Understanding the New Abstract Character Limits for OHBM 2026
Introduction
As we prepare for OHBM 2026 in Bordeaux, we want to clarify an important change in the abstract submission process: the character limits for abstracts. This year, the guidelines show a higher total character limit than in previous years, which has caused some confusion. We want to explain why the numbers are different, how it affects your submission, and what has not changed about the expectations for your abstract.
What’s Different?
In past years, OHBM displayed a single 4,000-character limit for the scientific content (Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusions). This year, the new submission platform shows separate limits for each section:
Introduction: 2,000 characters
Methods: 4,000 characters
Results: 4,000 characters
Conclusion: 4,000 characters
When added together, these section limits result in a total of up to 14,000 characters, which looks much higher than the old single-limit system. The platform also counts spaces, line breaks, and formatting characters differently than the old system, which contributes to the larger numbers displayed in the guidelines.
Why the Change?
The higher numbers in the guidelines are not intended to encourage longer abstracts. They exist to match the technical requirements of the new platform and prevent submissions from being rejected due to how it counts characters. The actual amount of content authors can reasonably enter is similar to previous years, and abstracts will not, in practice, be three times longer.
The new system also ensures consistency and fairness for all authors: every abstract follows the same structured fields with identical per-section limits, and the platform automatically enforces these limits, so no submission can bypass the rules. Reviewers will assess abstracts based on scientific clarity, significance, and conciseness - not total character count. The per-section limits simply give authors flexibility while ensuring the platform functions smoothly.
Our Advice
When writing your abstract, aim for a concise and focused submission similar in length and scope to previous OHBM meetings. Think of the higher limits as technical flexibility, not an invitation to add extra content. Typical abstracts comfortably fit within these limits, and it’s best to prioritize clear communication of your science over maximizing the character count.
If you want, you can use past submissions as a benchmark: abstracts that effectively communicate their research usually stay well under the new maximum limits.
Deadline Reminder
The submission deadline is December 15, 2025, at 11:59 pm EST, USA, and it’s a hard deadline. No extensions will be possible due to the review schedule.
We hope this explanation and these instructions provide a smooth submission process for you this year. We’re excited to see your work and look forward to an amazing OHBM 2026 in Bordeaux!
