Tampere set to welcome a record number of educational researchers at ECER 2026

23.6.2026

The European Conference on Educational Research (ECER) is the largest educational research conference in Europe. The next ECER, to be held in Tampere in August 2026, is turning out to be the most well-attended conference in its history. 

Organised in Tampere from 18 to 21 August, ECER 2026 is expected to attract close to 4,000 participants. More than 4,400 abstracts have been submitted for the conference, representing the highest number in the history of the conference. The annual conference has been held since 1992.

“ECER stands out for the breadth of perspectives it brings to educational research. We received more than 1,000 registrations within the first few weeks, which is unusual for conferences,” says Professor Nelli Piattoeva, Head of the Local Organising Committee at the Faculty of Education and Culture at Tampere University.

Piattoeva believes that the appeal of Tampere as a conference location lies in the excellent reputation of both the Finnish education system and local researchers in the field. 

“We are bringing ECER to Tampere in collaboration with the European Educational Research Association (EERA). Organising this conference at Tampere University is a well-deserved recognition from EERA and demonstrates that the University has the broad expertise required to deliver a conference of this scale,” she says.  

Students have been actively involved in supporting the delivery of ECER. In total, 110 student assistants from Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences are taking part in organising the event. These assistants represent a wide range of disciplines and include a significant number of international students and doctoral researchers.

Student assistants play an important role in ensuring the smooth running of the event. They are often responsible for creating the first impression for participants. 

“We are grateful to have such a large group of enthusiastic assistants helping us with the arrangements. It is especially delightful to see such a broad representation of students from across Tampere Universities contributing to the event. We hope that the shared experience of organising ECER will strengthen connections between students and reinforce our sense of community as a whole,” says Piattoeva.

Educational research and research-informed approaches can help us to understand and reshape societies in a time of polycrisis at local, national and global levels. 

In the spring of 2026, the Faculty of Education and Culture organised a series of discussion events and workshops on education as part of ECER’s outreach theme. 

The topics covered included early childhood education standards, workplace learning, pressures for reform in schools, crises experienced by children, and the evaluation of education. 

“It was wonderful to see so many people taking time out of their busy everyday lives to pause and engage in discussions on educational issues that concern us all. These discussions brought together the latest research, everyday experiences and broader societal themes. They were lively and wide-ranging, indicating a clear demand for events of this kind now and in the future,” says Joni Forsell, a doctoral researcher who coordinated the events.

Tampere will be at the epicentre of educational research in August, when the FERA Conference on Education 2026 and the Emerging Researchers’ Conference (ERC) take place in the same week as ECER 2026. A vast number of educational researchers will gather in the city during this period.

ECER is organised by the European Educational Research Association (EERA) in collaboration with the Faculty of Education and Culture at Tampere University and the City of Tampere. 

Original news article: Tampere is set to welcome a record number of educational researchers at ECER 2026 | Tampere University