If you’re organizing an academic conference or research symposium in today’s world, which also happens to be the time when institutions are expected to have inclusivity all ‘figured out,’ you may be wondering if creating a truly welcoming event is even achievable at this point. Self-doubt and a fear of criticism are enough to force you to confront the reality of overhauling traditional event formats.
The truth is that the way things have always been done means nothing for building meaningful inclusivity. Sure, you may be working with limited budgets while other conferences have extensive resources. Creating inclusive academic spaces when you’ve been following conventional formats for years can be daunting but more and more conference organizers and research institutions are now embracing genuine inclusivity more confidently than ever. In 2026, it may perhaps be time for you too.
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