2026 American Folklore Society Annual Meeting
Welcome to the 138th AFS Annual Meeting
The American Folklore Society will gather for its 138th Annual Meeting in Asheville, North Carolina from October 27-31, 2026. The meeting will be held at the Renaissance Asheville Downtown Hotel in Asheville, North Carolina from October 27-31, 2026. Mark your calendars to gather in the mountains of western North Carolina with your colleagues and friends!
AFS is excited to engage with local Asheville partners before, during and after this year’s meeting in Asheville. Stay tuned for more information as collaborations unfold.
The American Folklore Society invites you to explore what it means to persist—to be tenacious, steadfast, insistent—in the face of social and environmental challenges, as we explore the theme for this year's meeting, "Community Persistence: Reckoning with Change, Imagining Futures."
Proposal Submission OFFICE HOURS
We welcome you to join AFS Staff to ask questions about proposals and the proposal process.
Who: Those planning to propose presentations of any type for the 2026 Annual Meeting
What: To ask questions about the proposal process and/or the type(s) of proposal that might best present your ideas.
Feel free to drop in for a few minutes or to stay and listen to what others ask about and are planning to propose.
Where: On Zoom
When: Office hour sessions will be held before the end of the Proposal Submission period, April 15, 11:59pm EDT.
We have tried to schedule so we reach people in different time zones.
Why: Staff want to help you with approaches and strategies to create a strong proposal. We appreciate it when people share their proposal ideas and ask questions about modes of presentation and ideas. It's also lovely when people engage with each other during these sessions.
Bottom line, we want to provide answers to help you submit your proposal smoothly!
Please register so we know who'll be attending!
In the meantime, please don't hesitate to email us with questions.
Please register so we know who will be attending and can keep an eye out for you in the waiting room for the session.
Registering for office hours in Zoom provides you a link to the session (unique to you), so be sure to register ahead in order to have access to this Office Hours session.
Registration for this session is now closed. See times and dates for upcoming Office Hours. >>
“Idea Form” by Public.Resource.Org, Public Domain Dedication (CC0)
Please register so we know who will be attending and can keep an eye out for you in the waiting room for the session.
Registering for office hours in Zoom provides you a link to the session (unique to you), so be sure to register ahead in order to have access to this Office Hours session.
Registration for this session is now closed. See times and dates for upcoming Office Hours. >>
No known copyright restrictions
From the collection of the Center for Jewish History.
Please register so we know who'll be attending and can keep an eye out for you in the waiting room for the session.
Registering for office hours in Zoom provides you a link to the session (unique to you), so be sure to register ahead in order to have access to this Office Hours session.
Photo: Alan Burdette, courtesy American Folklore Society.
General Resources and Proposal Submission Information
2026 Annual Meeting General Info
Theme: Community Persistence: Reckoning with Change, Imagining Futures
Questions about proposals and/or plans for the 2026 meeting?
Please message annualmeeting@afsnet.org with questions about the submission process for the 2026 meeting in Asheville, or sign up above to attend an Office Hours Session hosted by AFS Staff.
Photo Credits
Banner Image: Martha C. Sims.
Additional Images, unless otherwise indicated: Josh Weilepp, courtesy American Folklore Society.
Location
Hybrid event:
Renaissance Asheville Hotel
31 Woodfin Street
Asheville, North Carolina
United States, 28801
Dates
Registration period:
March 16, 2026 - 11:00 AM EDT - October 31, 2026 - 11:59 PM EDT
Submission period:
March 16, 2026 - 9:00 AM EDT - April 15, 2026 - 11:59 PM EDT
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact annualmeeting@afsnet.org