33rd EAS Conference: Call for Papers – Vienna 2026

Conference theme: Advance Democracy. Participation, Diversity, and Social Cohesion in Music Education

8-11 April, 2026 

Conference host & location:
mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

Additional information: Call for Papers – Vienna 2026 | European Association for Music in Schools

The 33rd EAS Conference in Vienna “Advance Democracy. Participation, Diversity, and Social Cohesion in Music Education” brings together scholars, educators, and practitioners to explore how music education in schools can support and reflect democratic values and participation, and how, through this and a coherent approach to diversity, it can further strengthen social cohesion. We seek contributions that explore the conceptual, empirical, and practical intersections of music pedagogy and democracy education. The goal is to advance both theoretical understandings and practical innovations that enable music classrooms to become spaces for democratic experience and transformation.

Possible Topics Include

1.Music education and social cohesion

• Music education that seeks to overcome social barriers.
• Music education approaches that help groups live and work better together.

2. Democratic and participatory processes through music and the arts

• Music classrooms as democratic public spheres: opportunities and challenges
• Student agency, voice, and participation in music learning

3. Music education, power and politics

• Music as a medium for critical thinking, dialogue, and social critique
• Awareness about music used as a symbol of power or as a political tool

4. Music education in a democratic and diverse Europe

• Comparative and international perspectives on democratic music education
• Curriculum and educational policy developments

5. Diversity in music education

• Inclusive and culturally responsive music education
• Approaches that give diverse voices a place in music education

6. Encounter and exchange through music and music education

• Relationships between music education foci and world issues
• Approaches that focus on exchange, networking and connection

7. Current and future trends affecting music education nationally and internationally

• Music education that addresses what is important now and in the future to continue living well together
• Knowledge about how music education can be made sustainable in the countries of Europe and the world and how to effectively advocate for its importance.

Proposals are invited for

• Research Papers (20 + 10 minutes discussion)
• Practice Papers (20 + 10 minutes discussion)
• Symposia (90 minutes)
• Roundtable Sessions (60 minutes or 90 minutes)
• Workshops (45 or 90 minutes)
• Posters

Deadline for abstract submissions: Wednesday, October 1st, 2025.

Please submit your abstract submissions (max. 300 words) on our conference platform: https://www.conftool.org/eas2026/

Overall quality criteria for submissions include

• Relation to the conference theme/subtopics
• Relevance for the EAS network (music education in and around school work)
• Coherence and quality of content referring to the format chosen (see below)
• English proficiency (only abstracts in correct English will be accepted)
• Main references (in-text citations only, please do not upload a reference list)

Research papers (spoken)
Research papers are presentations of research projects. Empirical paper abstracts should include: background, aims, method, results, key references, and conclusions. Theoretical paper abstracts should include: background, aims, main contribution, implications, and key references.

Practice papers (spoken)
Practice papers present project reports, offering creative pedagogical ideas or explaining innovative approaches. Practice paper abstracts should include: theoretical background and context (characteristics of participants, time and place), aims of the project, method or pedagogical approach, activities, and outcomes.

Symposia 
A symposium provides an opportunity to examine specific practice or research issues, problems, or topics from a variety of perspectives. Symposia may be quite interactive: a large portion of the session may be devoted to activities such as discussion among the presenters and participants. A symposium can comprise up to four contributions/inputs. For symposia, in addition to an overall abstract for the session, all presenters are expected to prepare an abstract up to 300 words each. Abstracts should include: meaningful presentation, discussion, and audience participation. Submitters propose their own chairperson.

Roundtable Sessions
A roundtable provides an opportunity to discuss specific practice or research issues, problems, or topics from a variety of perspectives. Roundtables may also use a panel discussion format. Roundtables should be quite interactive: a large portion of the session should be devoted to activities such as discussion among the presenters and participants. A roundtable can comprise one or several inputs/contributions. For round table sessions or world café formats an overall 300 words abstract for the session can be submitted without individual abstracts. Abstracts should include: meaningful presentation, discussion, and audience participation. Submitters propose their own chairperson.

Workshops
Workshops primarily demonstrate and test practical approaches and offer particularly interactive working methods. Workshop abstracts should include: background, aims, a short description of the activities in the workshop, and implications for practice. Presenters may propose a 45- or 90-minute workshop.

Posters
Poster presentation titles and abstracts will appear in the Conference program. Presenters will be assigned designated times in the conference schedule. Poster abstracts should include: background, aims, method, results, key references, and conclusions. Specific information about poster dimensions and other requirements will be communicated to authors of accepted posters.

NEW – NEW – NEW – Student Groups

We are pleased that in recent years, an increasing number of student groups (seminar groups from European universities) have been attending the EAS conferences. The EAS is currently working on new formats for students. However, in order to ensure sufficient space for all paper and workshop presenters in Vienna, we ask all colleagues who plan to bring students to Vienna:
Please write to us at eas2026@eas-music.org by October 10th stating that you are planning a group visit with your students. We kindly ask that you limit the group size to 6-8 students per institution. We will get back to you in mid/late October.
If we do not hear from you by October 10, we unfortunately cannot guarantee that your students will be able to attend the conference.

Publications

Publications based on the conference theme may be published in two issues:

• Conference Program. The abstracts of all accepted presentations will be published in the program (online on ConfTool).
• European Perspectives on Music Education. Volume No. 19 in the EAS book series “European Perspectives on Music Education” (EPoME) will be compiled based on the EAS2026 conference theme. The editors of the book will collaborate with the editorial board of the EAS. If you are accepted to present at the conference, you will receive an invitation to submit an abstract of 1000 words together with the paper acceptance letter. The editors will also invite selected conference presenters and other experts from the thematic field to contribute.

Thank you for your continued interest in participating in the EAS Conferences. The 2026 EAS Conference Team is ready to assist you with any questions or concerns. Please contact us by e-mail at eas2026@eas-music.org