The 23rd Old-World Conference in Phonology (OCP23) will take place at Gonville & Caius College in Cambridge (United Kingdom) from 14 January to 16 January 2026. Submissions reflecting various perspectives on phonology, including but not limited to formal, typological, and laboratory approaches, will be accepted for review. Abstracts based on first-hand empirical data, especially field data on lesser-resourced languages, are particularly encouraged.
If your presentation has been accepted but you haven’t received the link to the registration form, please contact Yury Makarov. Information for non-presenting attendees will be published at a later date.
Author guidelines
History of the Conference
The Old-World Conference in Phonology (OCP) was founded in 2003 by the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics and the Meertens Institute. Initially inspired by a series of HIL-Phonology (HILP) conferences held in Leiden, Amsterdam, and Potsdam, OCP has grown into a prominent annual event that attracts both junior and senior researchers from around the globe. Over the years, OCP has been hosted in various cities across Europe (most recently in Amsterdam), including Warsaw, Verona, London, Düsseldorf, Budapest, Barcelona, Leiden, Istanbul, Berlin, Marrakech, Nice, Edinburgh, Toulouse, Rhodes, Budapest, Tromsø, Leiden, Eivissa, Donostia/San Sebastian, and Tours. Each conference features a diverse range of presentations covering both experimental and theoretical aspects of phonology.
Key dates
14 April 2025: submissions open
30 (extended) June 2025: submissions closed
Late August 2025: accepted submissions' authors notified (check this page for review outcomes)
13 January 2026: satellite workshop on the Role of Representation in Computational Phonology
14–16 January 2026: conference takes place in Cambridge
Important information (Q&A)
- Is it possible to participate in the Conference online?
For now, it’s only possible to present in person, although we are planning to arrange an online option for non-presenting attendees. - I will need a UK visa.
We will provide a letter of support to confirmed authors upon request. Please send an email to Yury Makarov with your passport name; it is usually useful to include your date of birth, passport ID and nationality in the letter. We hope to notify accepted authors a few months ahead of the conference so that there is ample time for submitting a visa application. - Will there be poster sessions?
Yes. - What are the accepted poster formats?
We hope to be able to mount A0 (portrait) and A1 (landscape) posters. The posters can be printed on both paper and fabric. - How many submissions can a person make?
A maximum of two: one single-/co-authored + one co-authored. - How long should the talks be?
Due to the large number of accepted presentations, each regular talk should be no longer than 15 minutes, followed by 5 minutes for questions. - Is there a programme draft?
Not yet, but we expect that the Conference will begin at 9 AM and end around 5–6 PM everyday. - Will there be any satellite workshops?
A workshop on theory complexity/computability is planned. We will update this page when more details become available. - Who are the invited speakers?
The invited speakers will be announced soon - What is the main venue of the Conference?
Gonville & Caius, founded in 1348, is one of the oldest colleges of the University of Cambridge. The main conference will take place in the Old Courts, conveniently located right in the city centre. We hope that such an environment will not only facilitate phonology-related discussions but also provide the ultimate Cambridge experience. - Are any social events planned?
We are planning to host a drinks & canapé reception and a conference dinner in one of the Cambridge dining halls. While the list may be extended with other events, we are sure that you will enjoy your stay in Cambridge. - Is there any practical information on staying in Cambridge?
Please check this page after the notifications of acceptance have been sent.
If you have a different question, please contact Yury Makarov (im562@cam.ac.uk).
Accommodation options
Most Cambridge colleges run their own bed and breakfast (B&B) services, which are often the best option for visitors due to their reasonable prices and convenient central locations.
Although winter is generally less busy than summer and the conference takes place outside of term time, we recommend booking early to ensure availability.
Nearby Colleges
Below is a list of colleges located close to Gonville and Caius College, where the conference will be held. Please note that availability shown on college websites is not always accurate. We suggest contacting the accommodation offices directly to enquire about availability, and mentioning that you will be attending the OCP23 conference at Gonville and Caius College.
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St John’s College
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King’s College
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Gonville and Caius College
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Clare College
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Clare Hall
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Trinity Hall
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Jesus College
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Christ’s College
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Sidney Sussex College
Hotels and Guesthouses
There are several hotels within a short walking distance of the college. Prices may vary depending on the booking platform, so it is worth comparing options.
Nearby hotels include:
- The Varsity Hotel & Spa
- The Graduate Cambridge
- Hilton Cambridge City Centre (Downing Street)
- The Fellow House
- University Arms Hotel
- Clayton Hotel
For more affordable accommodation, particularly near the train station or city centre, consider:
You can explore further options on websites such as UniversityRooms.com or Booking.com, where you can filter by proximity to Gonville and Caius College (Trinity St.).
If you have any questions or require assistance with accommodation arrangements, please do not hesitate to contact the conference organisers.
