Centre of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian & Latin American Studies
School of Language Literature & Culture Studies
Jawaharlal Nehru University
is organising an International Conference
on
Youth Narratives and Cultural Practices Across the Globe in the 20th and 21st Century
2nd – 4th November 2026
JNU, New Delhi 110067
Concept note
Youth, at present, occupies a major demographic share around the world, especially in the developing nations. Their role is crucial in the realisation of governance, economics and socio-cultural contexts since always but more so in the 20th and 21st century. Literature, cinema, music, digital media, art and everyday cultural expressions produced by and about young people have consistently articulated their experiences and aspirations, especially of belonging. These are the young people who will help realise the PM Modi’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, mission and goals. This international conference seeks to examine youth cultural expressions and practices from a global and comparative perspective, situating them within the broader framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The conference is designed in a manner that encompasses an interdisciplinary approach as envisaged in NEP 2020 taking insights from literature, culture – national and international, sociology, digital humanities, global south partnerships, sustainable development goals 2030 etc.
The conference will provide an interdisciplinary platform for scholars to analyse youth-led cultural practices as sites of informal learning, social critique, civic engagement and ecological consciousness. It will examine both historical and contemporary case studies, enabling an internationally situated dialogue between twentieth-century youth cultural expressions and twenty-first-century digital and transnational youth cultures.
In particular, the conference will look at six SDGs- 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 13 (Climate Action), and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The conference aims to contribute to broader academic and policy discussions on youth engagement, cultural sustainability and inclusive development. It seeks to demonstrate how youth narratives and cultural practices can inform more socially grounded, culturally sensitive sustainable development frameworks. To realise this aim applicants should preferably situate their papers in alignment with at least one of the SDGs mentioned contextualised within sub-themes listed below.
Conference Highlights
The conference will have keynote and plenary speakers from academia, industry and government. It will have roundtable discussions, workshop, as well as a cultural events and exhibition.
Format: Hybrid mode
Language (Paper Presentation): English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Italian, French, Russian.
Important Dates (keep checking webpage for updates)
Abstract submission: 15th April 2026
Acceptance notification: 10th May 2026
Last date for registration: 30th August 2026
Last date for full-paper submission: 10th August 2026
Conference Dates: 2nd – 4th November 2026
Registration Fee*
Indian Scholars: ₹1500 (INR One thousand and five hundred)
International Scholars: $30 (USD Thirty)
Contact Details
Email: youthconferencejnu2026[at]gmail[dot]com
WhatsApp: +91 -98 99 2468 00
Conference Webpage: Youth Conference 2026
Link tree: youthconferencejnu2026 | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
Convenor: Dr. Lovey Srivastava (Faculty, JNU)
*The registration fee is inclusive of conference kit, lunch, high tea but not accommodation.