BiP Portugal 2026: Call for Papers for the International Workshop on Behavioural Science, Law and Public Policy, University of Lisbon School of Law

Law is not only written. It is read, interpreted, followed, resisted and lived. BiP Portugal 2026 invites researchers, policymakers and practitioners to explore how behavioural insights can help us better understand law in action.

The workshop is hosted by the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon on 8 and 9 October 2026 and is co-organised by LPL, the Lisbon Public Law Research Centre, CIDEEFF, the Research Centre for European, Economic, Financial and Tax Law, and King's College London.

BiP Portugal 2026 brings together researchers, policymakers and practitioners working at the intersection of behavioural science and law. The workshop aims to advance the use of behavioural insights in legal analysis and public policy, while fostering collaboration between academia and public institutions.

As part of the Behavioural Insights for Policy (BiP) Network, the event contributes to a growing international effort to integrate behavioural evidence into governance systems and policymaking processes. The BiP Network seeks to expand the reach of behavioural public policy by fostering its application across countries and policy areas.

The scientific organisers of the 2026 edition are Sanchayan Banerjee, Rute Saraiva and Raquel Franco.

The conference explores how behavioural insights are reshaping legal theory, doctrine and policymaking. Abstracts are invited on behavioural insights in public policy and related domains in the following areas:

• Foundations of Behavioural Law
• Behavioural Legal Theory and Doctrinal Analysis
• Behavioural Legal Design, Regulation and Compliance
• Courts, Procedure and Decision-Making
• Digital Environments and Behavioural Governance
• Ethics, Legitimacy and Behavioural Governance
• Experimental Methods and Institutionalisation

The workshop runs over two days and includes keynote lectures, academic presentations and panel discussions. It is designed to encourage interdisciplinary exchange and engagement with real-world legal and policy challenges.

Alongside the main tracks, the programme includes focused sessions on behavioural legislative design, judicial bias, digital regulation, experimental methods, and capacity-building within public institutions.

Abstracts should:

• Be no more than 200 words
• Clearly state the research question or policy challenge
• Outline the methodology or approach
• Summarise key findings, if available
• Highlight policy relevance and practical implications

Submissions are made through the official Microsoft Forms submission page linked below. The call closes at 23:59 on 15 August 2026 and results are communicated on 31 August 2026.

The call is addressed to researchers, policymakers and practitioners working at the intersection of behavioural science, law and public policy. It is an open international call and the organisers do not restrict submissions by nationality or by country of affiliation, so scholars and practitioners based in India are free to submit.

There is no fee to submit an abstract. All shortlisted presenters are asked to register for the event, and registration is also required for anyone who wishes to attend. The published rates are:

• Early-bird rate, until 15 September 2026: EUR 75
• Standard rate and rate for the private sector: EUR 150
• PhD students: EUR 50
• University professors and lecturers: EUR 50

The workshop is held in person at the University of Lisbon School of Law, Alameda da Universidade, 1649-014 Lisboa, Portugal. The event listing on the Centre's site places the sessions in Room 13.04.