Due to multiple requests and the challenging circumstances affecting some members of our community, the submission deadlines for SoCS 2026 have been extended. **This will be the final call for submissions.**
NEW SUBMISSION DEADLINES
Abstract Submission: March 16, 2026 (previously March 9, 2026)
Paper Submission: March 23, 2026 (previously March 16, 2026)
CONFERENCE DATES
August 14–16, 2026
SCOPE
Heuristic search and combinatorial optimization are central areas of research in Artificial Intelligence and Operations Research. SoCS 2026 aims to foster cross-disciplinary exchange across these communities. We welcome submissions on all aspects of combinatorial search, including theoretical advances, algorithmic innovations, and real-world applications.
SUBMISSION TYPES
All accepted technical and position papers will be published by AAAI Press.
Technical Papers
Long (8+1 pages) and Short (4+1 pages) original research contributions.
Position Papers
Long and Short papers discussing emerging directions, challenges, or perspectives.
Extended Abstracts
2-page summaries of work-in-progress or recently published work.
Doctoral Consortium
A forum for students to present their research and receive feedback from senior researchers. Organized by Jiří Švancara and Ryo Kuroiwa.
CONFERENCE CHAIRS
Shahaf Shperberg – Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
Rina Dechter – University of California, Irvine, USA
Stefan Edelkamp – Charles University and CTU in Prague, Czech Republic
For submission instructions and additional details, please visit:
https://socs26.search-conference.org/
We look forward to your submissions and to seeing you in Bremerhaven!