Urbanity and Beyond: Narratives and Practices (CfP deadline: 15 Mar 2026)

Conference Date: 24–26 September, 2026

Location: Faculty of Philology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania

Conference Description:

This interdisciplinary event, organized by Vilnius University, the Association for Literary Urban Studies (ALUS) and the Lithuanian Comparative Literature Association, aims to explore the latest theories and trends in urban literature and storytelling, offering a platform for scholars and researchers to discuss the interplay between urban spaces, their narratives, and the lived experiences of their inhabitants.

We propose an extended concept of “urbanity and beyond” to indicate urban’s life’s fluid and dynamic state, shaped by human and non-human networks, including shifts between the city and its outer spaces. The conference also addresses themes surrounding the urban landscape of the host city, considering the complexities Vilnius shares with other historically multicultural and multilingual cities as they confront the challenges posed by global urban crises. We invite you to investigate how contemporary urbanity is represented in literature and culture, how the city is narrated, and how new narratives shape urban realities. 

We also acknowledge that issues like overurbanization, globalization, technology, ecological concerns, and political conflicts around the world influence urban life and storytelling. A key question is how academia reflects on these issues. 

Conference Format:

The conference will include keynote speeches, panel sessions, and roundtable discussions. We encourage both established scholars and early-career researchers to participate. Selected papers may be considered for publication in a special issue of a peer-reviewed journal “Acta litteraria comparativa”.

See the Call for Papers (deadline 15 March 2026)

Conference Fee:

Organized by Vilnius University, the Association for Literary Urban Studies (ALUS) and the Lithuanian Comparative Literature Association

Organizing Committee:

• Lieven Ameel (Tampere University, ALUS)
• Karolina Bagdonė (Tampere University, Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore)
• Mindaugas Kvietkauskas (Vilnius University)
• Laura Laurušaitė (Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore)
• Jekaterina Lavrinec (Laboratory for Urban games and research Laimikis.lt, Vilnius TECH)
• Inga Vidugirytė-Pakerienė, Chair of the Organizing Committee  (Vilnius University)

Scientific Committee:

• Patricia Garcia (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
• Maunu Häyrynen (University of Turku)
• Sheila Hones (University of Tokyo)
• Irène Langlet (Université de Paris Est Marne-la-Vallée)

For information contact: [email protected]