The professional programme of IFLA World Library and Information Congress (WLIC 2026) is shaped by open sessions organised by IFLA’s volunteer Committees and curated by the WLIC Programme Committee, with members from the Professional and Regional Councils.

Each year, IFLA’s volunteer Committees—including Sections, Special Interest Groups, Review Groups, Advisory Committees, and Regional Divisions—issue Calls for Papers to invite contributions from colleagues around the world, helping to ensure a diverse and globally representative programme.

Over 20 calls have been published on our Open session Call for Papers and our Satellite meeting webpages, with more to come. If you’re interested in sharing your work on a global stage, explore the topics and see what fits your expertise, then jump in!

Session topics include: social and cultural connections to libraries on a global scale, climate literacy, cultural memory, news media research behaviors, disaster planning, open knowledge, universal access to healthcare information, community partnerships, and of course AI’s evolving role in libraries.

Please note that you must be able to attend and present in person in Korea, at your own cost. IFLA cannot accept general abstracts or papers outside specific Calls.

Look out next for our draft programme, which will incorporate the open sessions we’re currently seeking proposals on. The draft programme will be available at the end of April.

IFLA WLIC 2026 delegates will discover that Busan offers far more than scenic landscapes and memorable cuisine.

The city also provides many ways to experience art, wellness, and everyday culture. Beyond the Congress sessions, visitors can explore creative spaces, discover Korean approaches to self-care, and enjoy local shopping districts.

Arts and cultural spaces

Busan’s cultural scene ranges from contemporary art museums to creative complexes shaped by the city’s industrial past.

The Busan Museum of Contemporary Art, located on Eulsukdo Island, presents exhibitions that explore the connections between nature, society, and contemporary art. Its exterior features a vertical garden designed by French botanist Patrick Blanc, creating a living façade that welcomes visitors before they enter the galleries.

Near BEXCO in Centum City, Museum 1 offers an immersive media art experience where large LED installations transform walls, ceilings, and floors into dynamic digital environments.

Another notable place is F1963, a former wire factory that has been transformed into a cultural complex featuring galleries, an art library, garden spaces, and cafés.

K-Beauty and wellness

Korean beauty and wellness practices have gained global recognition for their focus on long-term skincare and balanced self-care.

In Busan, visitors can explore skincare boutiques and clinics in areas such as Centum City and Seomyeon, where a wide variety of products and treatments are available.

For relaxation, Haeundae Hot Spring Street is known for its spas and jjimjilbangs (traditional Korean bathhouses) fed by natural hot springs, where visitors can enjoy thermal baths and heated rooms after a full day of Congress sessions.

Local shopping districts

Busan’s shopping districts range from large modern complexes to lively street markets.

Shinsegae Centum City, recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest department store, brings together retail, dining, and leisure facilities within a single complex.

In Nampo-dong, Gwangbokro Culture and Fashion Street offers a different atmosphere, with boutiques, cafés, and street food lining one of Busan’s most pedestrian-friendly streets.

During IFLA WLIC 2026, these places offer a chance to experience Busan’s creative culture and everyday city life.

Busan: discover a city where mountains meet the sea and historic neighborhoods stand beside modern skylines!

Beyond the Congress sessions, satellite meetings, and exciting nightlife, IFLA WLIC 2026 delegates can explore Busan’s dramatic landscapes, coastal landmarks, and vibrant local cuisine.

Hillside Neighborhoods

Unlike many coastal cities, Busan stretches across steep hillsides, where neighborhoods open onto wide views of harbors, bridges, and the sea.
Gamcheon Culture Village, often called the Machu Picchu of Korea, is known for its colorful houses, narrow alleys, and hillside murals. Nearby, Huinnyeoul Culture Village runs along the edge of a coastal cliff, where quiet streets overlook the ocean. Breathtaking!

For a sweeping panorama of the city, visitors can head to the Hwangnyeongsan Viewing Lounge, where Busan’s landscape of mountains, bridges, and coastline is especially striking in the evening.

Coastal Landmarks

The sea has long shaped Busan’s identity, and its coastline provides many ways to explore the city.

Glass skywalks at Oryukdo Skywalk, Songdo Skywalk, and Cheongsapo Daritdol Skywalk extend above the water to provide dramatic coastal views.

Further north in Gijang, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple stands on seaside rocks and is one of Korea’s few temples built directly beside the ocean.

Near BEXCO, Haeundae Beach is one of Busan’s most famous beaches.  Visitors can follow the coast on the Haeundae Blueline Park beach train or Sky Capsule, while BUSAN X the SKY offers scenic views of Busan’s skyline.

On Saturday evenings, the Gwangalli Marvelous Drone Light Show illuminates the sky above Gwangan Bridge, one of Busan’s most recognizable landmarks.

Local Flavors

Regional cuisine is another way to experience Busan.

Milmyeon, cold wheat noodles served in chilled broth, was created by refugees after the Korean War. Dwaeji Gukbap, a pork and rice soup, also became a local staple during that period.

Bupyeong Kkangtong Market, once known for surplus U.S. military goods, is now famous for its street food. Visitors often try Ssiat Hotteok, sweet pancakes filled with seeds and nuts, and skewers of Eomuk, Korean fish cakes.

Seafood is another essential part of Busan’s food culture, and visitors can enjoy it at Jagalchi Market, where dishes such as Hwe, fresh sliced raw fish, Jogae Gui, grilled shellfish, and Nakji Bokkeum, spicy stir-fried octopus, are local favorites.

During WLIC 2026, Busan invites participants to explore a city where landscapes, culture, and food come together on Korea’s southern coast.

🔗 Resource

Planning to attend the World Library and Information Congress in Busan this August? Satellite Meetings offer a great opportunity to go deep on cutting-edge topics, so make note of the meeting list for all your event planning! ✍️

Each year, a number of IFLA’s Volunteer Committees (Sections, Special Interest Groups, Review Groups, Advisory Committees and Regional Divisions) organise unique, 1-2 day Satellite Meetings prior to or following the Congress. The meetings offer a great opportunity to gain and exchange expertise with fellow professionals from around the globe.

For WLIC 2026, these meetings will all be held in Busan and Seoul.

Learn more about each of the meetings, their topics, and attendance information by visiting our Satellite Meetings page.

Attendees of IFLA WLIC 2026 will find themselves at the heart of one of Asia’s most dynamic cultural hubs.

While gathering to discuss librarianship and the future of knowledge, delegates will be immersed in the global rise of Korean culture—an influential movement shaping music, film, literature, and digital media worldwide.

As you prepare for your Congress journey, let’s explore the K-culture experiences awaiting delegates alongside attending WLIC 2026 in Busan!

K-pop: a sound that resonates across the world

K-pop is one of the defining sounds of contemporary culture. What began as a regional music industry has grown into a worldwide phenomenon, propelled by PSY’s ‘Gangnam Style’ and expanded by globally influential groups like BTS.

For WLIC 2026 delegates, this global wave holds special local significance. Busan is the hometown of BTS members Jimin and Jungkook—a source of pride for the city and a reminder that global icons often emerge from strong local roots. Their journey from Busan to international stages mirrors Korea’s growing cultural influence worldwide.

Busan also actively shapes today’s K-pop scene. The city hosts the Busan One Asia Festival (BOF), one of Asia’s major K-pop events, bringing together leading artists and international fans from around the world each year. During the festival, the entire city comes alive with music and international visitors.

K-pop’s reach now extends across media. ‘Golden’ from the animated film KPop Demon Hunters illustrates how Korean pop culture flows between music, film, and digital platforms. In Busan, K-pop is not a distant trend but a vibrant part of the city’s cultural identity.

🔗 Resources

K-drama and film beyond the language barrier

Korean dramas and films have become powerful storytellers on the international stage. Through streaming platforms, local narratives now reach audiences across borders.

Busan is a vibrant hub of film culture and creativity. As a UNESCO Creative City of Film and home to the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), Asia’s most influential film festival, the city has long been a gateway to the world for Korean cinema. Each year, filmmakers and audiences gather in Busan, transforming the city into a dynamic space for storytelling and exchange.

Global successes such as Squid Game and Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite demonstrate the international reach of Korean screen culture. Beyond these successes, Busan’s global presence is continually strengthened by its festivals, film markets, and cultural institutions. Cinema here is not only screened — it is actively nurtured and celebrated.

🔗 Resources

Esports and the new digital reading room

Media culture has shifted from passive consumption to active, real-time participation. In Esports, Korea has been a pioneering force, shaping competitive gaming into a major global industry. One of its most iconic figures is Faker (Lee Sang-hyeok), widely regarded as the greatest League of Legends player of all time, whose career symbolises Korea’s leadership in digital competition.

Busan has hosted major international tournaments, and BEXCO—the venue for WLIC 2026—welcomed the League of Legends World Championship in 2022. These events demonstrate the city’s growing importance in global esports.

Streaming platforms transform these competitions into shared global experiences, connecting millions in real time.

K-Culture is no longer a passing trend. It is a dynamic digital wave that brings Busan and Korea closer to the global community.

🔗 Resource 

We’re pleased to announce that a new set of grants is now open for the IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2026 (WLIC 2026).

These grants support library and information professionals from a wide range of backgrounds to participate in IFLA’s flagship global conference in Busan, South Korea.

The 2026 Grant opportunities include:

• IFLA Emerging Leaders Grants
  
  Designed to support individuals with strong leadership potential, helping them expand their professional horizons, raise their profile, and contribute meaningfully to IFLA’s strategic goals.
• Discovery grants

Available to professionals from IFLA member institutions and other membership categories.

• Pacific Grants

Supporting five professionals from Pacific countries (excluding Australia and New Zealand) to attend WLIC 2026.

• Margreet Wijnstroom Grant

Awarded to one delegate from a UN-designated least developed country to attend the Congress.

• Angela Bersekowski Grants

Offering 10 grants to support young professionals attending the Congress.

• Dr. Shawky Salem Conference Grant (SSCG)
  Enables one expert in library and information sciences from the Arab Countries (AC) to attend the IFLA Congress.

This is your opportunity to join colleagues from around the world at #WLIC2026. Visit the Grants and Awards page to learn more about these and other funding opportunities, and submit your application.

Questions? Contact us at grants@ifla.org

Attending this year’s IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Busan, South Korea? Interested in showcasing your library’s work and sharing it with our global professional network? This call is for you!

Now is your opportunity to submit a poster proposal and highlight innovative projects and initiatives from your library, community or association.

In alignment with the official WLIC 2026 Congress theme “Libraries Powering Transformation” and sub-themes, all poster proposals will be reviewed by a jury of members from the IFLA Programme Committee. Successful applicants will be contacted by the end of April 2026.

At the Congress, the selected and executed posters will be competing for one of the following IFLA Poster Award Categories:

🏆 Best IFLA Poster 2026

🏆 People’s Choice 2026

🏆 Visual Impact 2026

Learn more about the themes, submission criteria, and complete your application by visiting our Call for Posters page.

Poster proposal deadline: 8 April 2026.

Questions? Please contact conferences@ifla.org.