Welcome to the Science Fiction and Fantasy community! We’re so happy you’re here and we want you take full advantage of the opportunities our new platform provides. Please read over the code of conduct so we can continue to ensure a safe and supportive space for all. Thank you for your dedication to the Popular Culture Association!

 

Call for Papers

 

 

One of the largest and most vibrant of the association, the Science Fiction and Fantasy (SF/F) Area invites proposals for its 2026 national conference to be held at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. The goals of our area are (1) to share and support research, scholarship, and publication and (2) to mentor emerging scholars. As a result, we invite proposals from professors, independent scholars, graduate students, and undergraduates.

 

PCA/ACA SFF welcomes any theoretical or (inter)disciplinary approach to any topic related to SFF: art; literature; radio; film; television; comics and graphic novels; video, role-playing, and multi-player online games.

 

Submission Guidelines:  250-word proposals for individual papers should be submitted through the PCA website and only through the PCA website (https://pcaaca.org). If you wish to submit a panel for the conference, all presenters must submit individually through the website, and then notify the Area Chairs of their intention to present together. Please do not include panel colleagues on the electronic submission as this confuses the program.  Instructions for submission can be found at https://pcaaca.org/page/submissionguidelines. Please review the submission guidelines before submitting. You will have to create an account with PCA/ACA if you do not already have one.

 

Submissions can be made on the site after 1 September 2025.

 

You will need the following information for submission.

·       Name of presenter—indicate main contact person if submitting a multi-authored paper

·       Institutional affiliation—if applicable

·       Presenter Bio: All presenters will need to submit a bio within their profile

·       Name and contact information of supervising professor—undergraduates only

·       Address(es), telephone number(s), and current email address(es) of presenter(s)

·       Title of paper -- we understand that paper titles may change between submission and presentation, but the topic of the presentation should not change

·       250-word proposal(s) prepared to be cut and pasted into the system.

 

 

The proposal will be acknowledged within 2 days of its receipt, and the sender will be notified of the submission’s status no later than 10 December 2025.  Please be aware that acknowledgement of receipt does not automatically denote acceptance. Deadlines for submission are firm, and we cannot accept any papers made after the deadline.  Earlier submission is appreciated – nay, celebrated! Be sure to read all correspondence from us and from PCA thoroughly as important information with respect to registration, scheduling, accommodations, etc. is provided via email. Note that you must pay your PCA membership dues when submitting a proposal for the conference. Registration fees must be paid in advance, by 15 February 2026in order to be included in the program. You may not register on site.

 

Keep a lookout for the special session for the combined areas of SFF and Vampires titled “When Undead Worlds Collide.” A separate CFP will be sent out with more information soon.

 

You may not simultaneously submit proposals to multiple areas. Not only is that a discourtesy to area chairs, but the master program will not accept a second proposal. Per PCA/ACA guidelines, a person may present only one paper at the annual meeting, regardless of subject area.

 

Submission Deadline:  30 November 2025

 

Each year the SF/F Area hosts a fundraising event that includes a film, snacks, and a prize raffle of DVDs, novels, academic books, action figures, etc.—thousands of dollars in merchandise. Come enjoy the food, friendship, and fun! Fundraising supports area activities, such as speakers, a cash award to the best student paper, and travel awards for students and faculty/independent scholars. We do accept donations of items for the raffle, so if your shelves are starting to bulge under the weight of your SFF memorabilia, ask yourself if you really need 3 Thor action figures. If not, then donate that stuff to us.  This year’s film will be Labyrinth (1986).

 

Please be aware that the PCA offers several (highly competitive) travel bursaries. Check the PCA website www.pcaaca.org for more information and deadlines. SFF also offers several travel awards for people presenting in the area; these awards are also highly competitive. Anyone applying for funding, whether through the PCA or SFF area, should be aware that funds awarded are unlikely to offset all the expenses associated with attending the conference. More details about the SFF awards can be found at the area’s website: www.pcasff.wordpress.com.

 

Hope to see you in Atlanta!

 

PCA/ACA SF/F Area Chairs          

 

Gillian I Leitch, Heather M. Porter and Edward Ardeneaux

                                                            

Direct all enquiries to our email address. Gillian responds to email via this address:   pcasff@gmail.com

 

NOTE: While the PCA/ACA welcomes fresh approaches to subjects, serious commitment to scholarship and to presenting at the conference is expected.

 

Please note that this is a professional conference and once you are accepted, your presentation becomes integral to the success of the event.  If you must cancel, please notify the Area Chairs of your withdrawal as soon as you know.  Failure to do so will impact future opportunities to present at this conference.

 

The conference will commence early Wednesday morning. Be advised that your panel will be assigned a time randomly by the master scheduler. We cannot change the schedule after it is completed, so please ensure that you will be able to attend the entire conference before you submit your proposal. In other words, clear your schedule from Wednesday through Saturday. We will notify you of your exact presentation time as soon as we can, but the final program is not likely to be completed before 20 January 2026. You must register for the conference by 10 February 2026; your paper will be dropped from the schedule if you do not.  Make your hotel reservations as soon as possible. The number of reserved rate hotel rooms is limited; you can always cancel a reservation (by the date dictated by the hotel) but you cannot make a reservation after the room block is full.

 

Please consult our handy guide for proposing here:

https://pcasff.wordpress.com/a-guide-to-academic-and-professional-conferences-or-how-not-to-be-killed-or-ridiculed-by-your-colleagues/

 

 

Important Dates to Remember:

 

• Database opens for Submissions - Sept. 1, 2025
• Early Bird Registration Begins - Sept. 1, 2025
• Deadline for Paper Proposals - Nov. 30, 2025
• Travel Grant Applications Due - Dec. 15, 2025
• Early Bird Registration Ends for Presenters - Dec. 31, 2025
• Regular Registration Begins for Presenters - Jan. 1, 2026 
• Travel Grant Decisions / Notifications - Jan. 31, 2026
• Regular Registration Ends for Presenters - Jan. 31, 2026
• Late Registration Starts for Presenters - Feb. 1, 2026
• Preliminary Program draft available - Feb. 6, 2026

 

Those Presenters Not Registered by Feb. 15 Will be Dropped from the Program

 

CONFERENCE IN ATLANTA, GA - April 8-11, 2026