2026 Conference | Literacy Association of South Africa

IMPORTANT DATES:

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 15 MARCH 2026
EXTENDED ABSTRACT DEADLINE: 30 APRIL 2026
PRESENTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 20 JULY 2026
NON-PRESENTING DELEGATES REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 25 AUGUST 2026

A legacy project of the Annual LITASA Conference..png

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Abstracts are 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, this conference has brought together educators, researchers, policymakers, community organisations and literacy advocates committed to shaping the country’s literacy landscape. As we celebrate LITASA’s 21st birthday, we invite 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. This 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 will create 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 welcome submissions and presentations in all twelve official South African languages. Please indicate your preferred presentation language when submitting.

ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS HAVE BEEN CLOSED.

If you have any queries, contact us at info@litasa.org.za.

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.

EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS

The LITASA 2026 Conference provides exhibition opportunities for organisations to showcase their work, products, and services to a diverse literacy community of educators, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.

For sponsorship enquiries, please contact: info@litasa.org.za.

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

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

A feature of the Annual LITASA Conference, offering delegates the opportunity to engage in focused, hands-on professional learning ahead of the main conference programme.

HOST A PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP

LITASA invites organisations, institutions, and literacy partners who are interested in hosting or facilitating a pre-conference workshop to get in touch with us. If you have expertise, innovative practice, research, or professional learning opportunities that would benefit our delegates, we would love to hear from you.

Please contact us at: info@litasa.org.za.

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.

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.