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WLIC 2026
Call for Poster Proposals

Application deadline

8 April 2026

In 2026, we gather in Busan, South Korea, a vibrant coastal city at the heart of Asia’s technological and cultural renaissance. Following the success of our congress in Central Asia, this year’s event in East Asia highlights the region’s innovative spirit while continuing our global journey to shape the future of libraries and information services. With its blend of tradition and modernity, Busan offers a fitting backdrop for exploring how libraries worldwide are adapting to—and driving—change.

With a poster session, you have a great opportunity to highlight your library’s activities and share it with the world! Like the rest of the programme, poster sessions should align with this year’s official congress theme of “Libraries Powering Transformation”.

The following sub-themes and examples further refine potential topic areas:

Poster Themes

  • Transforming our Libraries
    How are libraries evolving their spaces, services, and strategies to meet the needs of a changing world? This track will explore the bold ways libraries are transforming to meet the needs of the users we serve.

Examples:

    • Innovating for Inclusive Access: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Groups, such as Underrepresented Communities, and People with Disabilities. 
    • Designing Sustainable and Resilient Libraries for the Future.
    • Collaborative Futures: Building Strategic Partnerships Across Libraries and Organisations.
    • Reimagining Library Spaces for Community Connection and Engagement.
    • Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders: Professional Development for Future-Focused Libraries.

 

  • Transforming Lives – Libraries change lives

This track highlights the human impact of library work—from literacy and lifelong learning to social justice, health, and wellbeing. It centres the stories, programs, and partnerships that uplift individuals, communities, and society at large.

Examples:

    • Advancing Inclusive Access: Serving Diverse and Underrepresented User Communities.
    • Future-Ready Libraries: Sustainability and Resilience in a Changing World.
    • Collaborative Innovation: Partnerships Across Libraries and Allied Organisations.
    • Designing Connected Communities: Rethinking Library Spaces for Community Engagement.
    • Leading Forward: Professional Development and Leadership Pathways for Future-Facing Libraries.

 

  • Transforming the Information Landscape

This track examines the evolving information landscape as identified in the IFLA Trend Report. It focuses on the broader evolving and interconnected information landscape and how libraries both respond to and shape its future.

Examples:

    • Defending Open Knowledge: Upholding Intellectual Freedom in a Changing Information Landscape.
    • Safeguarding Information: Trust, Privacy, Integrity, and Security in the Digital Era.
    • Transforming Scholarship: The Future of Publishing, Open Science, and Knowledge as a Public Good.
    • Generative AI in Libraries: Navigating Emerging Opportunities and Challenges.
    • Rethinking Access: Building a Knowledge Economy that Treats Information and Culture as Public Goods.
    • Honouring Indigenous Knowledge: Expanding Recognition and Integration in Library Practice.

Poster submission process

In your submission, please specify how your project or your library activities align with the Congress theme and bring knowledge together that contributes locally and globally to our societal future.

A successful proposal will:

  • Present a new/service/programme or application of technology that has a clear relationship to the poster theme as noted above
  • Lend itself to a poster session; is not too hypothetical
  • Describe the topic of the poster in an engaging 200-word abstract
  • Be inspiring to others

Additional criteria for evaluation include:

  • Concept/Programme/Service is clearly explained
  • Content is not duplicated in another poster
  • Presenter is not listed to present another poster (a presenter must be present during the poster sessions to explain the poster to viewers)
  • Poster describes a project that is ongoing or near completion, not one that is yet to start


All poster proposals are reviewed by a jury of members from the IFLA Programme Committee. Proposal status will be announced by the end of April 2026.

Important note:
 The presenter must commit to attending the Congress in person and travelling to Busan, South Korea.
IFLA is unable to provide any financial assistance for attendance.

Format Presentation

Posters should be printed and will be attached to the presentation panel. Posters can be written in any of the IFLA official languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Russian and Spanish.

The standard poster size of DIN A0 841mm wide x 1189mm high is the minimum. It is recommended that the printed poster be no larger than 900mm wide and 1900mm high.

If you are using photographs, graphics and text outside of your poster, these should also fit within the area of 900mm wide and 1900mm high.

It is required that at least one presenter must be present at the Congress in Busan, South Korea, on Tuesday, 11 August and Wednesday, 12 August 2026, to discuss their poster with delegates during the presentation sessions and to hand out any leaflets or other informational materials they will make available. One presenter must always be available by the poster during these sessions. One person cannot present two posters to the delegates during the presentation sessions.

Note: Organisations that submit more than one proposal should indicate priority for the submissions and confirm there will be presenters available for the presentations during the poster sessions. One person can only submit 2 posters, either as author or Co-author

A digital version of the poster is required. The digital file of the poster will be added to the IFLA repository after the conference. The required format is in portrait orientation and PDF only.

Poster Proposal submission form

Submit Application

Timeline

  • 12 January 2026 – Call for Posters opens
  • 8 April 2026 – Deadline for submitting your poster proposal with a title and abstract using our webform.
  • April 2026 – IFLA WLIC Programme Committee will inform applicants of the final decision.
  • 15 July 2026 – Deadline for submitting the digital file of the poster you will present in person in Busan.
  • 10-13 August 2026 – Posters to be placed on presentation panels at the Congress. Exact times to be confirmed.
  • 10-13 August 2026 – Poster sessions at the Congress. Exact times to be confirmed.

 

Awarded Posters 2025

The following posters were awarded in 2025:

 

Award winning posters can serve as good examples for poster submissions; over 800 posters from past conferences are available in the IFLA Repository.

IFLA Poster Award Categories 2026

Best IFLA Poster 2026

At the congress, a jury will review all posters and select the Best IFLA Poster 2026 based on the evaluation criteria. The winner will be announced at the WLIC 2026 Closing Ceremony and will be awarded a free registration for the next WLIC.

People’s Choice 2026

The winner for this category will be announced at the WLIC 2026 Closing Ceremony and will receive a certificate of recognition.

Visual Impact 2026

The winner of a visually stunning poster will be announced at the WLIC 2026 Closing Ceremony and will receive a certificate of recognition.

Questions?

Please contact conferences@ifla.org.