Call for Papers Theme Issue: International Conference on Serious Games and Applications for Health, SeGAH 2026
The 14th International Conference on Serious Games and Applications for Health (SeGAH 2026) will be hosted by the Institute of Computing at Fluminense Federal University in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 29 to 31, 2026. This event brings together a unique interdisciplinary community to explore the latest advancements, challenges, and future directions for serious games in health and health care.
At its core, SeGAH focuses on advancing health care through innovative technologies such as game-based learning, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. The conference provides a platform for researchers and practitioners to discuss technology driven applications that address both longstanding and emerging challenges across diverse health domains.
This theme issue covers a broad scope, including serious game design and development, rehabilitation, clinical training, exergames, and emerging products and technologies.
We particularly welcome research on the following topics, among others:
- Simulation for health care
- Virtual environments and virtual patients in health care
- Games for rehabilitation
- Exercising and active living
- Exergames
- Cognitive games
- Biofeedback/neurofeedback through gaming
- Brain-computer interface–controlled games for health
- Assistive technologies
- Serious games as diagnostic tools
- Game design and development
- Clinical training through games
Submission Deadline: October 31, 2026
Submission and publication process:
Submission is open only to invited authors who presented short or full manuscripts at SeGAH 2026 (July 29-31, 2026) and whose work has not been previously published elsewhere. JMIR Publications' policy on duplicate submissions or publications is available here: https://support.jmir.org/hc/en-us/articles/22084430171163
Prepare a cover letter that includes a statement confirming the work was presented at SeGAH 2026.
Submit your manuscript to JMIR Serious Games by selecting “14th International Conference on Serious Games and Applications for Health, SeGAH 2026” from the “Section” drop-down list. Please refer to the article How do I submit to a theme issue? in our Knowledge Base or consult our Instructions for Authors for additional guidance on submission.
All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process. Accepted articles will be published as part of a special issue “14th International Conference on Serious Games and Applications for Health, SeGAH 2026.” All peer-reviewed articles will be made immediately and permanently open access.
Articles will be made immediately available in JMIR Preprints (with a DOI); authors are required to select this option at submission
Cascading Review and Transfer:
Submissions not reviewed or accepted for publication in this theme issue in JMIR Serious Games may be offered cascading peer review or transfer to other JMIR Publications journals.
Guest Editors
Duarte Duque, PhD
2Ai –School of Technology, IPCA, Barcelos, Portugal
João L. Vilaça, PhD
2Ai –School of Technology, IPCA, Barcelos, Portugal
Esteban Clua, PhD
Federal Fluminense University, Niteroi, Brazil
Nuno Dias, PhD
2Ai –School of Technology, IPCA, Barcelos, Portugal