The MA in Literary and Cultural Studies (MALCS) at The University of Hong Kong is pleased to invite abstract submissions for the 2026 International Postgraduate Comparative Literature Conference (IPCLC), which will take place at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) on May 26, 2026, in person.

This programme-level conference aims to promote research among postgraduate students in comparative literature and related fields at universities in Hong Kong and around the world. We especially welcome MA students, and also warmly encourage MPhil and PhD students to participate.

Themes:

The central theme of the 2026 IPCLC is Care in Cross-Cultural Perspectives. We invite papers that explore the many ways care is imagined, represented, and contested across cultures, media, and historical moments. Possible subthemes include (but are not limited to):

• Ecologies of Concern: Comparative Narratives of Environmental Crisis
• Dialogues of Identity: Empathy and Recognition in Transcultural Texts
• Urban Lives and Literary Urbanisms: Hong Kong and Beyond
• Humanity in Motion: Ethical Engagement through Comparative Film and Literature
• Modernity’s Dilemmas: Literary Conceptions of Concern in a Rapidly Changing World
• Postmodern Perspectives on Otherness: Irony, Fragmentation, and Empathy
• Memory, Trauma, and Cultural Narratives of Concern
• Visual and Literary Constructions of Humanity: Cross-Media Perspectives
• A Poststructuralist Approach Towards Power, Discourse, and the Politics of Empathy

We also welcome proposals that address the theme of care from other innovative or interdisciplinary angles.

Keynote:

The conference will invite a local or international scholar in comparative literature or a related field to deliver a keynote address at the opening of the conference. Details will be announced in due course.

Awards:

The Organizing Committee will present Best Paper Award(s) for outstanding contributions, based on nominations from panel chairs and the final selection by the Organizing Committee.

Eligibility:

We welcome submissions from students in Hong Kong and the international community who are currently enrolled in M.A., M.Phil., or PhD programmes in Comparative Literature, Literary Studies, Cultural Studies, or related fields, as well as recent graduates from programmes in these fields who graduated during the 2025/26 academic year.

Submission Guidelines:

Please submit your proposal via the Qualtrics submission form (https://hku.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_235rfAqHFyGl5Bk). You will be asked to enter the following required details, along with your contact information, directly in the form:

• Paper Title
• Abstract (approx. 250 words)
• Five keywords
• Short bio (approx. 50 words), including institutional affiliation and current programme of study

Further information about registration, the detailed programme, and the keynote will be circulated after notifications of acceptance.

Presentation format:

• 15 minute paper presentations, followed by Q&A.
• Working language: English.

Important Dates:

• Call for abstracts opens: by December 29, 2025
• Deadline for abstract submission: February 25, 2026
• Notification of acceptance: by March 18, 2026
• Full paper submission (for accepted presenters): by April 30, 2026
• Conference date: May 26, 2026 at HKU

Contact:

Event coordinator: Mr. Felix Loi
2026 International Postgraduate Comparative Literature Conference
MA in Literary and Cultural Studies (MALCS)
The University of Hong Kong
Email: ipclc.hku@gmail.com

We look forward to receiving your abstracts and to welcoming you to HKU in 2026!

Warm Regards,

On behalf of the Organizing Committee
2026 International Postgraduate Comparative Literature Conference (IPCLC)
MA in Literary and Cultural Studies (MALCS)
The University of Hong Kong