The Conference on Multilingualism (COM) 2026 will be held from May 27th-29th, 2026 at the University Toulouse - Jean Jaurès in Toulouse (France).

The Conference on Multilingualism has a longstanding tradition, albeit under different names. Founded in 2005 at the University of Trento (Italy) as "Workshop on Bilingualism", it has been held under the title "Workshop of Neurobilingualism" in Donostia/San Sebastian (Spain) in 2010, and Groningen (Netherlands), among others. Since the 2016 edition held at Ghent University (Belgium), the conference has adopted the title "Conference on Multilingualism", to include a broader range of aspects of multilingualism. Recent editions have been held in Konstanz (2021) and Aix-en-Provence (2024).

Following tradition, the conference is open to the numerous aspects of bi- and multilingualism within the broad scope of cognitive sciences, such as language and speech sciences, neuro- and psycholinguistics, psychology, neurology and education. The 2026 edition will, as reflected by the invited keynote speakers, focus specifically on language control, that has given rise to fierce debates in recent years, and on acquired language disorders in multilingual speakers, topics traditionally studied at the host laboratory, the Laboratory of NeuroPsychoLinguistics (LNPL).

Additionally, we particulary welcome submissions focusing on the relation between bilingual speakers and their environment, as for example in the perception of accented speech. This will allow us to discuss the following topics that will be given specific attention in the roundtable:

• What is the role of language control in language cognition in different speakers? To what extent are the processes at play in multilinguals also present in monolinguals, and what are the specificities of the former? How could we develop integrated neurocognitive models of mono-, bi and multilingual language use?

• How does the multilingual mind/brain develop over the life-span? What are the neurocognitive consequences of multilingualism over time? How can we use insights from such studies to promote healthier aging of all speakers, mono-, bi- and multilinguals alike?

• How does multilingualism contribute to cognitive and neural reserve, potentially mitigating the effects of neurodegenerative diseases on language and cognition? What are the best practices for assessing and treating speech and language disorders in multilingual populations, and how can these practices be improved to better serve culturally and linguistically diverse communities?

• What are the specificities of bi- and multilinguals with respect to language processing but also in other domains of cognition? How could we achieve a better understanding and acknowledgement of these specificities, eventually contributing to a more inclusive society?

However, we also welcome submissions on any topic related to bi- or multilingual language processing, concerning any language and any type of population.

We are delighted to host COM2026 in Toulouse!

For any question please contact the local organising committee at com2026@univ-tlse2.fr.