About IAWE27

The 27th conference of the International Association for World Englishes (IAWE27) will take place at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, from
7 to 9 July 2027. It is hosted by Utrecht University, with the support of the University of Amsterdam.

Five Decades of World Englishes

IAWE27 takes place almost half a century after the founding conferences of the World Englishes framework in 1978. A major focus of the conference will be to reflect on what we have learned over the past five decades, taking stock of key achievements, conceptual advances in our understanding of English worldwide, and the challenges of the 21st century that lie ahead.

The conference theme reflects this balance between looking back and looking forward: Framing world Englishes in the 21st century.

Plenary Speakers

The plenary speakers will each bring their own perspective, experience and insights to IAWE27. Together, they will help set the stage for participants to share their ideas, research and reflections throughout the conference. 

Discover Utrecht

The city of Utrecht, located very centrally in the Netherlands, and within half an hour by train from Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam, is an ideal venue. Its signature Dom Tower defines the skyline, while its canals, going back to medieval times, form circles around and through the city centre. Its Roman origins are still apparent in the remains of castellum built around AD 50 on the northern frontier of the Roman Empire. Numerous medieval buildings survive, adding to the city’s historic character.  Utrecht is also famous for the Treaty of Utrecht (1713), which helped end the War of the Spanish Succession and reshaped European and North American territories. Guidebooks tend to describe it as a picturesque, laid-back alternative to Amsterdam.  

The conference venues are in the city centre, within walking (and cycling) distance of several hotels, and even the main train station. There is a bus stop right across from the venue where the plenary sessions will take place, with a regular bus service from the train station taking about  five minutes.