CALACS conference – May 2026
Latin American and Caribbean Cities and Societies
Annual Congress of the Canadian Association of Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CALACS)
May 6th – 9th, 2026
Co-organized with the University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
Call for Papers
The challenges facing Latin American and Caribbean cities and societies in the twenty-first century are immense, but so too are the efforts of peoples of the region to create practices and policies that address them. The 2026 CALACS congress will open an interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars, practitioners, and non-profit organizations to examine creative responses, resilient practices, and forms of solidarity that have emerged over time within the region and across its diasporas in Canada and elsewhere. By centering these practices, we aim to move beyond deficit-based narratives toward an exploration of transformative possibilities. This approach offers a deeper understanding of how communities navigate socio-economic, political, and environmental insecurities while envisioning pathways to more just and sustainable societies.
We invite contributions that situate these dynamics within hemispheric interconnections, emphasizing the role of transnational networks and diasporic engagements in shaping innovative responses to systemic crises. In doing so, we ask: How do creative practices and solidarities challenge dominant narratives of crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean? In what ways do diasporic communities contribute to resilience and innovation across borders? How can interdisciplinary collaboration inform policy and social action for more equitable futures? These questions and others will animate the discussions at this annual meeting.
In addition to panels, papers, and workshops exploring the abovementioned themes, we invite proposals on any subject regarding Latin America and the Caribbean. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of CALACS, we are especially interested in addressing these topics from an inter-or-multidisciplinary point of view. We also encourage submitting individual proposals.
For more information, contact calacs@yorku.ca or congress@can-latam.org
The deadline for proposals submission for panels, workshops, and individual papers is December 29, 2025 through the conference website.
Proposals (around 350 words) can be submitted in Spanish, English, French or Portuguese.
1. Individual paper submissions should include the name(s) and affiliation(s) of the author(s), a title, and a 350-word abstract of the presentation. Individual paper submissions Webform: https://forms.gle/ZUr14biJybsretuC7
- 2. Panel proposals should include the name(s) and affiliation(s) of the organizers, a title and brief description of the panel, the names and affiliations of all the participants and a 350-word abstract for each paper. Panels can have 4 to 8 participants and be organized in one or two sessions.
- Panel proposals Webform: https://forms.gle/yfdsaRicfY1VtFv99
- 3. Roundtable proposals should include the name(s) and affiliation(s) of the organizer(s), a title and description, and a list of participants with their affiliations. Roundtables can have 5-8 participants.
- Roundtable proposals Webform: https://forms.gle/rHufevumvqjikUVRA
- 4. Workshop proposals should include the name(s) and affiliation(s) of the organizer(s), the title, brief description and main objectives of the activity, the intended audience, and materials and technical requirements if needed.
- Workshop proposals Webform: https://forms.gle/T5FZLnr9NLvskCNm9
- 5. Book presentations should include the name(s) and affiliation(s) of the author and the title and bibliographic information. The book must have been published in 2025 or 2026.
- Book presentations Webform: https://forms.gle/g5TkXPJZoUnVF9S8A
Proposals for presentations of artwork Webform: https://forms.gle/XnMUNnt7JN5jHAmv7
6. Proposals for presentations of artwork related to the theme. These should include the name and affiliation of the author(s)/artist(s), a title and 350-word description of the piece, and technical requirements (if needed).
Land acknowledgement of the congress venue: We recognize that many Indigenous Nations have longstanding relationships with the territories upon which York University campuses are located that precede the establishment of York University. York University acknowledges its presence on the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations. The area known as Tkaronto has been care taken by the Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat. It is now home to many First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities. We acknowledge the current treaty holders, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This territory is subject of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement to peaceably share and care for the Great Lakes region.