Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic
in cooperation with Stockholm University and the University of Wrocław
is pleased to invite you to the international conference in
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AND TRANSLATION STUDIES (CLTS) 2026
"Beyond New Voices: Futures of Children’s Literature in Translation"
August 26–28, 2026
Following the conferences held in Leuven/Antwerp (2017) and Stockholm (2024), the 2026 CLTS conference continues to explore the dynamic intersection between Children’s Literature Studies and Translation Studies. These earlier meetings mapped out the field and amplified new voices; the 2026 edition builds on this momentum by asking how translation for children and young adults is being reshaped by cultural, ideological, and technological change.
In particular, we wish to consider the transformative role of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in translation. From automated translation tools to multimodal platforms and generative AI, new technologies are reshaping creative practices, publishing workflows, translator training, and children’s reception of translated texts. These developments raise urgent questions about quality, creativity, ethics, inclusivity, and power in the production and circulation of literature for young readers.
The conference seeks to bring together scholars and practitioners to examine both continuities and new departures, creating a space for dialogue about the futures of translating for children and young adults across languages, media, and cultural contexts.
We welcome proposals addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Futures of children’s literature in translation: new challenges and opportunities
- Creativity, rewriting, and authorship in the translation of texts for young audiences
- Translation flows, publishing networks, and the role of institutions and mediators
- Ethics, ideology, and power dynamics in translating for children and young adults
- Reception, readership, and participatory cultures
- Translation into minority languages
- Literary papers on children’s literature with international involvement/impact
- Intermedial, multimodal, and digital translation (picturebooks, audiobooks, comics, games, streaming media)
- Inclusivity, diversity, and representation in global contexts
- Translator training, competence, and professionalisation in child-centred contexts
- Artificial intelligence and digital technologies in the translation of children’s and young adult literature — creative possibilities, ethical challenges, and future directions
We particularly encourage proposals from early career researchers and practitioner perspectives.
Submission Guidelines:
- Abstracts: up to 300 words, including 5 keywords
- Biography: max. 70 words
- Deadline for submission: 28 February 2026
- Notification of acceptance: 30 April 2026
- Presentation length: 20 minutes (plus discussion)
- Poster proposals will also be considered.
- Panel proposals: submit individual abstracts, clearly indicating the name of the panel.
Programme:
Detailed programme of the conference will be posted in due time.
Venue:
The conference will take place at the Faculty of Arts in Olomouc.
Registration:
Please fill in the electronic registration form here.
Conference fee:
3000 CZK/120 EUR – including conference dinner
2500 CZK/100 EUR – without conference dinner
Fee for IRSCL members (International Research Society for Children’s Literature):
2500 CZK/100 EUR – including conference dinner
2000 CZK/80 EUR – without conference dinner
Fee for students:
1500 CZK/60 EUR – including conference dinner
1000 CZK/40 EUR – without conference dinner
Organising Committee:
Wilken Engelbrecht
Šárka Dvořáková
Pavel Král
Ondřej Molnár
Josefína Zubáková
Scientific Committee:
Valérie Alfvén (Stockholms Universitet)
Wilken Engelbrecht (Palacký University Olomouc)
Paola Gentile (Università di Trieste)
Judit Gera (ELTE Budapest)
Owen Harrington Fernandez (Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh)
Irena Barbara Kalla (Uniwersytet Wrocławski)
Jack Mc Martin (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Fac. Letteren Antwerpen/CETRA)
Timothy Sirjacobs (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)
Alexa Stoicescu (Universitatea din București)
Sara Van Meerbergen (Stockholms Universitet)
Jitka Zehnalová (Palacký University Olomouc)
Contact:
Josefína Zubáková, Ondřej Molnár
Faculty of Arts, Palacký University
Křížkovského 10, Olomouc 771 80
e-mail: clts@upol.cz
About the City of Olomouc:
Olomouc is the capital of the region of Central Moravia and belongs to the oldest cities of the Czech Republic. The region is distinguished for its agriculture, industry and beautiful countryside, as well as its historical and cultural traditions. The city dates back to the ninth century, when it was a power centre of the Great Moravian Kingdom, the oldest Slavonic state. Today Olomouc has above 100,000 inhabitants and its long history makes it one of the most beautiful cities of the Czech Republic, mainly due to its well preserved historical inner city (after Prague, second largest in the Czech Republic). More…
About Palacký University:
Palacký University in Olomouc is the second oldest university in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest in Central Europe. Drawing on more than 400-year tradition of higher education it is nowadays a renowned centre for teaching and research. University attracts students from other European and overseas countries. With more than 23,000 students on eight faculties, it provides quality education and excellent background for research in the wide range of academic disciplines. More…