Conference FAQs

For Chicago and Virtual day

FAQs for both in-person and virtual AAAL 2026 conference formats

Why is AAAL adding a new virtual format?
How will AAAL ensure the quality of both conference formats?
What will be the theme of the conferences?
How long are the conference formats?
What types of presentations will be included in each format?
How can I submit a proposal?
Can I submit more than one proposal?
How will my proposal be reviewed?
When will I find out about the acceptance of my proposal?
Is there a registration deadline?
How much will registration cost?
How can I volunteer for the conference?
Will both conference formats accommodate special requests?
Can I switch my presentation from in-person to online (or vice versa)?

FAQs for in-person AAAL 2026 conference

FAQs for both in-person and virtual AAAL 2026 conference formats

Why is AAAL adding a new virtual format?

The primary purpose of offering an online conference is to expand accessibility for those who are unable to travel to attend the in-person conference due to economic, time, health, disability, religious, or family care reasons. The virtual format aims to make participation more inclusive and flexible for a broader audience.

How will AAAL ensure the quality of both conference formats?

AAAL is committed to ensuring both the in-person and virtual conferences are of the highest quality. We will leverage available resources efficiently to provide a seamless and engaging experience for all participants, regardless of format.

What will be the theme of the conferences?

The theme, “Reimagining disciplinary practices”, for both the in-person and virtual conferences will be the same for the pilot year.

How long are the conference formats?

In-person conference: A 4-day event from March 21-24, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
Virtual conference: A one-day event on April 24, 2026, lasting 10 hours (9:00 am EDT to 7:00 pm EDT).

To accommodate global participants, the virtual conference will run during this time frame, though it may be challenging for certain time zones. For example, participants in the Pacific Islands will start at 3:00 am (Honolulu), in East Asia/Oceania at 11:00 pm (Sydney) and 10:00 pm (Tokyo), and in South Asia at 7:00 pm (Dhaka).

What types of presentations will be included in each format?

In-person and virtual conferences will offer the same session types, including plenaries, individual papers, roundtables, colloquia, posters, graduate student roundtables, and networking opportunities.
Virtual: Posters will be available asynchronously on the conference website, and participants can comment via text. Networking sessions will be grouped by specific strands, a combination of strands, or affinity groups. Conference attendees are also free to propose networking sessions if they are able to find a minimum of ten like-minded individuals. These proposals will be reviewed by the conference organizing committee.

How can I submit a proposal?

Proposals for both the in-person and virtual conferences should be submitted through the same submission platform (via an electronic link) listed in the Call for Proposals.
Proposals must adhere to the same first-author rule as the in-person conference.That is, individuals may submit a maximum of one abstract as a single/first author, whether a paper (including papers presented in a colloquium), a poster, or a roundtable discussion. They may play an additional role as a colloquium organizer or discussant or conference workshop presenter. No individual’s name should appear in more than three proposals of any type in the regular academic sessions.
Individuals may submit abstracts to both the in-person and the virtual conferences, but they may not submit the same abstracts to both conferences.

Can I submit more than one proposal?

Yes, you can submit different proposals to the in-person and virtual conferences. However, you cannot submit the same proposal to both formats. The first-author rule noted in the previous question applies separately to both the in-person and virtual formats.

How will my proposal be reviewed?

All proposals, whether submitted for the in-person or virtual conference, will be reviewed in the same pool for each strand. In the spirit of blind review, reviewers and strand coordinators will not be able to see whether a proposal is submitted for the online or in-person conference. Decisions on acceptances or rejections will be made by the conference planning teams.

When will I find out about the acceptance of my proposal?

Notifications about proposal acceptances will be sent out at the same time for both the in-person and virtual conferences. Generally, the first round of proposal decision notifications are sent around October.

Is there a registration deadline?

Yes, there will be specific registration deadlines for both the in-person and virtual conferences. Be sure to check the AAAL conference website for the latest updates.

How much will registration cost?

Costs will be announced at the time of registration. There will be a discounted rate for those attending both the in-person and virtual conference formats.

How can I volunteer for the conference?

Volunteers are essential to the smooth running of the conference! You can volunteer for the in-person or virtual formats to assist with tasks such as moderating networking sessions, posting feedback polls, or helping manage events. Volunteers will be reimbursed for their in-person or online conference registration fee. Volunteer recruitment notifications are usually sent a month prior to the in-person conference to AAAL members, so check your email around that time for opportunities to volunteer for both the virtual and the in-person conference formats.

Will both conference formats accommodate special requests?

All presenters of both conference formats are encouraged to follow the AAAL Inclusive Presentation Guidelines, ensuring appropriate font size, type, and color contrast in presentation materials.
Closed captioning will be available for live sessions of the virtual conference via Zoom to accommodate Deaf and hard-of-hearing participants.

Can I switch my presentation from in-person to online (or vice versa)?

Requests to switch from in-person to online participation or vice versa will not be permitted after the proposal has been accepted. Relatedly, no conference registration refunds will be entertained if the participant seeks to switch from one conference modality to another after registration is paid.

FAQs for in-person AAAL 2026 conference

Conference Information, Program, & App:

Can I bring a guest to the ...?

No, only registered attendees may attend conference functions.

Can people who are not graduate students attend the graduate student events?

Graduate student events are designed specifically for graduate students. Individuals who are not graduate students should not attend.

Will there be childcare?

AAAL and the conference hotel are not able to provide childcare during the conference. Children are welcome, but MUST be accompanied by an adult at all times. AAAL will provide a family activity area with books and games for those traveling with children.

Is there a lactation room?

As a part of our effort to create a comfortable environment for your family, we provide a space for lactation needs. Please visit the registration desk to get your key to access the Mother's Room.

Will you have a quiet area?

AAAL will provide a Tranquility Space. Please visit the registration desk to get access to the Tranquility Space. AAAL asks you please abide by these guidelines when in the Tranquility Space:

All activities and attendees must be quiet
No talking in room; take all conversations outside
No headphones/music
No eating/drinking
Phones on mute; no sounds, no vibrating

Will there be an interfaith room?

AAAL will provide an interfaith room. The room will be divided by a drape. AAAL asks you to please abide by these guidelines when in the prayer room:

All activities and attendees must be quiet
No talking in room; take all conversations outside
No headphones/music
No eating/drinking
Phones on mute; no sounds, no vibrating

How do I get help with the conference app?

Prior to the conference please email info@aaal.org for questions.

How can I tell if a session has been canceled?

In the online program or app, it will begin with [Canceled].

Hotel, Food, & General Questions:

Is there someplace safe where I can leave my personal belongings while I go to sessions?

AAAL does not have a safe space to leave valuable materials. It is recommended to keep valuable items in your hotel room and/or safe.

I have lost my wallet, cell phone, credit cards, room key, glasses, etc. Where is the lost and found?

There is a lost and found box located in the back of the Registration Desk where found items will be held until the end of the conference day. Then, they will be taken to the hotel front desk.

Conference Connections

If I am assigned multiple mentees, do we have to meet all together, or can I meet with my mentees individually?

While our intent in setting up small-group mentoring was for mentors to meet with their assigned mentees simultaneously (so as not to place additional demands on your time as a mentor), you may choose to meet with mentees individually.

FAQs for virtual AAAL 2026 conference

Will the virtual conference content be available after the event?

Yes, all pre-recorded presentations and posters will be available for 30 days after the virtual conference. This allows participants who could not attend live to view the content on-demand.

What time zone will the virtual conference be held in?

The virtual conference will operate on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. Please be mindful of the time zone differences when planning your participation.

How will the virtual conference ensure interactivity and networking opportunities?

The virtual conference will include live Q&A sessions after pre-recorded presentations, as well as interactive networking opportunities grouped by research strands or affinity groups. Additionally, networking sessions will facilitate discussions among participants on topics of interest.

Will virtual presentations be live or pre-recorded?

Plenary speakers will present live during the virtual conference, along with the opening and closing sessions.
Individual paper presenters (including colloquia) will pre-record their presentations and submit them in advance, and will participate in a live Q&A session at their AAAL-designated time.
Roundtable sessions will be live and follow the same format as the in-person event (3 papers, 10 minutes each, followed by 30 minutes of Q&A and discussion).
Graduate Student Forum will be live, and all sessions will include a live Q&A opportunity.

What platform will be used for the virtual conference?

The virtual conference will use Whova for conference management and Zoom for live sessions, ensuring an interactive and user-friendly experience for all participants.