The largest Nordic human-computer interaction conference is coming to Vaasa in 2026

This year, one of Europe’s largest conferences on human-computer interaction (HCI), and the largest Nordic biannual forum on HCI, NordiCHI, is happening simultaneously in Uppsala and Umeå, Sweden. There, our very own, Laura Havinen, is on a special mission – to release the news that Vaasa will host NordiCHI 2026: Pulse – exploring the energy that drives us. Our conference theme derives from Vaasa’s rich history and industry in the field of energy. Being members of the Vaasa community, we know that the city and this area are even so much more. Energy, like our heart beat or pulse, pump life through our bodies. We can feel the pulse on a collective level as well, in lively gatherings of people, communities, regions, and even technologies and fashions.

Pulse refers physiologically to the contractions of the heart as it pumps blood around the body. Yet, it also refers to vibrations and short bursts of light, sound, waves and electric currents. Where there is a pulse, there is life and a vibe that reflects movement and change in space and in time.

VME Interaction Design Environment is delighted to be affiliated with the event organised as a joint effort between the University of Vaasa, and the Åbo Akademi University. Co-chairing this grandiose event with Laura is Susanne Hägglund. To give an indication of the scale of its organisation, the committee alone comprises 44 members from eight different countries. The event usually attracts approximately 300+ participants from all over the world. NordiCHI is dedicated towards featuring the best cutting-edge research from a range of areas and topics relating to HCI. It has presented a list of highly significant themes over the past decade, including: Fast, fun, foundational; game-changing design; re-visiting the life cycle; shaping experiences, shaping society; participatory design; and this year’s theme, live – uniting HCI for hyperlocal hyperglobal experience.

We see NordiCHI 2026 and its coming to Vaasa as a significant milestone in terms of placing a human face on the area and its energy. It is humans who have the energy, drive the energy, shape and consume the energy. We are the heart of this region, and actively forging the directions of human-centered technological design and development, as well as engaging in critical questions regarding ethics, equality, and sustainability, are essential for moulding the society of the future.

Welcome NordiCHI community! We are truly excited to see you soon!