Preface to the Proceedings of the 22nd Conference on Information and Research Science Connecting to Digital and Library Science (IRCDL 2026)

The 22nd Conference on Information and Research Science Connecting to Digital and Library Science (IRCDL 2026) continues the tradition of IRCDL as a multidisciplinary forum for Digital Library research. Held in Modena, Italy, on February 19–20, 2026, the conference featured two tracks: Computer Science Foundations for Digital Libraries and Digital Humanities. The program spans key topics such as information retrieval, metadata and interoperability, knowledge representation, generative and responsible AI, digital preservation, and cultural heritage. The proceedings include research papers, short papers, and extended abstracts, highlighting both methodological advances and application-oriented studies, and reinforcing IRCDL’s role as a meeting point between computer science, information science, and digital humanities.