NetLogo Conference 2026

The NetLogo Center will host its first user conference June 29th - July 1st, 2026 in Chicago! (please note revised dates if you saw the initial announcement)

The conference’s purpose is to bring together the diverse communities of NetLogo users and agent-based modelers to share, learn, make connections, and have fun. It is intended for users and modelers in education, academic and applied research, art, and business; and to bring together beginners and experienced users.

See below for details about the conference and use the "Go to CfP" button to submit a proposal.

Events

We are planning the following conference events:

• Keynote speakers: Stay tuned for announcements on our keynote speakers who will give their experience and perspectives on agent-based modeling and NetLogo.
• Contributed presentations, posters, and demonstrations: Conference participants will present their work orally or in a poster/demonstration session. Additional information on presenting your work is below.
• Workshops: Optional small workshops will address topics such as (specific topics are not yet confirmed):
  • Developing and using educational curricula
  • Designing scientific agent-based models
  • Sensitivity analysis of models
  • Testing NetLogo code
  • Writing NetLogo extensions
  • NetLogo and Geographic Information Systems
  • NetLogo, agent-based modeling, and AI
  • Creating NetTango models for education
  • **If you have not already, please fill out our planning survey to tell us what workshop topics interest you most.
• Tips and tricks sessions: NetLogo developers and users will present clever ways to do useful and impressive things in NetLogo. (Information on submitting tips and tricks is below.)
• New modeler forums: These sessions will provide beginning modelers with feedback and advice from experienced modelers. Selected new modelers will present work in progress and identify challenges they are struggling with. Attendees will discuss the problems and make suggestions for progress. (Information on participating is below.)
• NetLogo feedback and awards: The final session will provide attendees with the opportunity to make suggestion to and ask questions of the NetLogo development staff. We will also present informal awards in categories such as best presentations in education and research, coolest NetLogo art, and best tip or trick.

Venue

The conference will be at the Student Center East building of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) campus, at 750 South Halsted Street, Chicago. Low-cost dormitory lodging will be available at the nearby Academic and Residential Complex, 940 West Harrison Street.

This venue is a very close to public transportation and easy to reach by train from both Chicago airports. Chicago’s Greek Town and Little Italy neighborhoods are adjacent to campus, and the downtown Loop is just over a mile (~2 km) away.

Registration and lodging

Registration fees are not yet final, but we anticipate them being close to:

• Early registration (up to May 1):
  • Standard: $450
  • K-12 public school teachers and university students: $250
• Late registration (after May 1):
  • Standard: $550.
  • K-12 public school teachers and university students: $300

Participants wanting on-campus lodging will book it directly with the University of Illinois Chicago housing office. There will be several options ranging in cost from about $95 to $120 per night (including taxes), depending on how many people share bedrooms and bathrooms. Information on booking will be available on the conference web site.

Due to UIC campus rules, we cannot allow minors (under age 18) at the conference.

Deadlines

Abstracts are due by March 2nd, 2026. We will aim to notify submitters by March 16th whether their abstract has been selected for presentation. We expect registration for the conference to begin around March 16th as well. Early registration will end May 1.

Future Announcements

Future announcements about the conference will be made through the NetLogo Announcements email list (sign up here), on the Announcements page, on the forum, and on this page.

Presentation information

See the the Call for Proposals (CfP) below for to submit proposals/abstracts.