Conference 2026 | Literacy Association

A legacy project of the Annual LITASA Conference..png

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Abstracts were invited for The 2026 LITASA Conference, hosted by the Gauteng Branch of LITASA, under the theme:

Celebrating 21 years of literacy research, practice and advocacy, LITASA's 2026 Conference marks a significant milestone in South Africa’s literacy journey. For more than two decades, the conference has brought together educators, researchers, policymakers, community organisations and literacy advocates committed to shaping the country’s literacy landscape. As we celebrated LITASA’s 21st conference, we invited participants to reimagine literacy’s role in building equitable, multilingual and socially just futures — futures in which every South African can access knowledge, participate fully and exercise agency with dignity.

In a moment marked by challenging PIRLS findings, widening inequalities, rapidly advancing AI technologies and shifting linguistic and cultural ecologies, literacy remains a powerful tool for transformation. The year’s theme foregrounds multilingual literacies as dynamic resources that bridge home and school, local realities and global opportunities, foundational learning and higher education, and classrooms and communities.

The conference created space to explore:

Transformative literacy in a changing world, including literacy, social justice, innovation, AI, sustainability and partnerships.
Foundations for the future in the early years, with attention to home languages, cultural knowledge and strong early literacy development.
Reading across the years, focusing on transitions, continuity and deepening engagement in reading and writing across schooling.
Literacies in higher education, including access, equity, epistemic justice and responses to digital and AI-driven shifts.
Rethinking assessment, particularly in multilingual and multimodal contexts.
Literacies beyond the classroom, highlighting community, family, workplace and digital literacy practices.

We welcomed submissions and presentations in all twelve official South African languages.

EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS

The LITASA 2026 Conference brought together organisations working across literacy, language and education, providing a valuable platform to showcase their work, products and services to a diverse community of educators, researchers, policymakers and practitioners.

We extend our sincere thanks to all our exhibitors and partners for being part of the 21st Annual Conference and for sharing their work with the LITASA community.

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

The pre-conference workshops formed an important part of the LITASA 2026 Conference, offering delegates opportunities for focused, hands-on professional learning ahead of the main conference programme. We extend our sincere thanks to all the organisations, institutions and literacy partners who facilitated these workshops and shared their expertise, innovative practice and professional learning opportunities with the LITASA community.

WEB Reading and Writing Journal WRITING FOR PUBLICATION 2026 Pre-conference Workshop 1 - 3

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

All applicants must have an abstract accepted for LITASA 2026 and must be registered for the conference.
Anyone meeting that requirement may apply, though note that postgraduate students and early-career researchers are given preference.
Places are capped and, within that preference, allocated on a first-come basis, so early application is advisable.

LITASA invites you to apply for the Writing for Publication preconference workshop, hosted with the Reading & Writing Journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Janet Condy, in the three days before the annual conference. It is aimed at postgraduate students and early-career researchers who have an accepted conference abstract and want to develop it into a journal article.

Discovering SADiLaR's Digital Tools and Networks for Language Educators

This will be a hands-on workshop introducing language and literacy educators to SADiLaR's freely available digital tools and research community. Participants will explore the Language Resource Catalogue, spelling checkers for South African languages, and LwimiLinks — a platform for multilingual terminology — alongside practical guidance on applying these in classroom and curriculum contexts.

The session also opens the door to ongoing support through SADiLaR's ESCALATOR programme, including monthly Digital Humanities colloquia and Introduction to R Markdown for those who want

to go further.

No prior technical experience is required — just curiosity about how digital tools can support language teaching and learning

Ulwazi Lwethu in Practice

How to use African language reading resources in the Foundation Phase classroom

Ulwazi Lwethu is a collection of high-quality African language resources for Foundation Phase learners, including graded readers and storybooks, anthologies, classroom libraries, big books and worksheets. During this interactive workshop, we will explore how African language and English resources can be used to support foundational reading development in the Foundation Phase.

Participants will learn more about the Ulwazi Lwethu series, learn about the development of the

resources, and navigate through the website on their cellphones to find resources that meet their specific needs. It is then time to think practically about how the resources can be used in Foundation Phase classrooms through real-world examples and hands-on activities.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

We look forward to coming together once again as a community committed to literacy, learning, and meaningful exchange. Whether you are presenting your work or attending as a delegate, your participation will help shape this important space.

Please take note of the registration deadlines below:

Presenters: 20 July 2026

Non-presenting delegates: 25 August 2026

We encourage early registration to secure your place.

Delegate fees are as follows:

Full registration: Non-member | R 3 800 Member | R 3 400

NGO Rep registration (per person): Non-member | R 2 800 Member | R 2 400

Teacher registration: Non-member | R 2 300 Member | R 2 000

Student registration: R 1 800

International registration (Africa): R 4 000

International registration (outside Africa): USD $390

Conference Discount Eligibility:

Only members whose LITASA membership was active before conference registration opened for the current conference year are eligible for the member discount on conference registration. Memberships taken up after the opening of conference registration do not qualify for the discounted rate for that year's conference.

2026 EXHIBITOR PACKAGES

Inclusion of promotional items in the conference bags & Logo in the programme.
Exhibition stand (2 tables, 3 representatives.)
1 x 30 minute presentation slot to promote or demonstrate your products / services, which will also be featured on LITASA's YouTube channel and social media platforms for extended reach and engagement.
Advertising on LITASA’s social media platforms for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the conference. (content to be provided by organisation)
Social media coverage during conference, content to be provided by organisation (2 x reels, 1 daily story / post)
1 x pull up banner in plenary venue throughout conference.
Inclusion of logo in advertisement of pre - conference activities.
Inclusion of logo and link to website on conference website page and prospectus.

Inclusion of promotional items in the conference bags & Logo in the programme.
Exhibition stand (2 tables, 2 representatives.)
Advertising on LITASA’s social media platforms for 1 week before and 1 week after conference. (content to be provided by organisation)
Social media coverage during conference, content to be provided by organisation(1 x reel, 1 daily story / post.)
Inclusion of logo and link to website on conference website page and prospectus.

Inclusion of promotional items in the conference bags & Logo in the programme.
Exhibition stand (1 tables, 1 representative.)
Advertising on LITASA’s social media platforms for 1 week before or after conference. (content to be provided by organisation)
Social media coverage during conference content to be provided by organisation (2 x posts.)
Inclusion of logo and link to website on conference website page and prospectus.
A 15-minute presentation on your institution’s services and the courses it offers.

Inclusion of promotional items in the conference bags & Logo in the programme.
Exhibition stand (1 table, 1 representative.)
Social media coverage during conference, content to be provided by organisation (1 post.)
Inclusion of logo and link to website on conference website page and prospectus

CANCELLATIONS

Cancellations should be made in writing and emailed to info@litasa.org.za.

For in-person conference attendance, a 10% cancellation fee applies up to 3 weeks before the conference; thereafter a 100% cancellation fee will apply.

No refunds will be given for non-attendance.