The UW-Madison Center for South Asia is grateful for your continued support of the Annual Conference on South Asia. Last year’s conference offered a wonderful opportunity to welcome many first-time attendees to the ACSA community and connect with our vibrant community of scholars.

The submission portal for the 54th Annual Conference on South Asia will open on Sunday, February 1, 2026, for all proposal types. The theme for this year’s conference is Transcending Borders and Nationalism – South Asia as cultures, histories, and topography. We invite proposals related to all countries of South Asia across a range of disciplines. The 54th ACSA is scheduled to meet in-person, October 28-31, 2026 (Wed-Sat), at the Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club in Madison, Wisconsin.

Submission Deadlines (by 11:59 PM CST) 

• Symposium proposals: Sunday, March 1, 2026

• Panel, round table, and single paper proposals: Sunday, April 5, 2026

• Film proposals: Sunday, April 5, 2026. Please email the Conference Coordinator with submission materials (conference@southasia.wisc.edu).

All submissions for Association Meetings, Special Events, Advertisements, and Exhibitor Space must be received by Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

Participants will see some minor changes to the registration process this year. Please review the Submission Guidelines before completing the submission process.

Please note conference policies on multiple submissions, as well as the limitations on the number of panels within which each individual may appear. Presenters for ALL SESSIONS must register to participate in the conference, including symposia.

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Reminders for 2026

Special Topics Round Tables

Apart from the submissions we receive, we invite participants to propose special lunchtime round table topics to ensure that conversations adjacent to South Asian Studies are included on Conference programming. We encourage interested participants to submit these proposals under the Round Table category. Please note that these are not expected to be scholarly discussions, but rather structured conversations around timely and important topics relevant to the field. Example topics include urgent regional discussions, professional development topics, or teaching South Asia. Please contact the Conference Coordinator with questions (conference@southasia.wisc.edu).

We understand that world events may suggest such a topic closer to the conference dates, long after the submission window is closed. If participants wish to submit a Special Topic Round Table request after the April 5 deadline, please email the Conference Coordinator. All such requests will be limited by scheduling availability, and organizers will not review special requests after the conference has begun.

Program Books

Beginning with the 2025 ACSA, participants now have the option to purchase their program book. Prior to the conference dates, a PDF copy will be accessible on the ACSA website, and a digital version will be available via the ACSA website prior to and during the conference. Program books may be purchased for $7.50 in the ACSA registration portal until September 15. A limited number may be available for purchase during the conference.

Virtual Participation

Accepted panels and round tables require a minimum of one presenter to attend in Madison to handle Zoom and facilitate the session. Arrangements for Zoom links or pre-recorded presentations must be coordinated by the session organizer and/or chair. Conference organizers cannot provide staff support for running online sessions. Due to the loss of federal funds and the impact of inflation on conference operating costs, the ACSA is no longer able to support virtual proposals. Conference refund policies do apply. All refund requests must be received by September 15, 2026.