Call For EMNLP 2026 Volunteers

A limited number of student volunteers are needed for the success of EMNLP 2026. Both online and in-person event volunteers are needed.

Tasks may include assisting at the registration desk, filling delegate packs, managing poster board sessions and displays, serving as volunteer coordinator for the day, and/or AV/technical support, and providing assistance for conference events including tutorials, the main conference, and workshops (either online or in-person versions).

In exchange for a minimum of 10 hours of service, students receive free registration to the main conference (including the ACL membership fee of the current year and paper registration fee if applicable), workshops and tutorials, and social events. The work will be divided, probably into two half-day shifts, and the shifts will be scheduled to maximise volunteer access to the conference events.

We’d like to kindly inform you that the award does not include provisions for travel and accommodation. If travel support is essential for you, we encourage you to explore the D\&I funds as well.

Important Dates
All deadlines are 11:59 PM UTC-12:00 (“anywhere on Earth”).

Application Opens	July 29, 2026
Application Deadline	September 1, 2026
Notification of Acceptance	September 9, 2026

Selection Criteria
The selection process for the Student Volunteer Program will involve a careful evaluation of the materials submitted by applicants. Priority consideration will be given to individuals who meet either of the following criteria:

Students who will be presenting a paper at the main conference or an associated workshop, whether in person or online. We encourage both newcomers and those with prior volunteer experience to apply.
Students who are enthusiastic about assisting with various aspects of the conference, genuinely hoping to collaborate in making EMNLP 2026 a success.
Student presenters who demonstrate financial need (Applicants can optionally include a letter from a faculty advisor to explain financial need).
For virtual volunteers, students may assist Underline with pre-conference program cross-checks with Whova, Underline and the conference handbook, and moderating virtual sessions during the conference.

IMPORTANT: Applicants who are selected must commit to reviewing the training sessions and fulfilling the assigned responsibilities. If you are unsure whether you will attend the conference, please do not apply–we expect every volunteer to show up and demonstrate enthusiasm for helping out the conference.

Submission Procedure
Applicants for the Student Volunteer Program must be full-time students at the undergraduate or graduate level. If feasible, we will also consider applications from postdocs who lack travel funding and very recent PhDs who have not yet secured employment. Applicants for the Student Volunteer Program should submit the completed application form, where we ask a few questions and a one-page CV (resume). Students should make travel arrangements and accommodations independent of the results of the application.

Apply via the following form: Application

Notification of Acceptance
Approximately one week from the application closing date, letters of acceptance or denial will be sent out. Approximately 30 days from the conference start date, accepted applications will receive instructions on how to select their volunteer shift.

Conference Registration

Volunteers must register for the conference before early registration ends (dates to be confirmed soon). The student volunteer registration grant only covers early registration fees. If you are accepted as a volunteer and have paid for your conference registration, a conference organizer will apply the grant code to your registration and refund the credit card on file.

EMNLP receives a high volume of volunteer applications each conference, and only a limited number of positions are available. As a result, many applications are declined due solely to capacity constraints rather than applicant qualifications. If you are a Registering Author, whose volunteer application was denied, please make sure to pay your conference registration to ensure your paper is listed in the EMNLP Proceedings and remains in the program.

If you have not yet registered, you may do so by selecting the “Applied for a Volunteer Grant Subsidy” payment option. If you choose this option and are not selected as a volunteer, an invoice for the full registration fee will be emailed to you.

Please note that the EMNLP Board is currently approving the registration fees and dates. Please check back regularly to register for the conference: https://2026.emnlp.org/registration/

Thank you for applying, and we look forward to seeing you at EMNLP 2026 Budapest!

Summary of Important Notes

Student volunteers receive only free conference registration and free ACL membership for the year, and must be responsible for all other costs, such as travel and accommodation.
Student volunteers may also apply for the Diversity & Inclusion (D\&I) grant, which may help offset additional costs. The application procedures are separate.
We plan to notify of acceptance of student volunteer status on September 1st, 2026.
Student volunteers who do NOT show up to their assigned duties will be charged the full cost after the conference.
Student volunteers who do not fulfil 10 hours of service may be charged for a portion—or the entirety—of their conference benefits.

Student Volunteer Chairs

emnlp2026-student-volunteer-chairs@googlegroups.com

Nafise Sadat Moosavi
Favour Yahdii Aghaebe