their use in the reviewing process. While LLMs can be useful for grammar checking or summarizing, the conference prohibits the use of LLMs to generate review content that involves technical evaluation or judgment. The core of the peer review process must remain human-driven to maintain the intellectual integrity of the conference. Violations of this policy can lead to the removal of the reviewer from the program and potentially impact their future standing in the community.

Transparency and Publication of Review Materials

ICML 2026 is moving toward greater transparency. For all accepted papers, the conference will now publish not only the final camera-ready version but also the originally submitted version, the anonymized reviews, meta-reviews, author rebuttals, and the reviewer-author discussion logs.

Interestingly, authors of rejected papers also have the option to have their submission and review materials published. This move is designed to foster a more open scientific dialogue and provide a learning resource for the community, showing the evolution of ideas from submission to final decision.

Optional In-Person Attendance

In a significant shift in conference logistics, attendance for authors of accepted papers is now optional. After receiving an acceptance notification, authors can decide by a specified date whether they wish to present their work in person in Seoul or simply have their paper included in the proceedings without a live presentation. Regardless of the choice, all papers receive equivalent treatment in the proceedings and remain eligible for ICML awards. However, for "proceedings-only" papers, at least one author must obtain a virtual registration to ensure the work is represented in the digital conference environment.

Essential Paper Formatting and Submission Instructions

To avoid desk rejection, authors must strictly follow the technical guidelines. The ICML review process is double-blind, meaning neither authors nor reviewers should know each other's identities.

Page Limits and Content Structure

  • Main Body: Maximum of 8 pages. This includes all figures and tables.
  • Unlimited Pages: References, the mandatory Impact Statement, and appendices do not count toward the 8-page limit.
  • Single File Submission: The main paper and any supplementary material must be submitted as a single PDF file. There is no separate deadline for supplementary material.
  • Final Extra Page: Accepted papers are granted one additional page for the camera-ready version to accommodate changes suggested by reviewers.

The Impact Statement Requirement

Every paper must include a section addressing the potential societal impact of the work. This includes both positive outcomes and potential risks or ethical considerations. As machine learning technologies are increasingly deployed in real-world scenarios, ICML emphasizes the importance of researchers reflecting on the broader consequences of their algorithmic developments.

OpenReview Account Management

All submissions are managed via OpenReview. A critical tip for researchers is to ensure their OpenReview accounts are active well before the January deadlines.

  • Institutional Emails: Accounts registered with an institutional email (e.g., .edu or .org) are usually activated immediately.
  • Personal Emails: Accounts registered with personal emails (e.g., gmail.com) can take up to two weeks for activation. It is strongly recommended that all authors verify their accounts by January 8, 2026, to avoid technical issues at the last minute.

Research Topics of Interest for ICML 2026

ICML 2026 welcomes original research across a broad spectrum of machine learning. The following categories represent the core areas of interest:

  1. General Machine Learning: This includes fundamental algorithms such as active learning, clustering, supervised and semi-supervised learning, and time series analysis.
  2. Deep Learning: Research into new architectures, generative models (VAEs, GANs, Diffusion models), and the underlying theory of neural networks.
  3. Reinforcement Learning: Contributions regarding decision-making under uncertainty, planning, robotics, and hierarchical RL.
  4. Optimization: Advances in convex and non-convex optimization, stochastic methods, and large-scale matrix/tensor methods.
  5. Probabilistic Methods: Bayesian inference, graphical models, and Monte Carlo techniques.
  6. Trustworthy Machine Learning: A high-priority area focusing on reliability, causality, fairness, interpretability, privacy, robustness, and safety.
  7. Machine Learning Systems: Research on hardware acceleration, scalability, distributed methods, and improved library implementations.
  8. Theory: Statistical learning theory, bandits, game theory, and decision theory.
  9. Evaluation Methodology: Papers focusing on replicability, validity, human-in-the-loop systems, and meta-studies.
  10. Application-Driven ML: Innovative techniques driven by specific needs in healthcare, physical sciences, sustainability, and social sciences.

Recognizing and Avoiding ICML 2026 Misinformation

Due to the prestige of the conference, several misleading websites and "predatory" conference aggregators often publish incorrect information. Researchers have recently encountered sites claiming that ICML 2026 will be held in Hamburg, Germany, or listing deadlines in February or March.

Please be advised: The official and only authoritative source for ICML 2026 is icml.cc.

The Hamburg location and alternate dates found on third-party sites are incorrect. Following information from unofficial sources can lead to missed deadlines or submitting to non-existent events. Always verify through the official portal before planning travel or finalizing manuscripts.

Conclusion

The ICML 2026 conference in Seoul promises to be a landmark event for the global machine learning community. With the abstract deadline on January 23, 2026, and the full paper deadline on January 28, 2026, researchers must act quickly to prepare their manuscripts. The introduction of new policies regarding reciprocal reviewing and optional attendance reflects a conference that is adapting to the changing needs of its participants. By focusing on rigorous research and adhering to the technical and ethical guidelines provided, authors can contribute to one of the most significant scientific dialogues of the decade.

Frequently Asked Questions about ICML 2026

What is the time zone for the ICML 2026 deadline?

All deadlines are "Anywhere on Earth" (AoE). This means a submission is on time as long as the deadline has not passed at any location on Earth. For example, the January 28, 2026 deadline at 11:59 PM AoE is equivalent to January 29, 2026, at 11:59 AM UTC.

Can I add an author to my paper after the January 23 abstract deadline?

No. The author list is considered final as of the abstract submission deadline. While the order of authors can sometimes be adjusted later, adding or removing authors is only allowed in exceptional circumstances and requires formal approval from the Program Chairs.

Does the 8-page limit include the Impact Statement?

The 8-page limit applies to the main body of the paper. The Impact Statement, references, and appendices are excluded from this limit and can take up as much space as needed.

Is ICML 2026 a hybrid conference?

ICML 2026 is primarily an in-person event in Seoul, South Korea. However, it offers an optional attendance policy where authors of accepted papers can choose to present in person or virtually (or simply have the paper included in the proceedings). Virtual registration is required for those not attending in person.

How do I ensure my paper is not desk rejected?

Common reasons for desk rejection include exceeding the 8-page limit for the main body, failing to anonymize the paper for double-blind review, using an incorrect LaTeX style file, or missing the abstract/full paper deadlines. Ensure your OpenReview account is verified well in advance.