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.
SEPTEMBER 23 – Euskalduna Palace, Bilbao
Welcome ceremony
Lecture: BIHAR
The project that reflects on narratives for language revitalisationHizkuntzak biziberritzeko kontakizunez hausnartzen duen BIHAR egitasmoa
Panel discussion
Why is it urgent to search for, activate and disseminate new or renewed narratives?
Reception with light refreshments
Euskalduna Palace, Bilbao
SEPTEMBER 23
September 24
Reception
Lecture:
Current international discourses on language revitalisation (key diagnostic insights)
Artistic-cultural intervention
Lecture:
Languages in the construction of personal and collective identity: future-oriented narratives
Break
Short lecture:
Community and indigenous knowledge in language revitalisation narratives
Short lecture:
Cultural discourses and symbolic identity construction
Short lecture:
Diversity, sustainability and ecological values in language revitalisation narratives
Lunch
Artistic-cultural intervention
Short lecture
The communicative value of languages across all domains of use
Short lecture
The pragmatic value of languages
Screening and discussion:
Renewing narratives for language revitalisation in the Yucatán Peninsula
Panel discussion
Narratives on identity, culture and memory
Panel discussion
Ecological and linguistic perspectives for community sustainability
Performative dialogue
Community dance as a key to live our languages in the 21st century
September 25
Reception
Lecture:
Language rights and social justice: victimisation, reparation and agency
Panel discussion
Elements for articulating a global discourse
Break
Artistic-cultural intervention
Lecture:
The Basque Country’s perspective on the diagnosis: contributions from social movements
Lecture:
International network of language revitalisation communities: why and for what purpose?
why and for what purpose?
Lunch
Artistic-cultural intervention
Short lectures
Voice and justice: social struggles in language revitalisation and the leap towards agency
Screening and discussion:
“Mai da bai” documentary: from oppression to agency, the Mapuche imagining the future
Participatory debate
Language rights and social justice: keys for future narratives
Participatory debate
Contributions of technology and artificial intelligence to language revitalisation
Experience sharing
Practices for building future narratives
Ficoba – Irun
September 24,25
September 26
Musical welcome
Reading of the declaration
Participatory cultural performance
Closing
Hendaia
September 26
Eskaintza kulturala
Irailak 24 eta 25
The program will be published later.
Artistic and cultural programme.
For these actions there is no need to enlist
Hendaia
Borderline factory.
Registration
Join us at the congress!
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