chaubeyG/EmoReAlM
Improving Audiovisual Emotion Reasoning with Preference Optimization EmoReAlM Benchmark ICLR 2026 This is the official benchmark dataset for the ICLR 2026 paper — AVERE: Improving Audiovisual Emotion Reasoning with Preference Optimization. Refer to our project page for more information on the method. Overview EmoReAlM is a benchmark designed to evaluate multimodal large… See the full description on the dataset page: https://huggingface.co/datasets/chaubeyG/EmoReAlM.
<div align="center"> <img src="./assets/averelogocropped.png" width="400">
<h1>Improving Audiovisual Emotion Reasoning with Preference Optimization</h1> <h2>EmoReAlM Benchmark</h2> <h3>ICLR 2026</h3>
<p> <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.07054"> <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/arXiv-2602.07054-b31b1b.svg?logo=arxiv" alt="arXiv"> </a> <!-- <a href="https://github.com/ihp-lab/AVERE"> <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Github-AVERE-black?logo=github" alt="GitHub"> </a> --> <a href="https://avere-iclr.github.io/"> <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Website-avere--iclr.github.io-purple?logo=data:image/svg%2bxml;base64,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" alt="Website"> </a> <a href="https://huggingface.co/datasets/chaubeyG/EmoReAlM"> <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Benchmark-EmoReAlM-orange?logo=huggingface" alt="Benchmark"> </a> <a href="https://huggingface.co/datasets/chaubeyG/EmoReAlM/blob/main/LICENSE.rst"> <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/License-USC%20Research-green?logo=data:image/svg%2bxml;base64,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" 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</p> <br> </div>
This is the official benchmark dataset for the ICLR 2026 paper — AVERE: Improving Audiovisual Emotion Reasoning with Preference Optimization.
Refer to our project page for more information on the method.
Overview
EmoReAlM is a benchmark designed to evaluate multimodal large language models (MLLMs) on audiovisual emotion understanding. It specifically targets two critical failure modes of current MLLMs:
- Reasoning errors — spurious associations between emotions and irrelevant audiovisual cues.
- Perception errors — hallucination of audiovisual cues driven by text priors in the language model backbone.
EmoReAlM consists of 4,000 multiple-choice questions spanning five evaluation tasks across audio and visual modalities, built on top of video clips from DFEW.
Benchmark Tasks
EmoReAlM evaluates MLLMs across five tasks:
Data Format
Each sample in emorealm_v1.json follows this structure:
{
"id": 77172,
"video": "part_1/1252.mp4",
"question": "Does a somber tone or soft-spoken dialogue enhance the feeling of sadness conveyed by the person in the video?",
"answer": "A",
"choices": [
"(A) No",
"(B) Yes"
],
"task": "reasoning_stress_audio"
}Leaderboard
For the full leaderboard (including vision-only and audio-only models), visit our project page.
Accuracy (%) on EmoReAlM. Higher is better.
Proprietary Models
Open-source Omni (Audiovisual) Models
AVEm-DPO (Ours)
Video Data
The video clips used in EmoReAlM are sourced from the DFEW dataset. We provide only the benchmark annotations (questions, answers, and task labels). Users must obtain the original DFEW videos separately under the appropriate license from the DFEW authors.
License
This dataset is distributed under the USC Research license. See LICENSE.rst for more details. The benchmark annotations (questions, answer choices, and task labels) are provided by us. The underlying video data is sourced from the DFEW dataset, and users are requested to obtain the videos from the original data source under the appropriate license.
Acknowledgement
Research was sponsored by the Army Research Office and was accomplished under Cooperative Agreement Number W911NF-25-2-0040. Work was also in part supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant IIS-2211550 and the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R61MH135407. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the Army Research Office, NSF, NIH, or the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Government purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation herein.
Citation
@inproceedings{chaubey2026avere,
title={AVERE: Improving Audiovisual Emotion Reasoning with Preference Optimization},
author={Chaubey, Ashutosh and Pang, Jiacheng and Siniukov, Maksim and Soleymani, Mohammad},
booktitle={International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR)},
year={2026},
url={https://openreview.net/forum?id=td682AAuPr}
}