2027 World Congress of Sociology of Sport

Welcome to the 2027 World Congress of Sociology of Sport!

We are delighted to announce the opening of the official website for the 2027 World Congress of Sociology of Sport. Here, you will find a wealth of information regarding the Congress, including programs,  abstract submission, registration, and general information. More specific information will be provided in the near future, so we encourage you to check back regularly.

Thanks for your interest, and we look forward to welcoming you to Melbourne in 2027!

"Measuring Progress or Delivering Social Change? The Sociology of Sport in Contested Times."

The International Sociology of Sport Association (ISSA) arrives in Narrm - Melbourne, Australia for the 2027 World Congress of Sociology of Sport, hosted by Victoria University. The Congress theme is Measuring Progress or Delivering Social Change? The Sociology of Sport in Contested Times.

Set against Australia’s rich and contested sports cultures, the Congress invites scholars, practitioners, and community partners to interrogate whether the sociology of sport is fulfilling its transformative potential. As the discipline navigates growing pressures around evidence, accountability, and relevance, delegates will examine what it truly means to measure progress and deliver social change, and for whom.

Drawing on Victoria University’s commitment to research with societal impact and community-led inquiry, the Congress will foreground the voices and experiences of those most affected by sport’s promises and failures: Indigenous communities, women, people with disability, migrants, and those in the urban margins.

Scholars will debate the politics of data, the ethics of evaluation, and the power dynamics embedded in policy and practice. Regional and global perspectives will be woven throughout, connecting local struggles to global conversations about sport, inequality and social justice.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Ancestors, Elders and families of the Kulin Nation (Melbourne campuses), the Eora Nation (Sydney campus) and the Yugara/YUgarapul and Turrbal Nation (Brisbane campus) who are the traditional owners of University land. As we share our own knowledge practices within the University, may we pay respect to the deep knowledge embedded within the Aboriginal community and recognise their ownership of Country.

We acknowledge that the land on which we meet, learn, and share knowledge is a place of age-old ceremonies of celebration, initiation and renewal, and that the Traditional Owners' living culture and practices have a unique role in the life of this region.

Get support and advice from Moondani Balluk, our Indigenous Academic Unit.