The Literacy Research Association (LRA) announced its 76th Annual Conference, to be held December 2-5, 2026, in Honolulu. The conference theme, “Manifesting Quantum Imaginaries,” will explore literacy research through a quantum lens—a metaphorical shift beyond linear models. This approach views literacy events as dynamic and context-dependent, holding limitless possibilities.
LRA 2026 Conference: “Manifesting Quantum Imaginaries” Theme
The 2026 Literacy Research Association conference in Honolulu centers on “Manifesting Quantum Imaginaries,” prompting scholars to view literacy beyond traditional linear models. This approach utilizes a “quantum lens” to understand literacy as dynamic potential, mirroring concepts from quantum science and recognizing multiple meanings within a single event. Consideration will be given to how the context and timing of literacy experiences are as crucial as the content itself, exploring literacy as it shifts across physical and digital spaces.
Acknowledging 2025 as UNESCO’s “Year of Quantum” adds relevance to the conference’s focus on “literacies in motion.” Researchers are encouraged to submit proposals examining how literacies function for students navigating diverse environments, and strategies teachers use to support this fluidity. Ultimately, the LRA 2026 conference aims to foster new approaches to literacy instruction, particularly in light of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
“Literacies in Motion” & Transcontextual Frameworks Explored
The 2026 LRA conference will explore “literacies in motion” by examining how students navigate different contexts—physical locations, classrooms, and digital spaces. This concept recognizes literacy as a dynamic process, shaped by both when and where learning happens, going beyond simply what is being taught. Understanding this movement aligns with philosophies from Indigenous and other cultures that emphasize interconnected experiences and non-linear timelines. Researchers will investigate how literacies function for both mobile and non-mobile students, as well as the interplay between online and offline learning environments.
The conference aims to support K-12 educators in fostering “active literacies in motion” that transcend traditional boundaries, especially in light of evolving technologies like AI and quantum computing. Exploration will also focus on how choices are made regarding which possibilities within literacy events are embraced or dismissed.
Attendees of the LRA 2026 conference will discover innovative approaches to cultivate new ways of supporting students and teachers in K-12 classrooms, fostering active literacies in motion that transcend traditional boundaries.
Rahat Zaidi, LRA 2026 Associate Conference Chair and Vice-President
UNESCO “Year of Quantum” Contextualizes Literacy Research
The Literacy Research Association’s 2026 conference is intentionally coinciding with UNESCO’s “Year of Quantum,” recognizing 2025 as “100 Years of Quantum.” This timing highlights a metaphorical connection between quantum physics and literacy research, shifting focus from traditional linear understandings to dynamic, potential-filled views. The conference aims to explore literacies as complex systems, much like quantum units of reality described by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, acknowledging multiple meanings existing simultaneously. Researchers are encouraged to investigate how literacy events generate possibilities depending on context, emphasizing the importance of both when and where learning occurs. Ultimately, the conference seeks to equip educators with a framework for understanding literacy as a constantly evolving process in today’s complex world.
