LRA 2026 CONFERENCE
LRA 2026 Annual Conference
The LRA 2026 conference theme, “Manifesting Quantum Imaginaries: Re-searching Literacies as a Transcontextual Enterprise,” invites a metaphorical reimagination of literacies through a quantum lens, challenging the static, linear models of space and time that dominate Western thought. But what is quantum? Simply put, quantum sciencestates that the smallest units of reality do not follow linear rules; instead, they exist as bundles of potential, holding multiple states simultaneously (National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2025). Metaphorically, for the research of literacies, this suggests that just as a subatomic particle holds infinite potential until it is observed, a single literacy event (e.g., a spoken word, a text sent; see Heath, 1982) holds multiple meanings depending on where and how it travels and can thus create limitless possibilities all-at-once (Smith, 2013, 2025a). Drawing on Michelle M. Wright’s Physics of Blackness (Wright, 2015), the LRA 2026 conference theme asks us to see literacies not as a simple “what,” but also as a complex “when” and “where” in the lives of all humans—as literacies in motion.
OVERVIEW
LRA 2026 Conference Overview
The Literacy Research Association (LRA) has released its notifications regarding proposals for the 2026 Annual Conference to be held on December 2-5, 2026 in Honolulu, Hawai’i. All individuals who submitted proposals should have received notifications regarding acceptance or rejection of proposals from LRA Headquarters by June 21, 2026. As a friendly reminder, individuals who are the primary authors for their submission will need to notify all co-authors of the decision received by LRA. Regular updates regarding the conference are available via the LRA 2026 monthly newsletter.
accommodations
LRA 2026 Conference Registration & Hotel Reservation
The official page for the 2026 LRA conference continues to be updated and is accessible here.
Registration for the 2026 LRA annual conference can be accessed here.
Hotel reservations that provide the discounted rate for the 2026 LRA annual conference can be directly accessed here.
For immediate questions regarding hotel reservation and conference registration, please email LRA Executive Director Nicollette Schmeichel at nschmeichel@association-resources.com, LRA President-Elect and Conference Chair Dr. Patriann Smith at psmith4@usf.edu, or LRA Vice-President Dr. Rahat Zaidi at rahat.zaidi@ucalgary.ca.
cAll for proposALS
LRA 2026 Call for Proposals
As President Elect and Conference Chair in collaboration with Vice President and Associate Conference Chair, Dr. Rahat Zaidi, it was a delight to share the Call for LRA’s 76th conference earlier this year and to invite to proposal submissions in response to the theme, Manifesting Quantum Imaginaries: Re-searching Literacies as a Transcontextual Enterprise. To access the long and short versions of the LRA 2026 conference theme, see here. To explore the Saint Lucian inspiration for 76th LRA conference cover art, visit the Literacy Research Association website here. The LRA 2026 Call for Proposals is now closed.
ALL ACADEMIC ONLINE PROGRAM
LRA 2026 All Academic Online Website
To access proposal notifications for the 76th LRA conference, visit the Literacy Research Association website’s All Academic Online site here.
PRESS RELEASES
LRA 2026 Press Releases
To customize and share a pre-made social media post for the 76th LRA conference via LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and What’s App, see the LRA 2026 January Press Release here.
To view the announcement of our first keynote for the LRA 2026 conference, see the LRA 2026 February Press Release here.
To view the announcement of our second keynote for the LRA 2026 conference, see the LRA 2026 September Press Release here.
Our press releases reveal exciting new updates such as the unveiling of the title of the LRA 2026 Presidential Address, podcasts from the LRA 2026 Keynote speakers, the debut of the LRA 2026 Reading Hall of Fame Inaugural Addresses, the announcement of our LRA 2026 Presidential Sessions, the abstracts for our LRA 2026 Integrative Research Review Panelists, the announcement of our LRA 2026 Awardees, invitations to RSVP for our LRA 2026 Signature Events, the recipe for our LRA 2026 Signature Drinks, and so much more.
We are excited to have had the honor to review your proposals for the 2026 LRA Annual Conference. We look forward to welcoming you to Honolulu, Hawai’i in December! See you there.
