BOW 26: Bayesian Optimization Workshop

About the workshop

Bayesian Optimization (BO) is a powerful framework for the global optimization of expensive-to-evaluate black-box functions. It has become an indispensable tool across a wide range of domains, from hyperparameter tuning of machine learning models to industrial process optimization and drug discovery.

This workshop brings together researchers, engineers, and industry practitioners in a structured yet collaborative environment. It equips newcomers with a solid conceptual grounding, exposes experienced users to diverse application domains, and provides a platform for researchers to share recent methodological developments. The workshop also aims to catalyse the formation of a Benelux-centred network of people actively working with and advancing Bayesian Optimization.

The two invited talks offer accessible entry points into the field for newcomers, while the contributed talks present recent methodological developments and applications for experienced users.

Invited speakers

Jolan Wauters

Assistant Professor, KU Leuven

Bayesian Optimization: Enabling the First-Time-Right Paradigm for Dynamical Systems

Ivan De Boi

Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Antwerp

Deep Gaussian Processes: Learning Complex Mappings with Uncertainty

Program

Times are elapsed from the start of the workshop.

Important dates

• July 25, 2026Submissions open
• August 31, 2026Submission deadline
• September 30, 2026Notification of acceptance
• October 9, 2026Camera-ready submission
• October 21, 2026Workshop

Submissions

We invite contributed talks (15 minutes) on Bayesian Optimization: methodological advances, applications, benchmarks, and work in progress. Submissions will be selected by the organizing committee based on novelty and relevance. Two submission types are accepted:

Full papers : original, unpublished work; long (up to 15 pages) or short (up to 10 pages), excluding references and appendices.

Extended abstracts : up to 2 pages (excluding references), suitable for previously published work, ongoing work, or early-stage results.

Reviews are single-blind: submissions should include authors' names and affiliations, be written in English, and use the Springer CCIS/LNCS format, in line with the BNAIC/BeNeLearn 2026 guidelines. Submission implies that at least one author registers for the conference and presents in person.

Proceedings : All accepted contributions will be included in the dedicated workshop proceedings following peer review. Accepted contributions will also be considered for inclusion in the conference pre-proceedings, subject to a positive evaluation by the conference organizing team. The conference pre-proceedings will be published open access as CEUR Workshop Proceedings.

We are also exploring the possibility of inviting a selection of full papers to submit extended versions to a journal post-proceedings or special issue. Further details on the publication arrangements will be announced once confirmed.

Organizers

• Sasan Amini , Hasselt University, Belgium
• Inneke Van Nieuwenhuyse , Hasselt University, Belgium
• Laurens Bliek , Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
• Ivo Couckuyt , Ghent University, Belgium

Questions? Contact sasan.amini@uhasselt.be.