COMET 2026 - Metaphysics in Contemporary Continental Philosophy
2026-10-13 13:00 - 2026-10-15 17:00 (Europe/Amsterdam) | Nijmegen, Netherlands
COMET 2026 – Metaphysics in Contemporary Continental Philosophy

13-15 October | Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

COMET is the annual expert meeting for metaphysics in contemporary continental philosophy, hosted at Radboud University by its Center for Contemporary European Philosophy (CCEP).

It brings together researchers across career stages who are doing metaphysical work in or in dialogue with continental philosophy, and offers a setting to discuss research projects in depth.

We are looking for contributions on what there is and how it is structured, from any school or methodology within the field.

PROGRAM

The meeting opens on Tuesday afternoon with a thematic session on ontologies of process and action, featuring invited talks by Prof. Rein Raud (Tallinn University) and Dr. Mercedes Valmisa Oviedo (University of Gettysburg).

Wednesday and Thursday are devoted to open sessions selected through this call. Each day has five speakers, each with a sixty-minute plenary slot split roughly equally between presentation and discussion. The program also provides ample time between sessions for informal exchanges.

The working language is English. Presentations in Dutch, French, and German are also welcome, provided the speaker makes an English translation of their talk available for participants to follow along. The organizers can assist with translations from and into these languages during discussions

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Please send an abstract of max. 250 words, prepared for blind review, plus a separate document with a biographical note of max. 150 words to comet@ru.nl. The deadline is July 2.

Selection is a two-stage process. Abstracts first undergo blind review. From the resulting shortlist, the organizers compose the final program with an eye to a balanced representation of ideas, career stages, and backgrounds.

ATTENDING WITHOUT PRESENTING

In addition to ten speaker slots, there are fifteen places for researchers who wish to attend and participate in discussions without presenting. To apply, send an email with a short motivation and biographical note to comet@ru.nl.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

There is no registration fee. All sessions take place on campus. Speakers and participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation.

Further details about COMET 2026 are available at https://www.ru.nl/en/about-us/events/comet-2026. Last year’s program and abstracts can be found there as well.

ORGANIZERS

COMET 2026 is organized by dr. Arjen Kleinherenbrink and dr. Tim Miechels at the Center for Contemporary European Philosophy (CCEP (https://www.ru.nl/afdelingen/research-institute-for-philosophy-theology-and-religious-studies/center-for-contemporary-european-philosophy)) of the Faculty of Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Studies at Radboud University.

PARTNERS

COMET is closely connected to the School of Materialist Research and Malta University's Engaging the Contemporary conference. There is significant overlap in our intellectual aims, and we invite anyone already involved in one to find their way to the others.
