ALAI CONGRESS 2026
Copyright and Free Expression in the Age of Algorithms
DATE
Thursday 18 – Friday 19 June 2026
LOCATION
The Hague, Netherlands
STARTS IN
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM
Copyright and Free Expression in the Age of Algorithms will be the central theme of the 2026 ALAI Congress, held in The Hague, The Netherlands.
Copyright has long promoted cultural expression by protecting creators, while also safeguarding freedom of expression. In today’s world, algorithms and platforms increasingly control how cultural works are created, shared and seen. How do we keep space for free expression while ensuring creators’ economic and moral rights are respected?
The Hague & Partners/Jurjen Drenth
The ALAI (Association Littéraire et Artistique Internationale) is a global association of copyright experts, founded in 1878 by Victor Hugo. It brings together legal scholars, practitioners, judges, and policymakers to promote and study authors’ rights and copyright law. Each year, the ALAI international congress takes place in a different country, offering a unique opportunity to connect & reflect on the future of copyright. The Dutch Copyright Society Vereniging voor Auteursrecht is proud to host the 2026 ALAI Conference.
LOCATION
Date & location
The congress will take place from Thursday 18 to Friday 19 June 2026 in The Hague, The Netherlands.
A full scientific and social program with details on the venues and practicalities will follow in due course.
The Hague, known as the international city of peace and justice, is home to institutions such as the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The city has excellent public transport with frequent connections to international trains and is conveniently located near both Amsterdam Schiphol international Airport and Rotterdam-The Hague airport (50 European destinations), making it easily accessible for international visitors.
PROGRAM
The social program
The congress will take place from Thursday 18 to Friday 19 June 2026 in The Hague, The Netherlands. As usual, Wednesday 17 June 2026 features the meeting of ALAI’s Executive Committee, and welcome drinks late afternoon for all conference participants. Thursday and Friday are dedicated to a wealth of sessions exploring the conference theme and a gala dinner.
The full event and social program will be shared soon.
The Hague & Partners/Jurjen Drenth, Arjan de Jager, Jurriaan Brobbe
SIDE EVENT ON WED 17 JUNE
Copyright’s Next Generation Event
ALAI is pleased to announce the very first Next Generation Event, a theme-related side event of the 2026 ALAI Congress, designed for early-career copyright scholars and practitioners (within five years after PhD defence or bar admission). It will be held at the main conference venue.
This half-day event will bring together 30 participants to explore two cutting-edge topics at the intersection of copyright and freedom of expression. The format combines keynote inputs, participant pitches, and moderated group discussions, offering young professionals a unique opportunity to engage actively in the Congress, network with peers, and contribute to published outcomes in the ALAI congress proceedings.
Participation in the Next Generation Event is exclusively reserved for attendees of the main ALAI congress and comes at no additional charge. All participants are expected to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses, but will qualify for the student fee of the main conference.
Call for Interest
ALAI invites all early career scholars and practitioners with a special interest in one of these topics to apply or register. Please note: participants interested in delivering a pitch will be chosen based on expertise in the topic, supported by a short motivation statement and relevant publications.
Details of the programme and application and registration procedure will be published in December 2025 on this website.
NextGen Event Structure
- Two parallel think tank sessions (around 15 participants each) on two themes:
- Think Tank I: Human Creativity vs. Generative AI: A Balancing Test
- Think Tank II: Copyright and Derivative Creativity: How Much Room for Freedom of Expression?
- Each group consists of one moderator (invited by the organization), around seven selected participants (chosen based on motivation and publications) and around seven additional attendees (first come, first served).
- Each group will analyze and discuss several pre-determined questions and/or discussion points on their subject, while sharing insights, ideas and perspectives. Selected participants are expected to fuel the discussion with a pitch, shortly introducing their take on the matter. However, everyone is expected to play an active role and we are aiming for diverse group, in order to get diverse perspectives.
- Moderators and selected participants will be offered the opportunity to co-author a collective contribution to the ALAI congress proceedings, capturing the insights and outcomes of the think tank sessions.
SPONSORING
Sponsorship opportunities
The ALAI 2026 Congress brings together a global audience of copyright experts for three days of discussion, learning, and networking.
As a sponsor, you’ll have visibility with a highly engaged group of professionals, including lawyers, judges, academics, representatives, and researchers from universities.
Interested in sponsoring?
[LOCATION]
REGISTRATION
Registration is not open yet.
Rates, accommodation options, and the full program will be shared during the course of 2025. We will update this website as soon as new information is available.
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