The Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture
The LCLC is an annual international conference welcoming critical, creative and hybrid work on 20th and 21st century literature, fostering dialogue and community in Louisville since 1973.
LCLC53 Call for Papers
Join us for the 2026 Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture (Feb. 16–21), featuring two virtual days and three in-person days at the University of Louisville. This year’s keynotes include Matthew Pettway, Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro, Rachel Kushner, Peter Gizzi and Michael Hardt.
Our submission portal for the Call for Papers opens August 1st. We welcome submissions in critical, creative, and critical-creative categories. Participants may submit individually or collaboratively, often organizing scholarly panels, creative sessions, workshops, and more. The deadline for submissions is 11:59 P.M. EST on September 14, 2025.
Join the Conversation at LCLC53
Share your scholarship with our international community. Submit your work or contact us to learn more about participation opportunities.
Submission Guidelines
The submission form consists of five sections. To prepare, please gather the following information:
- Your full name, institutional affiliation (if applicable) and best contact email
- Type of submission: individual presentation, full panel, roundtable/seminar proposal or vendor/exhibitor submission
- Preferred mode of presentation: virtual or in-person
- Type of presentation: critical, creative or critical-creative
- Presentation language (English, Spanish, French, or other)
- For each presenter: full name, affiliation and a biographical statement (max 250 words)
- An abstract or creative sample (1–2 pages max)
We accept submissions in the following categories: critical, creative and critical-creative presentations. Participants may submit individually or collaboratively — common formats include scholarly panels, creative sessions and workshops. Registrants may also chair one or more panels and participate in seminars.
Submission limits:
- One entry per category per person
- Participants may appear on the program a maximum of two times, as either presenters or seminar leaders
The submission portal opens August 1, 2025. Be sure your materials are complete before uploading your proposal.
The deadline for submissions is 11:59 P.M. EST on September 14, 2025.
If you are interested in proposing a seminar for LCLC53, please email us at lclc@louisville.edu to learn about next steps.
Vendors and exhibitors are also welcome to participate. For more information on how to get involved — including pricing, details and any other questions you may have, reach out to us at lclc@louisville.edu
Pricing
Based on feedback from past LCLC attendees, we’ve updated our ticket pricing for this year’s conference. We’ve also introduced a new date for our Early Bird pricing. To lock in the reduced rate, you will need to register by December 31, 2025.
| Ticket Type | Price before Early Registration Deadline | Price After Early Registration Deadline |
| Virtual Presenter | $200 | $230 |
| Presenter: Tenured, Tenure-Track | $175 | $200 |
| Presenter: Retired Faculty | $125 | $150 |
| Presenter: Adjunct, Non-Tenure-Track, Graduate Student, and Non-Affiliated | $75 | $100 |
| Chair (non-presenter) | $60 | $75 |
| UofL Faculty, Staff, and Students: Presenter or Guest | FREE | |
| Non-Presenting Guest | $25 (daily) | |
Invest in the future of literature and culture right here in Louisville
Support the Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture (LCLC) and help sustain a vital spaces for literary and cultural exchange. Your gift funds keynote speakers, interdisciplinary programming and more, keeping the LCLC thriving here and beyond.