2nd Call for Papers QEST+FORMATS 2026
September 2-4, 2026, Liverpool, UK
https://www.qest-formats.org/
https://confest-2026.github.io/
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Dates:
Abstract submission: April 3, 2026
Paper submission: April 10, 2026
Artifact submission: April 17, 2026
Author notification: May 24, 2026
Camera-ready submission: June 14, 2026
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Scope and Topics
The two flagship conferences QEST (International Conference on
Quantitative Evaluation of SysTems) and FORMATS (International
Conference on Formal Modeling and Analysis of Timed Systems) are
pursuing a strategic process of joining forces and sparking a new
joint conference for quantitative modelling, analysis, and
verification. This culminated in 2024 in the first QEST+FORMATS joint
conference. In 2026, the two conferences will form the third
QEST+FORMATS joint conference, which will be held on 2-4 September
2026 in Liverpool, UK, as part of the CONFEST 2026 umbrella
conference.
The joint conference is the leading forum for the quantitative
evaluation and verification of systems. QEST+FORMATS aims to promote
the study of fundamental and practical aspects of systems with
quantitative nature (such as probability, timing, and cost). It aims
to bring together researchers from different disciplines who share
interests in the modelling, design, and analysis of computational
systems. Systems of interest include biological and chemical systems;
computer networks; critical infrastructures; cyber-physical systems;
data-driven AI systems; energy systems; hardware and software systems;
industrial systems; mobility networks; and quantum systems. The
QEST+FORMATS joint conference also aims to attract researchers
interested in real-time issues in hardware design, performance
analysis, real-time software, scheduling, semantics and verification
of timed, hybrid, and probabilistic systems. In general, the
conference aims to attract experts in quantitative and timed systems
from any domain.
Topics and scientific areas of interest include:
--- Models and metrics for the correctness, performance, reliability,
safety, and security of systems (stochastic, probabilistic, quantum,
and non-deterministic models including Markov chains, automata, Petri
nets, process algebra, and their variations);
--- Languages and methods for the specification of quantitative
properties of systems;
--- Techniques, algorithms, and data structures for the analysis,
evaluation, and verification of the above models, e.g., for model
checking, testing, constraint solving, scheduling, optimization, and
worst-case execution time analysis;
--- Quantitative and probabilistic aspects of programming;
--- Data-driven and machine-learning techniques for the analysis,
prediction, and verification of quantitative properties of systems;
--- Case studies that highlight the role of quantitative
specification, modelling, and evaluation in the design and analysis of
systems, with emphasis on emerging problems and technologies, or novel
domains;
--- Software tools to support the practical application of research
results in all of the above areas.
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Confirmed Invited Speakers
Ezio Bartocci, TU Wien, Austria
Jane Hillston, University of Edinburgh, UK
Kim Guldstrand Larsen, Aalborg University, Denmark
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Submissions
QEST+FORMATS 2026 considers three types of submissions (authors will
be able to specify the type of contribution upon submission):
--- Research papers: Theoretical and methodological contributions that
advance the understanding of a topic or issue, or describe the
development of new analysis processes and techniques.
--- Case study papers: Contributions that present practical
applications of quantitative methods to challenging real-world case
studies. Case study papers shall provide detailed evaluation and
insights, and highlight the value added to the domain experts.
--- Tool papers: Contributions introducing new tools or significant
improvements of existing ones, and the formalisms they support. These
papers shall focus on the software architecture, practical
implementation, and evaluation (e.g., usability, scalability, and
effectiveness). Tool papers must be accompanied by an artifact in the
Artifact Evaluation as detailed below.
All three types of papers can be regular or short:
--- Regular papers must not exceed 16 pages, excluding references.
--- Short papers should be limited to 7 pages, also excluding references.
--- All papers can have an appendix containing supporting material. Note
that reviewers are not required to read the appendix to fully assess the
merits of the paper.
We are considering additional presentation-only submission types;
details will be provided in the later CfPs.
All papers must be submitted in Springer's LNCS format and will
undergo a rigorous single-blind review process. All submitted papers
must be unpublished and not be submitted for publication elsewhere.
Papers should be submitted electronically using EasyChair (Track:
QEST+FORMATS 2026).
Springer encourages authors to include their ORCIDs in their papers.
Authors should consult Springer's authors' guidelines and use
Springer's LaTeX templates for the preparation of their papers.
Submitted papers not complying with the above guidelines may be
rejected without undergoing review.
We are considering awards for best papers and best artifacts.
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Publications
All accepted papers need to be presented and discussed at the
conference by one of the authors. Similarly to last year, the
QEST+FORMATS 2026 proceedings will be published in the Springer LNCS
series indexed by ISI Web of Science, Scopus, ACM Digital Library,
DBLP, Google Scholar. All submitted papers will be evaluated by at
least three reviewers on the basis of their originality, technical
quality, scientific or practical contribution to the state of the art,
methodology, clarity, and adequacy of references.
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Special Issue
We are working on a special issue in a Q1 journal. A selection of the
best papers will be invited to submit an extended version of their
work to a special issue in an internationally recognized journal.
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Artifact Evaluation
Reproducibility of experimental results is crucial to foster an
atmosphere of trustworthy, open, and reusable research. To improve and
reward reproducibility, QEST+FORMATS 2026 will include a dedicated
Artifact Evaluation (AE). Submission of an artifact is mandatory for
tool papers (both regular and short), and optional but encouraged for
research and case study papers where it can support the results
presented in the paper. More details will follow.
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