Can a sole author skip the ICONIP 2026 in-person presentation?

Acceptance into a conference is a win, but it becomes a logistical headache the second you realize you're the sole author and can't actually make the trip. If work commitments are blocking the flight to ICONIP 2026, the stakes feel higher because there isn't a co-author to step in and handle the podium.

The biggest concern for most researchers in this spot is whether the paper actually makes it into the proceedings. Generally, as long as the registration fee is paid, the paper is technically "in," but many conferences have a "no-show" policy where they can pull a paper from the digital library if it isn't presented. Since ICONIP is a major event in the neural networks and intelligent systems space, they usually have a standard protocol, but being a solo author makes you more vulnerable to these rules.

Potential workarounds for solo authors

If you're staring down a conflict, there are a few directions to push when talking to the organizers.

1. The Virtual Request
While many conferences have pushed back toward "in-person only" post-pandemic, some still allow a pre-recorded video presentation or a live Zoom session for extreme cases. The key here is to ask for a "virtual presentation" specifically rather than just saying you can't come.

2. The Proxy Presenter
This is a common move in academia. You find a colleague or a peer who is already attending the conference and ask them to present your slides. You'll need to provide the material and potentially handle a few questions via a pre-arranged chat or email. Organizers usually accept this as long as the paper is registered.

3. The "Emergency" Waiver
If the reason for absence is a genuine professional or personal emergency, some committees are lenient. However, "work commitments" can sometimes be seen as a weak excuse if the conference is strictly in-person.

Risks of non-attendance

If you simply don't show up and don't arrange a proxy, you risk the "no-show" tag. In a worst-case scenario, the paper might be flagged, which looks bad on a CV and can occasionally lead to the paper being omitted from the final indexed proceedings. To avoid this, the first step should be a formal email to the program chair.

When reaching out, don't just ask "what happens." Instead, propose a solution. Tell them you've already registered (or intend to) and offer to provide a high-quality recorded walkthrough of your findings. This shows you're committed to the AI workflow of the conference and aren't just ignoring the obligation. For those of us focusing on the technical side of LLM agents or neural architectures, the contribution is in the paper, but the "social contract" of the conference is the presentation. Solving that early is the only way to ensure your work gets the visibility it deserves.