NASSS 2026 Annual Conference
November 4-7, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Hyatt Regency
In These Times: Tracing Sporting Pasts, Presents, and Futures
“The past is never dead. It’s not even past. All of us labor in webs spun long before we were born, webs of heredity and environment, of desire and consequence, of history and eternity.”
― William Faulkner, 1951, Requiem for a Nun
“The study of sport in changing times and places needs to continually address the interrelationship between three very simple questions: the substantive question what is going on; the analytical question how do we make sense of what is going on and the interventionist question what can be done to bring about change and future hope in sport in society”
― Grant Jarvie, 2004, “Sport in Changing Times and Places”
The 2026 NASSS conference in Calgary centers and explores the importance of time to how we imagine, experience, and make sense of sport and physical cultures. We often measure the body’s performance in increments of time, for instance in the seconds of the 100-meter dash or the basket scored just before the shot clock expires. Sport has a duration: the 90 minutes of a soccer match, for example, or the 80 minutes of rugby union. And sport often has a temporal rhythm, unfolding through seasons and off seasons that structure our investments of time, emotion, and (often) money. Here, time is a resource, and the ability to have and use time for sport or physical activity reflects broader structural inequalities of gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, age, ability, and social class.
Beyond the timed nature of sport itself, however, the passing of time is integral to processes of change; what came before is tied to what comes next. Aging processes generate new reflexive attention to the meanings and experiences of sport and physical activity as they shift across the life course. Legacies of colonialism, imperialism, racism, and patriarchy remain evident in the contemporary landscape of opportunity and (in)equality in sport, as well as in dominant knowledge paradigms in our academic disciplines. Processes of contestation and resistance to domination both inside and outside of sport create new possibilities and forge new solidarities. And changes to broader political, economic, technological and cultural systems have direct implications for the cultures and structures of sport and physical activity.
Time is also foundational to the narratives we construct about sport. Consider, for instance, the prominence of progress in the stories told about sport past and present. While there may be kernels of empirical truth in these claims, conceptualizations of time as progressive and linear neglect swells of backlash, moments of loss and defeat, and the realities of continued injustice. The popular adoption of progress narratives points to the ways that we may selectively recall, use, or even reconstruct history, often serving a set of interests. Remembrance takes form in rituals of celebration and recognition but also begs a set of critical questions. What past, and whose past, do we preserve or recall? How do we now use it, and to whose benefit?
In Calgary, we also consider sport and physical cultures “in these times,” spotlighting a current moment in Canada and the U.S. characterized by rising authoritarianism, openly sanctioned sexism and racism, hostility to LGBTQ+ rights, the defunding of research, and banning of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and policies in education. These developments are antithetical to the values and mission of NASSS. Consequently, our analyses of sporting and physical cultures should not and cannot be ahistorical; they must necessarily attend to the realities of the injustices we face, trace their historical antecedents, and use this contextualized understanding to chart the path forward. To a degree, we have been here before, and we can draw insight and inspiration from the organizers, activists, and scholars of the past.
The discipline of sport sociology, too, has a past, present, and future. We are connected as a current community of scholars who teach about and study sports and physical activities to those who came before us and what we do here and now will shape the sport scholars of the future. How have we come to this moment? And what will we do with it? How will we draw on our knowledge of the past to work collectively towards the future we envision? And how will we welcome and include new NASSS members to join us in this work?
Call for Abstracts
North American Society for the Sociology of Sport
La Sociedad Norteamericana para la Sociologia del Deporte
Société Nord-Américaine de Sociologie du Sport
In These Times: Tracing Sporting Pasts, Presents, and Futures
The Call for Abstracts for NASSS 2026 has now closed.
Abstract Submissions Due: May 4th, 2026, 11:59pm U.S. Central Time
We warmly invite you to join us for an exploration of these and other questions in Calgary in 2026 by submitting an abstract. Abstracts may be submitted to a thematic session or to an open session, and organizers will group abstracts submitted to open sessions.
For session descriptions see https://nasss.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/NASSS-2026-Thematic-Sessions.pdf (Note: The Open Session is listed under Rachel Allison).
Abstracts must include the title of the presentation (10 words maximum); a brief description of the presentations (150 words maximum), all author name(s), institutional affiliation(s), and email address(es), and the location of your planned attendance (Calgary or virtual).
Please keep in mind that you may present only one paper. If you are listed as an author on another paper, a different author must attend and present.
Please note: It will not be possible to change the conference program to accommodate individual scheduling issues. Submitting an abstract commits you to presenting any time from 8:00 am on Thursday, November 5, to Saturday, November 7, at 5 pm.
Abstract Submission: https://conference.nasss.org/2026/papers/paper1.php
Timeline information for those who will submit an abstract:
- Deadline for submissions of abstracts: May 4th, 2026. Closing time is 11:59pm U.S. Central Time.
- All presenters must be a member of NASSS as of September 1, 2026 and registered for the Conference by October 1, 2026 to remain in the program.
- Conference registration information, pricing, and hotel information is forthcoming on the NASSS website.
Direct questions to the Conference Program Committee Chair, Rachel Allison, at [email protected].
Registration
Conference registration is now available here: https://conference.nasss.org/2026/registration/register1.php
Costs for the conference are listed below.
| Registration Type* | Cost (USD) |
| Professional A | $375 |
| Professional B | $250 |
| Professional C | $150 |
| Retired | $150 |
| Student | $100 |
| Professional, 1 day | $175 |
| Professional Virtual | $100 |
| Student Virtual | $50 |
*Download the Country Categories here.
[Note: This PDF was created based on the information published by the International Sociological Association: https://www.isa-sociology.org/en/membership/table-of-economies-by-category]
Hotel and Conference Site Information
The 2026 NASSS conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency Calgary.
Please use the link to book rooms at the special NASSS rate:
https://www.hyatt.com/events/en-US/group-booking/CALRC/G-NAS2
For more information about the Hyatt Regency, click here: (https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/calrc-hyatt-regency-calgary)
NASSS 2026 – Supporting Accessibility
Click here for the accessibility guide to NASSS 2026 (Google Doc).
Click here to download the accessibility guide to NASSS 2026 in PDF format.
About the Guide
This guide was created by members of the 2025 NASSS Conference Accessibility Committee and adapted by the 2026 Committee to promote, support, and facilitate the meaningful engagement of people with diverse mobility abilities and people who encounter systemic barriers to access in all academic, professional, and social activities related to NASSS 2026.
We believe that accessibility is the shared responsibility of all NASSS members participating in the conference.
Accessibility requires both proactive and responsive measures:
- Proactive planning involves anticipating accessibility needs and reducing the labour placed on individuals.
- Responsive measures involve flexibility and providing choice in how and when individuals engage with conference activities.
This document provides information and resources for pre-conference preparation, navigation around the conference site and sessions and adventures in the surrounding areas.
The Accessibility Committee will continue to update these materials as planning progresses. For questions, suggestions, or feedback, please contact: Judy Liao [[email protected]]
[To learn more about what it means to take a proactive approach to addressing recurring barriers that prevent individuals from fully and meaningfully engaging in academic spaces and practices, we would encourage you to take a look at the newly launched Disability Cultures + Access initiative at the University of Alberta led by NASSS member, Dr. Danielle Peers.]
NASSS 2026 Local Site Guide
A local site guide for NASSS 2026 will be posted here soon.
S.E.E.D.S Mentoring Program
About SEEDS (Scholars Enlightened Engaged Disrupting Structures)
SEEDS is a dedicated mentoring initiative designed for racially minoritized graduate students and early career faculty. This program provides a healing and empowering space for emergent scholars with marginalized racial and ethnic identities within NASSS, supporting their success within the association and academia more broadly. SEEDS aims to cultivate and prepare the future generation of sport sociologists.
Who Should Apply
All NASSS graduate students and junior faculty who identify as racially minoritized—regardless of citizenship or nationality—are strongly encouraged to apply. We also invite advisers to share this opportunity widely and encourage eligible students and colleagues to apply!
SEEDS Program Goals
- Build a supportive and intellectually nourishing community for racially minoritized graduate students and junior faculty.
- Provide essential skills for thriving in academia, with a focus on:
- Pedagogical development
- Writing and publishing strategies
- Leadership and empowerment
- Mentorship (as both mentees and future mentors)
- Facilitate professional development through workshops on career strategies from graduate school through the academic job market.
- Expand and enrich the intellectual landscape of sport sociology.
Participant Commitments
- Fully engage and participate in all pre-conference virtual sessions (4 sessions between August and November)
- Register for and attend the NASSS 2026 Annual Conference in Calgary.
- Submit an unpublished piece of scholarly writing (e.g., journal manuscript, book chapters, and book proposal) to be workshopped with peers and SEEDS Mentor.
- Offer constructive, thoughtful feedback on fellow mentees’ work.
- Cultivate lasting professional relationships with mentors and peers.
Instructions for Mentees
Please submit your application to Umer Hussain ([email protected]) and YJ Kim ([email protected]) by June 1st, 2026, with "SEEDS Application" in the subject line. Past participants are welcome to apply again, but first-time applicants will receive priority.
Your application should include a two-page personal statement addressing the following:
- What are your research interests?
- What type of scholar do you desire to be?
- What access to mentoring do you currently have?
- What skills would you like to develop through this program?
- What topics or issues would you like to explore in the workshops?
- How does your work align with the goals of SEEDS?
- Lastly, what is the scholarly piece you will work on with your Mentor from August to December?
Instructions for Mentors
Are you a NASSSer with a PhD who is passionate about mentoring racially minoritized emerging scholars? Do you enjoy providing professional guidance and detailed feedback on scholarly writing? Are you committed to supporting the growth and development of early-career scholars beyond your institution? If so, we invite you to apply as a mentor!
Sign up using this Google form by June 1, 2026. Past mentors are welcome to apply again, though preference will be given to new mentors.
Program Support
To ensure accessibility and inclusivity, SEEDS mentees and mentors will receive:
- One complimentary night at the conference hotel | Nov 3rd - Nov 4th, 2026
- Complimentary meals on the day of in-person engagement (Nov 4th, 2026) (e.g., breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Mentors will also receive a modest honorarium.
For questions or more information, feel free to contact Ajhanai Keaton, the Chair of SEEDS.
Ajhanai Keaton (Committee Chair) | [email protected]
Christopher McLeod
Umer Hussain
Adam Ali
Tiesha Martin
YJ Kim
NASSS 2026: Sponsorship Packages
Gold Package ($2000)
Meal/Reception Sponsor
Package includes:
- Official sponsor of a meal/reception
- One (1) dedicated exhibitor space at the conference
- Conference registration for two (2) sponsor representatives
- Large logo/advertisement in digital conference program
- Logo/advertisement displayed during meal/reception
- Mentions on NASSS social media accounts
- Logo on conference website
- Option to include an approved item in welcome bag given to attendees
Silver Package ($1500)
Social Break Sponsor
Package includes:
- Official sponsor of a social (coffee/snack) break
- One (1) dedicated exhibitor space at the conference
- Registration for two (2) sponsor representatives
- Logo/advertisement in digital conference program
- Logo/advertisement displayed during social break
- Mentions on NASSS social media accounts
- Logo on conference website
- Option to include an approved item in welcome bag given to attendees
Bronze Package ($1000)
Official Sponsor
Package includes:
- Official conference sponsor
- One (1) dedicated exhibitor space at the conference
- Registration for one (1) sponsor representative
- Logo/advertisement in digital conference program
- Mentions on NASSS social media accounts
- Logo on conference website
- Option to include an approved item in welcome bag given to attendees
Specialized Sponsorship Opportunities
Specialized and customized sponsorship opportunities also exist for events like keynote speakers and programs like SEEDS (Scholars Enlightened Engaged Disrupting Structures). Contact NASSS Sponsorship Chair Adam Love ([email protected]) to discuss these opportunities in more detail.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the conference program (scheduling of events, abstracts submission), please contact Rachel Allison, President-Elect and conference chair, at [email protected]