The Theory of belief functions, also referred to as Evidence theory or Dempster-Shafer theory is a well-established mathematical framework for reasoning and decision-making with uncertainty, with applications to machine learning, statistical inference, information fusion, knowledge representation, risk analysis, etc. It is an extension of probability theory and it has well understood connections with related frameworks such as random sets and imprecise probabilities. Recently, generalised evidence theory, based on random fuzzy sets, has been proposed as a unifying framework encompassing both Dempster-Shafer and possibility theories.
The biennial BELIEF conferences (sponsored by the Belief Functions and Applications Society) are dedicated to the confrontation of ideas, the reporting of recent achievements and the presentation of the wide range of applications of this theory. Previous editions of this conference series were held in Brest, France (2010); Compiègne, France (2012); Oxford, UK (2014); Prague, Czech Republic (2016); Compiègne, France (2018); Shanghai, China (2021); Paris, France (2022), and Belfast, UK (2024).
To support cross-fertilization among researchers working in different subfields of AI and related disciplines, tutorials and special sessions will be proposed, with emphasis on the links between machine learning, statistical inference and uncertain reasoning, including topics such as quantification of prediction uncertainty, fusion rules for ensemble learning, belief propagation in deep neural networks, links with explainable and symbolic AI, etc. Submissions of papers combining several of these topics, or more generally at the cross-road of belief functions and other AI methods or uncertainty theories, along with relevant applications, are welcome.
The Nineth International Conference on Belief Functions (BELIEF 2026) will be held in Nanjing, China, on October 19-21, 2026.
BELIEF 2026 proceedings will be published by Springer-Verlag in the Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence (LNCS/LNAI) series and indexed by: ISI Web of Science; EI Engineering Index; ACM Digital Library; dblp; Google Scholar; IO-Port; MathSciNet; Scopus; Zentralblatt MATH.
Authors of selected papers from the BELIEF 2026 conference will be invited to submit extended versions of their papers for possible inclusion in a special issue of the International Journal of Approximate Reasoning.
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The expected length of papers is no longer than 8 pages, references included, that should present original contributions with significant results.
Original contributions are solicited on theoretical aspects, but not limited to
as well as on applications to various areas including, but not limited to
Each paper must have at least one author registered with an academic/industrial registration (i.e., not a student registration) with payment received by the author-registration deadline Coming soon to avoid being withdrawn from the conference. A single, academic/industrial registration may cover up to two (2) papers. When registering, please enter the ID number(s) of the paper(s) that you will be covering with your academic/industrial registration.
If you are a student who will be presenting a paper, and you are covering that paper with your registration, then an academic/industrial registration is required for you.
BELIEF 2026 requires that each accepted paper be presented by one of the authors in person or, in case of impossibility due to, e.g., travel restrictions, online at the conference site according to the schedule published.
Any paper accepted in the technical programme, but not presented on-site or online, will be removed from the official proceedings archived by Springer.
The BELIEF 2026 Conference will take place in the Nanjing, Southeast University, Sipailou Campus, China.
Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province in eastern China, is a historic city with over 2,500 years of history, which was once the capital of several dynasties, including the Ming Dynasty. Renowned for its cultural heritage, it is home to iconic sites such as the old city walls, the Temple of Confucius and the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. Today, Nanjing is a modern metropolis with a thriving economy, leading universities and a blend of traditional and contemporary architecture. Its strategic location along the Yangtze River has long made it a key centre for trade and culture.
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| Type | Early Bird Registration | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Academic/industrial (Regular) | ||
| Student |
| Registration fees include: |
| Full participation to BELIEF 2026 conference, including keynote presentations |
| BELIEF 2026 conference proceedings |
| Gala dinner |
| Welcome reception |
| Coffee breaks and lunches |
Participants have to pay the suitable registration fee. Before pursuing, make sure to read carefully the payment guidelines:
Participants are requested to familiarize themselves with their own applicable visa requirements well in advance of the conference. Present worldwide security regulations generally result in more stringent visa requirements and associated longer visa processing time. The BELIEF 2026 organizers cannot intervene with embassies or consulates on behalf of any participant.
In order to obtain a letter of invitation for visa purposes, contact the Organizing Committee directly.
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