VikingPLoP 2026
April 9th to April 12th, 2026
Jeris Lakeside Resort, Lapland, Finland
https://www.vikingplop.org


Important Dates:

2025 November 24th: Submission of initial paper
2025 December 1st: Start of shepherding
2026 January 5th: Second draft deadline
2026 January 12th: Paper acceptance notification
2026 February 2nd: Registration deadline
2026 March 26th: Conference version deadline and end of shepherding
2026 April 9th-12th: Conference
2026 August 30th: Deadline for proceedings version of the paper
Conference Venue and Season
VikingPLoP 2026 will offer a unique experience by hosting the conference at the Jeris Lakeside Resort, nestled in the wilderness of Finnish Lapland. Located on the shore of Lake Jerisjärvi and adjacent to the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, the venue provides a window into an authentic arctic environment.

The conference is timed for early April, a period in Lapland between winter and spring. This late-winter off-season period still offers snow and frozen landscapes, but with the benefit of longer, brighter days. Ideal for morning walks and focused workshops and informal networking, both indoors and amidst the surrounding nature.

Submission guidelines

VikingPLoP accepts papers containing patterns or pattern languages as well as experience reports and papers related to the theory and use of patterns. Papers submitted to VikingPLoP cover a wide range of subjects, from technical issues to social and organizational issues and artificial intelligence.

We expect that papers introduce novel patterns found in practice or papers that report the usage of patterns e.g. in the following topics:

Artificial intelligence and data mining
Embedded systems, distributed control systems, and other low level systems
Web applications, software frameworks
Software design, architecture, management, and continuous deployment pipelines
Patterns covering business processes and sales
Human computer interaction, user interfaces research
Pedagogy, education and coaching

The submitted papers should contain one or more patterns or report results from applying patterns. While longer submissions may be considered, papers should generally not exceed 10 pages. Conference submissions may be in any readable format that allows for commenting on a printout. The final versions of the papers should be formatted according to the Springer LNCS for publication in proceedings.

Papers discussed at a writer’s workshop at this conference qualify for separate submission to the Transactions on Pattern Languages of Programming journal, published by Springer.

First-time pattern authors are especially welcome to participate in the conference. All papers accepted for the shepherding process will receive in-depth shepherding by an experienced pattern author before the conference. Should you have any questions, please contact the conference chairs.

We also accept papers on the application of patterns in practice. The focus of these papers should be on applications of patterns in industrial projects, as well as on systematizing the application of patterns.

Conference structure
The core of VikingPLoP is writers’ workshops where authors work together to improve their papers. Before patterns or other papers are accepted for a writers’ workshop, they are shepherded non-anonymously. An experienced author will provide feedback on your submission and engage in a discussion to help you improve your paper prior to the conference. All submissions will be peer-reviewed prior to the conference and accepted submissions will be workshopped at the conference.

Shepherding process
The shepherding process is essentially a peer reviewing process. The shepherd guides the sheep, the author(s), into a more mature understanding of their pattern. Shepherds are individuals with experience in pattern writing, assigned to an author’s paper to help the author improve the pattern. Shepherds also have experience with the shepherding process, either having been a shepherd before or a sheep (an author). Shepherding is about improving the pattern itself, while ensuring the author retains full ownership of and responsibility for their work. The shepherding process is done before the paper is to be workshopped at a conference.

There is a three stage submission process:

Initial submission. This expresses your intent to participate in the conference and gives the program committee a chance to assess the suitability of your topic. Papers are then accepted for shepherding and the author is assigned a shepherd who will help to improve the paper.
Midway through the shepherding process, the authors are expected to submit a second draft. The paper will be assessed for quality and the author’s willingness to accept feedback is considered. This review will determine whether a paper is accepted to the conference or not.
Authors and shepherds are expected to continue working on the paper. Final drafts for the conference are submitted a couple of weeks before the conference. The authors of the accepted papers are also expected to register before the registration deadline. Failing to do so may result in acceptance being withdrawn. In the case of papers with multiple authors at least one author is expected to register by the deadline.