CALL FOR PROPOSALS: GERMAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The German Studies Association (GSA) will hold its 50th Annual Conference from September 24–27, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency in Phoenix, AZ.
The Program Committee cordially invites proposals on any aspect of DACHL (German, Austrian, Swiss, Liechtenstein) studies, including (but not limited to) history, Germanistik, film, art history, political science, anthropology, musicology, religious studies, sociology, and cultural studies. The committee is especially eager to welcome proposals from scholars in subfields that have been underrepresented at recent conferences, including contemporary politics, economics, and society, as well as papers from all fields dealing with the nineteenth century or earlier.
Proposals for complete panels, for interdisciplinary presentations, and for panel series are strongly encouraged (a series is limited to no more than four panels). Individual paper proposals are also welcome – although experienced scholars are encouraged to develop full session submissions that can help build scholarly networks. A guide for crafting panel, roundtable, and individual paper proposals may be found here. All panel rooms will be equipped with projectors and sound systems.
Please note that all proposed participants must be members of the German Studies Association at the time the proposal is submitted. Information on membership is available on the GSA website. The GSA conference submission system will not allow non-members (or expired members) to submit.
To avoid complications later, the Program Committee would like to reiterate one critical guideline here:
For more information, visit the GSA website, where previous conference programs can be found. Once again, detailed submission guidelines are here. The Program Director is also happy to answer inquiries at any time.
We look forward to your submissions!
26 January Emerging Scholars Workshop applications due (via email)
The German Studies Association (GSA) will hold its 50th Annual Conference from September 24–27, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency in Phoenix, AZ.
The Program Committee cordially invites proposals on any aspect of DACHL (German, Austrian, Swiss, Liechtenstein) studies, including (but not limited to) history, Germanistik, film, art history, political science, anthropology, musicology, religious studies, sociology, and cultural studies. The committee is especially eager to welcome proposals from scholars in subfields that have been underrepresented at recent conferences, including contemporary politics, economics, and society, as well as papers from all fields dealing with the nineteenth century or earlier.
Proposals for complete panels, for interdisciplinary presentations, and for panel series are strongly encouraged (a series is limited to no more than four panels). Individual paper proposals are also welcome – although experienced scholars are encouraged to develop full session submissions that can help build scholarly networks. A guide for crafting panel, roundtable, and individual paper proposals may be found here. All panel rooms will be equipped with projectors and sound systems.
The call for seminar proposals has been distributed separately; a call for applications for the Emerging Scholars Workshop will go out in mid-December.
Please see the GSA website for information about the submission process for papers, sessions, and roundtables; the OpenWater conference portal will open for submissions on 5 January 2026. The deadline for proposals is 18 March 2026. Please note that all proposed participants must be members of the German Studies Association at the time the proposal is submitted. Information on membership is available on the GSA website. The GSA conference submission system will not allow non-members (or expired members) to submit.
To avoid complications later, the Program Committee would like to reiterate one critical guideline here:
The German Studies Association is committed to maintaining an environment that is safe and inclusive for all participants. By submitting a proposal, each member commits themselves to upholding the GSA Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policy. Violations will not be tolerated.No individual at the GSA conference may give more than one paper or appear on the program in more than two separate roles. (Participating in a seminar counts as delivering a paper.) Please consult the posted GSA rules for conference participation before proceeding to the submission portal.
For more information, visit the GSA website, where previous conference programs can be found. Once again, detailed submission guidelines are here. The Program Director is also happy to answer inquiries at any time.
We look forward to your submissions!
Lisa Haegele, Program Director (haegele@txstate.edu)
Margaret E. Menninger, Executive Director
Josh Seale, Operations Director
2026 Submissions Calendar (all deadlines are 11:59PM Pacific Time):
19 December OpenWater submissions portal opens for seminar topic proposals (please note this is earlier than you might remember from other years)
05 January OpenWater submissions portal opens for panels, papers, and roundtables
11 January Seminar topic proposals due (please note this is earlier than you might remember)
27 January List of approved seminar topics available on GSA website
18 February Applications for seminar participation due
02 March Seminar participants notified
18 March All panel, roundtable, and individual paper proposals due