The Faculty of Communication Sciences co-organized the 20th International Public Relations Research Conference together with AIRP
From 3 to 5 June, the Faculty of Communication Sciences brought together more than seventy-five researchers, academics, and professionals from different countries at Palau Macaya for the 20th International Public Relations Research Conference (AIRP 2026), held under the theme “Rebels with a Cause. Public Relations as an Agent of Change”.
From 3 to 5 June, the Faculty of Communication Sciences co-organized the 20th edition of the International Public Relations Research Conference, a leading academic event jointly organized by the Association of Public Relations Researchers (AIRP) and the Faculty.
The event brought together 75 participants from Spain, several Latin American countries, and other European nations, and recorded a total of 120 registrations. Throughout the three-day conference, 58 research papers were presented across nine parallel sessions, providing an opportunity to discuss the main challenges, trends, and current research lines in the fields of public relations and strategic communication.
The opening keynote address was delivered by Carlos Ortet, Innovation Director at the Official College of Public Relations, Marketing and Advertising of Catalonia, who reflected on language models and reputation-building processes in today’s communication environment.
The scientific programme also included a range of activities aimed at fostering knowledge exchange and academic debate, including the Faculty Forum, plenary sessions, paper presentation panels, and networking opportunities for researchers and communication professionals.
The conference was organized with the collaboration of the Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Audiovisual Communication and the Department of Audiovisual Communication and Advertising. The event also received support from the ”la Caixa” Foundation and Estrella Damm.