REMINDER: Submit your abstracts for the WSFS Annual Meeting by Feb 10th!

Daisy Ahlstone
Jan 22
2 min read

CALL FOR PAPERS

2026 Annual Meeting

University of Oregon, Eugene

April 16 - 18, 2026

Theme: Folklore as a Resource — Old and New

Folklore is a resource that we draw on for resilience, comfort, community, and for making

sense of the world around us. It can be a vehicle of joy or grief or anger, with the capacity to express the full range of human emotions. Folklore is an especially vital resource for

surviving turbulent times, both historically and today. How has folklore, both old and new,

served as an individual or community resource? What does it offer us, and how does it

facilitate resilience? As always, the theme is a suggestion for those considering presentation, not a requirement. We welcome proposals for individual presentations and organized panels on any topic related to folklore.

The Archer Taylor Lecture will be given by Enrique Lamadrid, professor emeritus in the

Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of New Mexico.

Individual & Panel Presentations: If you wish to present a paper or participate in a panel, you must purchase a ticket for the Annual Meeting. Once meeting registration is purchased, you will receive a link to submit your abstracts for individual and panel presentations via email. Details about submission requirements are listed on the Call for Papers page of the Western States Folklore Society website. This is an in-person-only event.

Registration & Abstract Submission (EXTENSION: Abstracts due Feb. 10th):

Pre-Registration begins today! We have updated procedures for purchasing tickets to the Annual Meeting. Please follow this guide to register for the 2026 Annual Meeting:
- Purchase your ticket on the Annual Meeting Registration Page.
- You will be sent a confirmation email once your ticket has been purchased. In this email, you will have the option to submit your abstract by clicking the abstract submission button at the bottom of your confirmation email.
In-person registration will begin Thursday, April 16, 2026 and continue throughout the conference, as will online registration. Papers will be presented live on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18.

NOTE: You are not required to submit an abstract to attend the Annual Meeting.

As in the past, nonmembers who join the Society by the time of registration are eligible for membership benefits, including reduced registration fees and a subscription to Western Folklore. Please see our membership page for further details.

Students: Under the Elliot Oring Student Travel Stipend program, WSFS provides up to three $200 awards to help students defray travel expenses. For more information, check out the application details.