DHNB 2027

DHNB conferences focus on research, education and communication in the interdisciplinary field of digital humanities in the Nordic and Baltic regions and beyond. The conference has a history of bringing together academics, researchers, students, and professionals with an interest in applying digital methods to research relevant to humanities, social sciences and arts. DHNB invites contributions from all domains of digital humanities.

Special Theme 2027

The DHNB2027 conference and pre-conference activities will take place from March 1–5, 2027 at Umeå University, Sweden. The special theme of DHNB2027 is Human(ities) in the Loop and draws on the concept of “human in the loop”, that highlights the role of humans in the workflow of AI technologies, but broadens the perspective to better include the important role that the humanities play in understanding historical and contemporary technological and societal systems.

With this theme, we encourage contributions that explore the role of the humanities and social sciences and place them at the center of technological development rather than the other way around.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

• Critical and ethical reflections on the development, applications and uses of digital and AI technologies

• Social, cultural and environmental sustainability perspectives on digitalization and digital transformation

• Interdisciplinary and/or experimental research, for instance in digital methods and computational approaches

• Artistic reflections, explorations and contributions involving technology

• GenAI disinformation and political participation

• Algorithmic transparency and the black boxing of machine learning

• Data capitalism, human labor, digital extractivism and decolonial perspectives

• AI, human heritage and memory

Submission Deadline: October 30, 2026
Conference Dates: March 1–5, 2027
Location: Umeå, Sweden

How to submit: All proposals must be submitted in English via the ConfTool conference management system by 30 October 2026. Link: https://www.conftool.org/dhnb2027/ (Please note: You need to create a new user, even if you have previously had a ConfTool account)

Keynote Speakers

We are excited to share that Nick Couldry (London School of Economics and Political Science), Beata Megyezi (Stockholm University) and Pille Pruulmann-Vengerfeldt (Malmö University) will join us as keynote speakers at DHNB2027!

Read more about the keynotes and abstracts here.

Timeline

• 31/08/2026 CfP opens

• 30/10/2026 CfP closes

• 30/10/2026 – 30/11/2026 CfP review period

• 11/12/2026 Review notifications issued

• Registration opens in week 2, 2027

• 11/02/2027 Deadline for submitting revised full papers and abstracts

• 08/02/2027 Early bird deadline for registration

• 19/02/2027 Registration closes

• 1-2/03/2027 Pre-conference meetings, workshops, doctoral consortium

• 3-5/03/2027 Conference

• 14/05/2027 Deadline for submitting papers for post-proceedings

Organizers

Humlab, Umeå University https://www.umu.se/en/humlab/ Contact: dhnb2027.humlab@umu.se
In collaboration with: DIGSUM https://www.umu.se/en/centre-for-digital-social-research/

Programme Committee

Evelina Liliequist, Humlab; Coppélie Cocq, Humlab; Annika Egan Sjölander, dept. of Culture and Media studies; Daniel Andersson, dept. of Language studies; Sam Merill, DIGSUM; Stefan Gelfgren, dept. of Historical, Philosophical and Religious studies; Mikaela Wikström, dept. of Culture and Media studies; Rebecka Weegar, Humlab

Organizing Committee

Karin Danielsson, Humlab; Annika Egan Sjölander, dept. Culture and Media studies; Jon Svensson, Humlab; Linnéa Tjernström, Humlab; Henrik Norén, Humlab; Elisa Serrano, Department of Education; Lina Sohlén, dept. Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies; Mikaela Wikström, dept. Culture and Media studies