Overview
VarDial 2026 is inviting submissions for its Thirteenth Workshop on Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Similar Languages, Varieties, and Dialects. This workshop will take place in conjunction with the EACL 2026 conference in Rabat, Morocco. The event aims to foster discussions surrounding computational methods and resources tailored for closely related languages and dialects, making it a significant gathering for researchers in this specialized field.
Background & Relevance
The study of similar languages, varieties, and dialects is crucial in the field of NLP, as it addresses the unique challenges posed by linguistic diversity. Understanding and processing these languages can enhance machine translation, improve language modeling, and facilitate better communication across different dialects. The VarDial workshop serves as an important platform for researchers to share their findings and advancements in this area, contributing to the broader understanding of language variation and its computational implications.
Key Details
- Workshop Dates: March 24-29, 2026 (exact date TBD)
- Location: Rabat, Morocco (colocated with EACL 2026)
- Submission Deadlines:
- Direct Submission: December 19, 2025
- Pre-reviewed (ARR) Submission: January 2, 2026
- Notification of Acceptance: January 23, 2026
- Camera-ready Paper Due: February 3, 2026
- Shared Task: Arabic Modeling In Your Accent (AMIYA)
- Training Data Release: November 30, 2025
- Registration Deadline: December 15, 2025
- System Submission Deadline: January 10, 2026
- System Description Paper Deadline: January 20, 2026
- Evaluation Benchmark: AL-QASIDA
For more information, please visit the VarDial 2026 website.
Eligibility & Participation
The workshop welcomes contributions from researchers, practitioners, and students who are engaged in the study of NLP for similar languages and dialects. It is an excellent opportunity for those interested in language resources, computational linguistics, and related fields.
Submission or Application Guidelines
Submissions must adhere to the ACL Rolling Review formatting guidelines and should be submitted as a PDF. The review process will be double-blind to ensure fairness. Detailed instructions can be found on the workshop’s website.
Additional Context / Real-World Relevance
The exploration of language varieties and dialects is increasingly relevant in today’s globalized world, where multilingual communication is common. By focusing on computational methods for these languages, researchers can develop more inclusive and effective NLP systems, which can lead to better accessibility and understanding across different linguistic communities.
Conclusion
VarDial 2026 presents a valuable opportunity for scholars and practitioners in the NLP community to engage with pressing issues related to language variation. Interested individuals are encouraged to submit their work, participate in discussions, and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this vital area of research.
Category: CFP & Deadlines
Tags: nlp, language-resources, dialects, varieties, computational-linguistics, machine-translation, arabic, shared-task, eacl
