Tallinn University will host the international INTERACT 2027 conference on human–computer interaction.
Tallinn University will host the 21st International Conference on Human–Computer Interaction from 23 to 27 August 2027, giving Estonia a new platform for international discussion about the ways people use, understand and experience digital technology.
The announcement was made by Tallinn University on 28 August 2026. The conference, known as INTERACT 2027, is organised under the auspices of the International Federation for Information Processing’s Technical Committee 13, the international body focused on human–computer interaction. The official conference website confirms the dates and location in Tallinn.
A meeting point for a broad research field
Human–computer interaction, or HCI, brings together several disciplines that examine the relationship between people and digital systems. Its scope includes interface design, accessibility, software development, psychology, ergonomics, education, artificial intelligence and the social effects of technology.
That breadth is reflected in the planned audience for INTERACT 2027. Tallinn University says the event is expected to bring together researchers, practitioners, doctoral students, industry professionals and public-sector representatives. The conference programme will provide opportunities to present research, exchange practical experience and discuss the future direction of the field.
For Estonia, the announcement links an international academic gathering with a subject that is closely connected to everyday public life. Digital services are used throughout the country in education, administration, health care and business, making questions of usability, trust and inclusion relevant beyond the technology sector.
“Meanings and Experiences”
The theme of the Tallinn conference will be “Meanings and Experiences”. Organisers say it will invite participants to consider how people create meaning through their interaction with technology, and how those interactions in turn influence society.
The theme also draws on the work of Estonian semiotician Juri Lotman. According to the conference website, Lotman’s ideas about cultural semiotics provide a point of reference for thinking about signs, symbols and cultural systems. The organisers connect that perspective with Estonia’s digital transformation, including the ways citizens encounter digital identities and online public services.
This approach gives the conference a distinctly local frame without narrowing its international scope. Rather than treating digital tools only as technical objects, the organisers intend to examine the cultural and social contexts in which those tools are designed and used.
Preparations and call for papers
Preparations are already under way. Tallinn University says the call for papers has been announced, with additional information on keynote speakers, the programme and participation to follow in the coming months.
The conference website currently lists 1 February 2027 as the deadline for full papers and workshop proposals. It also gives 3 May 2027 as the deadline for short papers, other tracks and doctoral-consortium submissions. The programme will include several formats, allowing established researchers, early-career scholars and practitioners to contribute in different ways.
The event’s organising structure reflects that international character. Tallinn University academics are working alongside colleagues from universities in the United Kingdom, Italy, New Zealand, Canada, Brazil and several other countries. The organisers’ list includes chairs responsible for full papers, workshops, accessibility, doctoral research, student volunteers and industry interaction.
Why the conference matters for Estonia
Hosting INTERACT 2027 will give Tallinn University an opportunity to present its School of Digital Technologies and its research community to an international audience. It will also bring visiting academics and professionals into contact with Tallinn’s wider technology and education environment.
For students and doctoral researchers, an international conference in Estonia can offer a nearby setting for presenting work, meeting potential collaborators and learning about research careers. For practitioners, the event may create space for dialogue between academic findings and the practical challenges faced by companies, schools and public institutions.
The subject is particularly timely as digital systems become more deeply embedded in learning, work and public services. Questions about whether technology is understandable, accessible and genuinely useful are no longer limited to specialist design teams. They affect how people access information, complete everyday tasks and participate in society.
INTERACT 2027 is therefore both a future academic event and a current signal of Estonia’s role in international technology research. The conference will take place at Tallinn University, with further details to be released through the official website as preparations continue.
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