Do Conferences Give Notification of Rejection?

Yes, most reputable conferences do give notification of rejection. Authors are usually informed whether their paper is accepted, rejected, or requires revision through email, a submission portal, or both.

A rejection notice is part of the normal conference review process. It confirms that the paper was reviewed and that the program committee decided not to include it in the conference program. Some conferences also share reviewer comments, scores, or short feedback to help authors improve the paper for another submission.

These notifications are important because they give authors clarity. Once you know the decision, you can revise the paper, submit it to another conference or journal, ask for feedback, or prepare for the next research opportunity.

Do Conferences Notify Authors About Rejection?

Yes, conferences usually notify authors when a submission is rejected. A reputable conference should inform authors about the final decision, whether the result is acceptance, rejection, revision, or another review outcome.

Rejection notification is important because it gives authors an official answer after the review process. Without that notice, authors would not know whether to wait, revise the paper, submit elsewhere, or contact the organizing committee.

In most cases, the decision is sent to the corresponding author listed during submission. If there are multiple authors, the other co-authors may not receive the email directly unless the submission system sends updates to everyone. That is why authors should confirm who is listed as the main contact before the notification date.

A rejection notice may be short or detailed depending on the conference. Some conferences only state that the paper was not accepted. Others include reviewer comments, scores, or suggestions for improvement. Even when the result is disappointing, the notification helps authors plan their next step clearly.

How Conferences Send Acceptance or Rejection Notifications

Conferences usually send acceptance or rejection notifications by email, through a submission portal, or both. The exact method depends on the platform the conference uses and how the organizing committee manages paper decisions.

Email Notifications to the Corresponding Author

Most conferences send the decision email to the corresponding author. This is the person listed as the main contact during submission.

The email usually includes:

• Paper title
• Submission ID
• Decision status
• Conference name
• Short message from the program committee
• Reviewer comments, if available
• Next steps, if the paper is accepted or needs revision

For accepted papers, the email may include details about registration, presentation format, camera-ready submission, and final deadlines. For rejected papers, the email may simply explain that the paper was not accepted.

Submission Portal Updates

Many conferences also update decisions inside submission systems such as EasyChair, EDAS, Ex Ordo, OpenReview, or similar platforms. Authors can log in and check the paper status even if the email is delayed or missed.

Common decision labels may include:

• Accepted
• Rejected
• Revision required
• Poster accepted
• Camera-ready required
• Under review

The portal may also show reviewer comments, scores, discussion notes, or final instructions. If you do not see an email by the notification date, checking the submission portal is usually the fastest next step.

Whether Reviewer Comments Are Included

Reviewer feedback depends on the conference. Some conferences provide detailed comments explaining the strengths and weaknesses of the paper. Others send only the final decision with little or no explanation.

A detailed rejection notice can still be useful because it shows what to improve before submitting elsewhere. Even a short decision notice gives authors the clarity they need to move forward.

When Do Conferences Send Rejection Notifications?

Conferences usually send rejection notifications on the official decision or notification date listed in the call for papers. This date tells authors when to expect the result of the review process.

The exact timeline depends on the size, type, and review structure of the conference. Large international conferences often take longer because they receive more submissions and may use several review stages. Smaller conferences, workshops, or symposiums may send decisions sooner.

Common notification timelines look like this:

Some conferences separate notification dates by track. For example, main conference papers, workshop papers, posters, and student submissions may each have different timelines. Others may release decisions in batches, which means some authors receive emails earlier than others.

If the notification date has passed, do not assume the paper was rejected. First, check the submission portal, spam folder, CFP page, and co-author emails before contacting the conference team.

What a Conference Rejection Notice Usually Includes

A conference rejection notice usually includes the paper title, submission ID, decision status, and a short message from the program committee. Some conferences also include reviewer comments, scores, or recommendations for improving the paper.

A typical rejection notice may include:

• Conference name to confirm which event the decision belongs to
• Paper title so authors can identify the submission
• Submission ID for tracking and follow-up
• Decision status such as rejected, not accepted, or declined
• Program committee message explaining the outcome briefly
• Reviewer comments if the conference shares feedback
• Scores or ratings if the review system makes them available
• Next-step notes if revision, workshop transfer, or poster consideration is possible

Not every rejection email gives detailed reasons. Some conferences send only a brief decision notice, especially if they receive many submissions. Others provide full reviewer reports that explain issues with originality, methodology, clarity, relevance, contribution, or fit with the conference scope.

Authors should read the notice carefully before reacting. A rejection does not always mean the research has no value. Sometimes the paper is outside the conference scope, the competition is very strong, or the submission needs clearer writing, stronger evidence, or better positioning.

Example Conference Decision Emails

Conference decision emails usually confirm the paper status and tell authors what to do next. A rejection email gives closure after review, while an acceptance email usually includes presentation, registration, and final submission instructions.

Sample Rejection Email

Subject: Decision on Your Submission – [Conference Name]

Dear [Author Name],

Thank you for submitting your paper, “[Paper Title]”, to [Conference Name].

After review by the program committee, we regret to inform you that your paper has not been accepted for this year’s conference program. The decision was based on reviewer evaluation, conference scope, available presentation slots, and the overall strength of submissions.

If reviewer comments are available, they can be found in the submission portal or attached to this email. We encourage you to use the feedback to improve the paper for a future submission.

Thank you for your interest in [Conference Name].

Sincerely,
[Program Chair or Organizing Committee]

Sample Acceptance Email

Subject: Acceptance Notification – [Conference Name]

Dear [Author Name],

We are pleased to inform you that your paper, “[Paper Title]”, has been accepted for presentation at [Conference Name].

Please review the next steps for registration, final paper submission, presentation format, and conference participation. The camera-ready version, if required, must be submitted by [Deadline].

Further details about the program schedule, session assignment, and presentation guidelines will be shared by the organizing committee.

Sincerely,
[Program Chair or Organizing Committee]

Sample Revision or Resubmission Request

Subject: Revision Request for Your Submission – [Conference Name]

Dear [Author Name],

Thank you for submitting your paper, “[Paper Title]”, to [Conference Name].

The program committee has reviewed your submission and requests revisions before a final decision is made. Please address the reviewer comments, update the paper as needed, and submit the revised version by [Deadline].

The final decision will be shared after the revised paper is reviewed.

Sincerely,
[Program Chair or Organizing Committee]

What Authors Should Check in Any Decision Email

After receiving a conference decision email, check the important details before taking action:

• Paper title and submission ID
• Decision status
• Reviewer comments or scores
• Revision or camera-ready deadline
• Registration requirements
• Presentation format
• Contact details for questions

For a rejection notice, save the email and reviewer feedback. For an acceptance or revision request, note every deadline immediately so you do not miss the next step.

Why You Might Not See a Rejection Notification

You might not see a rejection notification because the email was filtered, sent to another author, delayed, or posted only inside the submission portal. A missing email does not always mean the conference has not made a decision.

Common reasons include:

• Spam or junk filtering: Automated emails from conference systems may land in spam, junk, or promotions folders.
• Wrong email address: A typo, old address, or inactive account in the submission profile can prevent delivery.
• Corresponding author settings: In multi-author papers, the decision may go only to the corresponding author.
• Portal-only updates: Some conferences update the decision in systems like EasyChair, EDAS, Ex Ordo, or OpenReview without sending a detailed email.
• Batch email delays: Organizers may release decisions in groups, so some authors receive notices later than others.
• Changed notification date: The conference may update the timeline on the CFP or website.

If the notification date has passed, start by checking the submission portal and all email folders. Then confirm the email address and ask co-authors whether they received the decision. If there is still no update after a short buffer, contact the program chair or organizing committee politely.

What to Do If the Notification Date Has Passed

If the conference notification date has passed, first check the submission portal, email folders, CFP page, and co-author messages before contacting the organizers. A delayed or missing decision notice is often caused by email filtering, batch sending, or a portal-only update.

Check the Submission Portal

Log in to the system where you submitted the paper, such as EasyChair, EDAS, Ex Ordo, OpenReview, or the conference’s own portal. The decision may already be visible there even if no email arrived.

Search Spam, Junk, and Promotions Folders

Search your inbox using the conference name, submission ID, paper title, or platform name. Automated conference emails are sometimes filtered away from the main inbox.

Recheck the CFP Notification Date

Visit the official call for papers page and confirm the decision date. Some authors accidentally check an old deadline, workshop deadline, or early notification date instead of the final decision date.

Ask the Corresponding Author or Co-Authors

If you are not the corresponding author, the decision may have gone to someone else on the author list. Ask your co-authors whether they received an email or portal update.

Allow a Short Delay

Some conferences send decisions in batches or need extra time to finalize reviews. A small delay is not unusual, especially for large conferences or events with several tracks.

Send a Polite Inquiry

If you still cannot find the decision, contact the program chair or organizing committee. Keep the email short and include the conference name, paper title, submission ID, and your contact details.

Polite Follow-Up Email Template for a Missing Decision

If the notification date has passed and you cannot find any update, send a short and respectful email to the program chair or organizing committee. Your message should include the conference name, paper title, submission ID, and a simple request to confirm the decision status.

Follow-Up Email Template

Subject: Submission Decision Inquiry – [Conference Name], Paper #[Submission ID]

Dear [Program Chair/Organizing Committee],

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to ask about the decision status of my submission, “[Paper Title]”, submitted to [Conference Name] under submission ID #[Submission ID].

The listed notification date has passed, and I have not yet received a decision by email or through the submission portal. Could you please confirm whether the decision has been released?

Thank you for your time and assistance.

Best regards,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Affiliation]
[Your Email Address]

When to Send This Email

Send this email only after checking the submission portal, spam folder, CFP page, and co-author emails. If the notification date has passed by only a short time, allow a small buffer before following up.

What to Avoid in the Follow-Up

Avoid sending repeated messages, emotional complaints, or long explanations. A clear, polite email is more effective and keeps the communication professional.

Can Authors Respond After a Rejection?

Authors can sometimes respond after a rejection, but only if the conference allows rebuttals, appeals, or clarification requests. In many conferences, the rejection decision is final, so authors should always check the author guidelines before replying.

Rebuttal Phase

Some conferences include a rebuttal phase before final decisions are made. During this period, authors can respond to reviewer comments, clarify misunderstandings, or correct factual errors in the review.

A rebuttal is not a full rewrite of the paper. It should be short, focused, and professional. The goal is to help reviewers understand the submission more accurately before the final decision.

Appeal Request

Appeals are less common than rebuttals. A conference may allow an appeal if there was a serious issue in the review process, such as a conflict of interest, a technical error, or a clear misunderstanding of the submission scope.

Authors should only appeal when they have strong evidence. An appeal should not be used simply because the authors disagree with the reviewers or feel disappointed by the result.

Clarification Request

If reviewer comments are unclear or missing, authors may politely ask whether additional feedback is available. Not every conference will provide more detail, especially if the review policy does not allow it.

A clarification request should be brief and respectful. It is better to ask for guidance than to challenge the decision directly.

Why Most Rejection Decisions Are Final

Most conference rejection decisions are final because program committees work under strict schedules, limited presentation slots, and fixed publication deadlines. Once decisions are released, the program often moves quickly toward registration, scheduling, and proceedings preparation.

If no rebuttal or appeal option is listed, the best next step is usually to revise the paper and submit it to a better-matched conference, workshop, or journal.

What to Do After Receiving a Conference Rejection

After receiving a conference rejection, read the decision carefully, review the feedback, improve the paper, and choose a better-matched venue for resubmission. A rejection does not mean the research has no value; it usually means the paper needs revision, stronger positioning, or a more suitable conference.

Read the Decision Carefully

Start by reading the full rejection notice without rushing. Check whether the decision is a full rejection, a revision request, a poster option, or a suggestion to submit to another track.

Also look for reviewer comments, scores, or summary notes. These details can show whether the issue was scope, originality, methodology, clarity, formatting, or limited space in the program.

Use Reviewer Feedback to Improve the Paper

If reviewer comments are included, organize them by theme. Look for repeated concerns because those usually point to the most important weaknesses.

You may need to improve:

• Research question clarity
• Methodology explanation
• Evidence or data presentation
• Literature review
• Results and discussion
• Writing structure
• Fit with the conference scope

Even critical feedback can make the paper stronger if you use it carefully.

Ask Mentors or Co-Authors for Input

Share the decision and reviewer comments with supervisors, mentors, co-authors, or trusted colleagues. They can help you separate useful feedback from less relevant comments and decide what should be revised first.

A second opinion is especially helpful when reviews are brief, mixed, or difficult to interpret.

Choose a Better-Matched Venue

Before submitting again, compare the paper with the next conference’s theme, tracks, audience, review criteria, and publication options. A strong paper can still be rejected if it does not match the event’s scope.

You may consider:

• Another conference in the same field
• A smaller or more specialized workshop
• A poster track
• A journal submission
• A future edition of the same conference after revision

Update the Paper Before Resubmitting

Avoid sending the same version to another venue without changes. Use the feedback to revise the title, abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, and conclusion where needed.

Also check formatting, references, word limit, author guidelines, and submission requirements for the next venue. A careful revision increases the chance of a better outcome.

Rejection vs. Revision vs. Poster Acceptance

A rejection, revision request, and poster acceptance are different conference outcomes. Authors should read the decision carefully because each result requires a different next step.

What Rejection Means

A rejection means the paper has not been accepted for the conference program in its current submission cycle. The paper will not be presented or included in the official proceedings unless the conference offers another route, such as transfer to a workshop or future resubmission.

After rejection, authors should review the comments, revise the paper, and consider another conference, workshop, or journal.

What Revision or Revise-and-Resubmit Means

A revision request means the committee wants changes before making or confirming a final decision. This may involve improving the method, clarifying results, addressing reviewer concerns, or fixing formatting issues.

Authors should follow the instructions exactly, meet the revision deadline, and clearly address the requested changes.

What Poster Acceptance Means

A poster acceptance means the paper or project has been accepted for presentation in poster format instead of an oral talk or full session. This is still a positive outcome and can offer useful visibility, feedback, and networking opportunities.

Authors should check whether poster acceptance includes proceedings publication, abstract publication, or presentation-only participation, because policies differ by conference.

How Authors Should Respond to Each Outcome

Use the decision type to choose your next action:

Understanding the difference helps authors avoid mistakes, such as missing a revision deadline, assuming poster acceptance is a rejection, or resubmitting a rejected paper without improvement.

Common Mistakes Authors Should Avoid After Rejection

After a conference rejection, authors should avoid reacting emotionally, ignoring feedback, or resubmitting the same paper without improvement. A careful response can turn rejection into a stronger future submission.

Ignoring Reviewer Comments

Reviewer comments may not always be detailed, but they often point to issues that affected the decision. Ignoring them can lead to the same problems in the next submission.

Look for comments about scope, novelty, methods, evidence, writing clarity, formatting, or contribution. Even short feedback can help you decide what to improve.

Resubmitting Without Revising

Submitting the same paper to another conference without changes is a common mistake. If the paper had weaknesses in structure, argument, method, or fit, those issues may appear again in the next review.

Before resubmitting, revise the paper based on the feedback and the next conference’s guidelines.

Sending Emotional Replies to Organizers

A rejection can feel frustrating, but emotional replies rarely help. Avoid arguing with reviewers, demanding acceptance, or sending long complaint emails.

If you need clarification, write politely and ask a specific question. Keep your message short, respectful, and professional.

Missing a Rebuttal or Revision Deadline

Some conferences allow rebuttals, revisions, or author responses within a fixed window. Missing that deadline can remove your chance to clarify reviewer concerns or improve the decision outcome.

Check the decision email and submission portal carefully for any response deadline.

Choosing the Next Venue Without Checking Fit

A paper may be rejected because it does not match the conference scope, even if the research is useful. Before submitting again, review the next venue’s topics, audience, paper categories, review criteria, and publication rules.

A better-matched conference, workshop, or journal can improve the chance of acceptance after revision.

FAQs About Do Conferences Give Notification of Rejection?

Many authors feel uncertain while waiting for a conference decision, especially when the notification date is close or has already passed. These FAQs answer common questions about conference rejection emails, submission portals, reviewer feedback, resubmission, and attendance after rejection.

Do All Conferences Send Rejection Emails?

Most reputable conferences send rejection emails or update the decision in the submission portal. However, the method can vary. Some conferences send a direct email, while others require authors to log in to the submission system to view the result.

Who Receives the Rejection Notification?

The corresponding author usually receives the rejection notification. In some submission systems, all listed authors may also see the decision after logging in. Co-authors should confirm who was selected as the main contact during submission.

Do All Authors See the Decision in the Submission Portal?

Not always. Some platforms allow all authors to access the paper status, while others give full access only to the submitting or corresponding author. If you cannot see the decision, ask the corresponding author to check the portal.

Do Conference Rejection Emails Include Reviewer Comments?

Some conference rejection emails include reviewer comments, scores, or summary feedback, but not all do. Large or well-structured conferences often provide detailed reviews, while smaller events may send only a short decision notice.

Can a Rejected Paper Still Be Submitted Somewhere Else?

Yes, a rejected paper can usually be revised and submitted to another conference, workshop, or journal. Before resubmitting, authors should improve the paper, check the next venue’s scope, and follow its formatting and submission rules.

Are Rejected Conference Papers Published?

No, rejected conference papers are generally not published by the conference. Only accepted papers, posters, abstracts, or proceedings entries are published, depending on the event’s policy. Authors remain free to revise and submit rejected work elsewhere.

Can I Attend the Conference If My Paper Is Rejected?

Yes, authors can usually attend the conference as regular participants even if their paper is rejected. Attending can still be useful for networking, learning from accepted work, meeting researchers, and preparing for a stronger future submission.

What Should I Do If I Never Receive a Decision?

First, check the submission portal, spam folder, CFP page, and co-author emails. If you still cannot find the result after a short delay, send a polite inquiry to the program chair or organizing committee with your paper title and submission ID.

Conclusion

Understanding do conferences give notification of rejection helps authors know what to expect after submitting a paper. In most cases, reputable conferences send a decision by email, update the submission portal, or use both methods to inform authors whether the paper is accepted, rejected, revised, or assigned to another format.

If the result is a rejection, it is still an important part of the research process. The notice gives authors clarity, and when reviewer comments are included, it can also show what needs improvement before the next submission.

Before taking the next step, check the decision carefully, save any feedback, discuss revisions with co-authors, and choose the next venue based on scope, audience, deadlines, and publication fit. A rejection may feel disappointing, but a thoughtful response can lead to a stronger paper and a better submission outcome.