We are delighted to announce that Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona (Spain) will host the 2026 European ESA Meeting, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the ESA. The conference will feature keynote talks, special sessions, parallel sessions, and a new faculty-student meeting organized in the spirit of Reinhard Selten (Nobel prize winner in 1994 and founder of the first lab in Europe), who famously noted: "I especially enjoy meeting young researchers because their minds are still open to being shaped (formbar) and they may bring unconventional perspectives."

Alongside the conference, there will be a workshop in honor of Jordi Brandts (link) and you are all welcome to register and attend.

Key Dates

• 13 April: Submission opens
• 11 May: Submission Deadline
• 25 May: Notification of acceptance & registration opens
• 23 June: Early registration deadline
• 15 July: Standard registration deadline
• 2 September: Pre-conference workshop in honor of Jordi Brandts
• 2 September (18:00) – 5 September: Conference

Keynote Speakers & Special Sessions

Keynote Speakers:

• Antonio Cabrales (Universidad Carlos III)
• Axel Ockenfels (University of Cologne)
• Marta Serra-Garcia (University of California, San Diego)
• Elke Weber (Princeton University)

Special Sessions:

• Session on Cognitive Economics
  • Eric Johnson (Organizer, Columbia University)
  • Thomas Graeber (University of Zurich)
  • Michael Thaler (University College London)
• Panel: 40 Years of ESA - A European Perspective
  • Jordi Brandts (IAE-CSIC)
  • Graham Loomes (Warwick University)
  • Karim Sadrieh (University of Magdeburg)
  • Andrej Svorencik (UB and UPenn)
  • Marie Claire Villeval (CNRS and GATE Lab)
  • Moderator: Rosemarie Nagel (ICREA-UPF-BSE)

Organizers

• Anna Bayona (ESADE Business School)
• Rosemarie Nagel (ICREA, Pompeu Fabra University & BSE)
• Daniel Navarro-Martinez (Pompeu Fabra University & BSE)

Contact

• esa2026@upf.edu

Date and timetable
June 16, 2026 from 12.00 pm to 1.30 pm

Location
Room 52.327 (3 rd floor building 52. Roc Boronat) - Campus del Poblenou, Universitat Pompeu Fabra

About the seminar

As academics, we often have important findings to share with policymakers, practitioners, and members of the public. But most academics do not receive training in how to communicate effectively with non-academic audiences. In this talk, Prof. Wändi Bruine de Bruin will share evidence-based communication advice drawing from her research on health and climate communications, including findings from interviews, large-scale international surveys and experiments. She will discuss projects that apply principles from psychology and behavioral science to improve the communication of complex information and promote more informed decisions and beneficial behaviors. While her examples will focus on health and climate change, the insights she shares should be helpful for academics who work on other topics as well.

Hosted by

Dates 
 June 25 – 27, 2026

Location
Poblenou Campus - Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona

The 24th International Conference on Research in Advertising (ICORIA) will be hosted by Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona, Spain. Widely regarded as one of Europe’s most dynamic and cosmopolitan cities, Barcelona combines a rich cultural heritage with a thriving creative scene and a strong orientation toward innovation. It is also an international hub for business, technology, and health research, making it an inspiring setting for academic exchange.

Building on UPF’s strong interdisciplinary tradition and commitment to advancing knowledge with societal relevance, the 2026 conference theme “Communicating Consumer Health and Wellbeing in the Digital Age” reflects one of the most pressing challenges and opportunities for advertising and communication research today. In a world where digital technologies shape how people access, interpret, and act upon information, health and wellbeing have become central domains in which advertising and communication play transformative roles. Consumers increasingly navigate complex
environments of commercial, social, and public health messages—ranging from branddriven wellness initiatives to government campaigns addressing prevention, risk, and sustainability. Understanding how communication strategies influence health-related attitudes, decisions, and behaviors is critical for both theory development and societal progress.

The theme emphasizes the role of advertising and communication research in contributing to healthier societies. It calls for insights into how digital platforms, data-driven personalization, social media, and immersive technologies reshape consumer engagement with health and wellbeing. It also highlights the ethical responsibilities of advertisers and researchers in addressing issues such as misinformation, equity of access, vulnerable populations, and the balance between commercial and public interests.

In this context, impact refers not only to advancing scholarly debates but also to improving individual and collective wellbeing. Research can generate conceptual insights into how health and wellbeing are communicated, instrumental outcomes that inform effective interventions, cultural reflections that challenge existing norms, and enhanced connectivity between academia, practitioners, and policymakers.

Fees and registration

• Standard registration – early bird 400 € (before May 23)
• Standard registration – late: 445 €

All conference activities are included in the registration fee, except the social event.

Further details on the programme are available on the conference website.

At least one author of a paper that is accepted needs to register and attend the conference. The conference fee is €400 for early bird (before May 22nd) and €445 for late registration (from May 23rd) - including the conference proceedings and the €30 annual membership fee of the European Advertising Academy (EAA). The joint EAA/AAA members are entitled to a €30 deduction.

Inquiries regarding invoices

If you need an invoice for your registration fee, inquiries can be directed to ugacom@upf.edu providing the information stated below:

• Name and surname or institution name
• Personal identification number or VAT number
• Postal address

Travel

We strongly recommend that you make your arrangements for travel and lodging well in advance of the Conference, as Barcelona is a very popular tourist and business destination”.

Social activity

Registrations for the social activity are now officially open. Please note that places are limited, and registrations will close on 8 June 2026. We therefore encourage you to complete your booking as soon as possible in order to secure a spot.

Option 1: Historical Heart of Barcelona Itinerary

27/06/2024 07.00 pm

Total Duration: Approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes.
The Route: A walk covering 2.3 km (approx. 30 minutes of actual walking time, leaving 75 minutes for sightseeing).

1.⁠ ⁠After Meeting at the busy Portal of the Angel, the former entrance to the medieval city of Barcelona, we’ll walk toward Plaça de la Vila de Madrid to admire the Roman Tombs.
There we will view an excavated Roman necropolis from the 1st to 3rd centuries AD. The tombs are visible from the street level, showing how the ancient Romans buried their dead outside the city walls.

2.⁠ ⁠Plaça del Pi & Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi
This is a charming square often home to local artisan markets. We’ll stand before the Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi, a 14th-century Gothic church famous for its massive rose window, one of the largest in the world.

3.⁠ ⁠El Call (The Jewish Quarter) & Roman Gate
Enter the narrow, winding streets of El Call, the city's medieval Jewish quarter. You can see the Sinagoga Major de Barcelona, considered one of the oldest synagogues in Europe. Nearby at Plaça Nova (next to the Cathedral), look for the two circular towers that formed part of the original Roman Gate to the city.

4.⁠ ⁠Barcelona Cathedral & Plaça de Sant Jaume
A short walk leads to Plaça de Sant Jaume, the political heart of the city, flanked by the Palau de la Generalitat. Pass by the Catedral de (The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia). Observe the stunning Gothic facade and the gargoyles from the outside. 

5.⁠ ⁠Finish: Palau de la Música Catalana
Head toward Via Laietana and cross into the Sant Pere neighborhood to finish at the Palau de la Música. This masterpiece by Lluís Domènech i Montaner is a colorful explosion of ceramic, glass, and iron, serving as a triumphant end to your historical stroll.

Option 2: Gaudí and the Essence of Catalan Modernism Itinerary

27/06/2024 07.00 pm

Total Duration: Approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes.
The Route: A downhill walk covering 2.3 km (approx. 30 minutes of actual walking time, leaving 75 minutes for sightseeing).

1.⁠ ⁠Start: Casa Fuster (Jardinets de Gràcia)
Begin at the highest point of Passeig de Gràcia. Designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, this building is celebrated for its sober elegance and serves as the "grand finale" to the boulevard.
Have a look at the intricate capitals on the columns and the luminous white marble facade.

2.⁠ ⁠Downward to Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
Estimated observation time: 20 minutes.
Walk down the street for about 5 minutes. Gaudí’s La Pedrera will captivate you with its undulating stone forms and wrought-iron balconies.
Admire the organic shapes that mimic the movement of the sea and the lack of straight lines.

3.⁠ ⁠The "Block of Discord" (Mansana de la Discòrdia)
Estimated observation time: 40 minutes.
Continuing downhill, you will reach the famous block where three architectural masters competed for prestige:

Casa Batlló: Gaudí’s explosion of color and fantasy, featuring a roof that resembles the iridescent scales of a dragon’s back.

Casa Amatller: Located right next door, this building by Puig i Cadafalch blends Neo-Gothic style with Flemish influences (look at the stepped gables).

Casa Lleó i Morera: A bit further down, another masterpiece by Domènech i Montaner boasting exuberant floral decorations and refined sculptures.

4.⁠ ⁠Finish: Palau de la Música Catalana
End your journey in front of this breathtaking explosion of mosaics, brick, and stained glass.
This concert hall is a UNESCO World Heritage site and perhaps the most complete example of the symbolic power of Catalan Modernism.

Both tours end at the Palau de la Música. 

Discounts

MOCO Museum Barcelona is offering a discount for ICORIA conference attendees. Attendees can visit the museum using a code that grants them a 30% discount on their tickets. The code will be active from June 19th to July 5th, allowing attendees to visit the museum before or after the conference if they wish.

If tickets are purchased at the ticket office, attendees will need to present their conference badge.

Discount code: ICORIA30

The host

Ens plau informar-vos que el 78è. Congrés de la Comissió Internacional per a l’Estudi de la Història de les Institucions Representatives i Parlamentàries (ICHRPI) tindrà lloc a Barcelona de l’1 al 4 de setembre del 2026. El congrés estarà organitzat en el marc de la Universitat Pompeu Fabra i gràcies a la valuosa col·laboració del Parlament de Catalunya, el Departament d’Humanitats de la Universitat Pompeu Fabra, l’Observatori Europeu de Memòries (EUROM) de la Fundació Solidaritat UB, l’Institut d’Història Jaume Vicens i Vives (IUHJVV) i la Societat Catalana d’Estudis Històrics, de l’Institut d’Estudis Catalans (SCEH/IEC).

DATA FOR POLICY 2026

Data For Policy, September 8th to 10th, 2026

The tenth edition of the conference will focus on the reshaping effects of AI in governance and decision making.  This year has witnessed a significant paradigm shift, sparking increased interest in and concern regarding AI governance. The development of AI and data infrastructure has become essential amid the 'AI War' between the United States and China, the hybrid conflicts in Europe, and the deployment of military technologies in the Middle East. Strategic investments now prioritize access to frontier technologies, the securing of critical minerals, energy production, and key locations for water supply and cooling. AI is challenging not only global economies but also political systems. We have entered an era where AI influences geopolitics, often at the expense of fundamental rights and values.

The theme “Governance of/with AI” addresses the diverse global perspectives on this evolving technology. As AI continues to transform, it presents both unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges; furthermore, emerging developments such as quantum computing heighten existing uncertainties. 

This theme calls for a responsible and ethical societal response while fostering debate across multiple disciplines. We invite reflections and evidence-based research that explore and contest these views. Ranging from geopolitical promises to large-scale investments, social consequences, and legal frameworks, AI has become a truly transdisciplinary field. We welcome contributions from engineering, the humanities, and the social sciences that offer transformative perspectives on our collective future.