ELIXIR All Hands 2026

The 12th ELIXIR All Hands meeting will take place from 8 to 10 June 2026 in Lyon, France. This is a highly anticipated annual event for members of the ELIXIR community from across the ELIXIR Nodes and collaborators from partner organisations. It provides an opportunity to review ELIXIR’s recent achievements, share ongoing activities and discuss plans for the future.

All Hands is primarily an in-person event and the programme is focused on those attending in person. However, remote access will be available for workshops and other sessions, to a limited extent. Further details will be confirmed closer to the event.

Call for workshop proposals

The programme will include a series of engaging workshops selected from those proposed by the ELIXIR community members. We welcome proposals from all ELIXIR Platforms, Communities, Focus Groups and Node Officers (Node, Technical and Training Coordinators). Workshops should address cross-cutting themes that benefit from collaboration across the ELIXIR ecosystem. 

Workshop format

• Duration: 90 minutes
• Capacity: Up to 25 workshops, running in parallel (up to five at a time)
• Format: Hybrid (on-site participation by workshop leads, with remote attendee options)

Why submit a workshop proposal?

Workshops are an opportunity to:

• Tackle a challenge that benefits from the input of specific cross-sections of ELIXIR (e.g. Platforms, Communities, Focus Groups, Projects and Node organisations as well as projects)
• Build connections across ELIXIR members by encouraging members to engage with activities beyond their own groups
• Deliver actionable outcomes that support the ELIXIR Scientific Programme

As well as workshops, the programme will feature a smaller number of mini-symposia exploring higher-level topics. Workshops should complement, not replicate, these sessions by focusing on in-depth discussion and collaborative problem-solving rather than strategic planning.

Evaluation criteria

The All Hands Programme Committee will evaluate submissions based on the following criteria:

1. Demonstrate clear alignment with at least one of the four strategic tiers (Science, Technology, Nodes and People)
2. Require collaboration across multiple ELIXIR groups (Platforms, Communities, Focus Groups) to address a shared scientific or technical challenge connected to ELIXIR’s core mission
3. Need dynamic input and interaction from participants, with a focus on collaborative problem-solving, discussion or brainstorming, rather than passive presentations
4. Have clear goals and a potential for meaningful outcomes relevant to the ELIXIR Scientific Programme and Commissioned Services

Requirements for workshop lead

The lead and co-lead of each selected workshop are expected to attend the meeting in person, as attendance allocations will only be reserved for these two leads. Other participants must register in the usual way, with the option to participate remotely.

Proposals must include a description of the session’s virtual components, ensuring meaningful engagement for remote participants, and highlight specific requirements, if any.

Submission details

Word limit: 400 words
Platform: Submit via Oxford Abstracts
Key dates

• Call opens: 1 December 2025
• Call closes: 26 January 2026, 12:00 CET

Don’t miss this opportunity to shape the future of ELIXIR through collaboration and by addressing shared challenges within the life science community.