Vol. 24, No. 1 | annual (January–December) | Published: 1/1/2026

In this annual 2026 issue, ICONO14 addresses a decisive stage in the evolution of digital communication, marked by the consolidation of emerging technologies, the normalization of their social and professional uses, and an increasing debate around governance, regulation, ethics, and structural impact. After a period dominated by accelerated innovation, attention now shifts toward the critical assessment of consequences, the sustainability of communicative models, and the responsibilities of the actors involved.

This issue maintains the journal’s annual open and continuous publication model, reinforcing ICONO14’s commitment to the permanent dissemination of original research that contributes to understanding, analysing, and guiding communication processes within an increasingly complex digital ecosystem.

The journal’s five Thematic Sections (TS) structure the editorial framework of the issue, fostering a critical, applied, and forward-looking perspective that integrates theoretical, methodological, and empirical approaches.

TS1 explores the progressive integration of XR environments, immersive experiences, and interactive systems across educational, cultural, informational, and corporate contexts. In 2026, particular emphasis is placed on sustained adoption models, the evaluation of real-world impact, and challenges related to accessibility, inclusion, representation, and equity within persistent digital environments.

TS2 continues to analyse the evolution of audiovisual languages, formats, and production and consumption processes. This issue strengthens the discussion around the automation of content creation, the role of artificial intelligence in creative and industrial workflows, and its cultural, ethical, and industrial implications within an increasingly standardised technological landscape.

TS3 gains strategic relevance in a context characterised by sophisticated disinformation, algorithmic opacity, and information overload. This section prioritises research focused on advanced models of critical media literacy, transversal competencies, and institutional strategies aimed at strengthening citizens’ autonomy and resilience in complex media ecosystems.

TS4 advances the exploration of advanced data analysis techniques, incorporating emerging debates on model interpretability, computational ethics, scientific reproducibility, and the influence of algorithmic systems on public opinion formation, decision-making processes, and social behaviour.

TS5 is consolidated as a key space for analysing the profound transformation of advertising, corporate communication, public relations, and intangible asset management in the context of advanced digitalisation. This section welcomes research examining the impact of technologies such as artificial intelligence, marketing automation, big data analytics, programmatic advertising, extended reality (XR), branded content, and neurocommunication on strategies, formats, and interaction dynamics between brands, organisations, and their publics. Interdisciplinary approaches, case studies derived from competitive research projects, comparative analyses across geographical contexts, and applied or methodological contributions with professional relevance are particularly encouraged.