CONGRESS

Languages shaping the future

From September 23 to 26, 2026, the Basque Country will host the International Congress of Minority Language Communities Undergoing Revitalization. Under the slogan Languages shaping the future, the congress aims to bring together diverse language communities from around the world to reflect on revitalization discourses and to position them globally in a transformative way.

For four days, global experts, activists and artists wiill gather between Bilbao, Irun and Hendaye. The lessons, discourses and experiences collected in the previous phases (diagnosis and socialization) will be brought to the forefront through a rich program, combining lectures, roundtables, workshops and artistic cultural events.

Topics

Topics to be adressed include:

Why a project focused on minority language revitalization discourses?

Active narrative and discourse elements of minority language communities undergoing revitalization worldwide.

Connections between language revitalization and other social demands

The shift from victimization to agency through reparation processes.

Collective responsability in language revitalization.

The program of the congress will combine talks, roundtables, workshops, seminars, and artistic-cultural performances.

The BIHAR International Congress invites us to look towards the future: to build narratives, emotions and paths projected into the future, carrying the journey so far, and looking ahead, knowing that after dusk comes dawn.

Euskalduna jauregia · Bilbao

September 23

Ficoba – Irun / Hendaye

September 24, 25 and 26

We have formed the International Advisory Committee to assist in organizing the Congress. These are the members who make up the committee:

Albert Badosa Roldós, Catalan, Grup de Lingüistes per la Diversitat (GLiDi-UB)
Alexandra Philbin, Irish, Endangered Languages Project
Aliana Parker, First Peoples’ Cultural Council
Amanda Holmes, Mohawk language community, Endangered Languages Project
Anna Belew, Endangered Languages Project
Danika Vickers, Haíɫzaqvḷa language community, Endangered Languages Project
Elvis Bolivar Túquerres Ichau, Ecuadorian Kichwa Karanki, Organización Asociación Kichwakamak Sisariy
Ernst Djeride Jean-Baptiste, Haitian Creole, MIT-Haiti Initiative
Igor Xoyón Díaz, Kaqchikel, Red de Escuelas Kaqchikeles: Ruk’u’x Qatinamït
Ihitz Iriart Casenave, Basque, singer, dancer, and cultural agent
Iñaki Sagardoy Leuza, Basque, Public University of Navarre

Kekoa Harman, Hawaiian Language, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
Mirjam Vellinga, Frysk, Afûk organisation
Monica Pereña Perez, Catalan, Associació Linguapax Internacional
Mustapha El Adak, Amazigh community, university researcher/University of Oujda
Paula Kasares Corrales, Basque, sociolinguist
Pius Akumbu, Babanki language community, Endangered Languages Project / CNRS-LLACAN
Rahera Cowie, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāpuhi, and Ngāti Kahu Māori tribes, University of Canterbury
Miriam Viviana González Garzón, collaborator from the Nasa people, Plan de Vida Proyecto Nasa and Garabide
Yasnaya Elena Aguilar, Mixe, Colectivo Mixe
Yazmin Novelo, Yucatec Maya, Endangered Languages Project / U péekbal waye’
Yulha Lhawa, Khroskyabs language community, Endangered Languages Project

Etorri nahi duzu?

Do you want to attend the Congress?

Registration opens on May 11