As WLIC 2026 takes place in Busan, the experience extends beyond the main congress through a series of Satellite Meetings held across Busan and Seoul. Organised by IFLA Professional Units, these sessions offer focused discussions on key issues facing the library field today. They also connect global perspectives with local practice, offering participants new ways to engage with the themes of the congress.
During the Satellite Meeting period, participants will have access to an interpretation platform developed by the Yonsei University Research Institute for Academic Library Development, one of the host institutions. The service supports a total of 70 languages, including Korean, English, French, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese.
![© [Seoul Tourism Organization], [Seoul Metropolitan Library]](https://2026.ifla.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/0.png)
Across Cities: A Distributed Programme
The Satellite Meetings for WLIC 2026 will take place across 10 institutions in Busan and Seoul, featuring 12 meetings supported by 24 IFLA Units. Instead of being centred in a single venue, the programme will take place across multiple cities and institutions, including national, public, and academic libraries, as well as cultural venues.
This structure reflects the broader direction of WLIC 2026 by connecting global discussions with local contexts. It also gives participants the opportunity to experience different library environments and explore how library services and operations reflect the character of each city.
![© [Busan Metropolitan City], [F1963]](https://2026.ifla.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/0-1.png)
Key Themes: Libraries Powering Transformation
Across the Satellite Meetings, the congress theme ‘Libraries Powering Transformation’ is explored through interconnected topics such as artificial intelligence, research integrity, sustainability, cultural preservation, and the role of libraries in complex information environments.
The programme brings together timely topics such as ‘Libraries and AI’ and ‘Libraries Leading the Green Transition’, while encouraging in-depth knowledge exchange and practical networking among participants from Korea and around the world. Collectively, these discussions reflect a field in transition, where libraries are not only responding to change but also helping shape its future.
From Exchange to Collaboration: Deepening the WLIC Experience
With a more focused format than the main congress, Satellite Meetings create opportunities for deeper engagement. Discussions are often interactive, allowing participants to exchange ideas more closely across regions and professional backgrounds.
As part of WLIC 2026, the Satellite Meetings not only encourage discussion, but also create opportunities for sustained exchange. Ideas and conversations emerging from these sessions may continue beyond the congress through future collaborations, partnerships, and shared initiatives. In this way, the meetings extend conversations beyond the congress itself, creating spaces where international exchange continues and new professional connections begin to take shape.