Sigma Tau Delta Convention
2026 Convention Website: Coming Soon!
Convention is a truly wonderful event that allows hundreds of Sigma Tau Deltans from around the globe to gather in one locale, share experiences and ideas, be recognized for their achievements, and participate in the official side of the Society. At the convention, opportunities abound to meet face-to-face with other students, faculty, and respected authors; make new friends; discuss the disciplines of the English language and literature; and enjoy the offerings of the convention's location.
Convention Information
March 29 – April 1, 2026
Hyatt Regency New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Important Dates
Submissions Open: September 22, 2025
Submissions Close: October 27, 2025
Decision Date: November 18, 2025
General Registration Opens: November 18, 2025
Convention Theme: Second Lines & New Beginnings
A second line is a parade that embodies the soul of New Orleans. It traditionally consists of a brass band, the "first line" of club members or a family hosting the parade, and then the "second line" – anyone and everyone who wants to join in the celebration. The roots of second line parades stretch back to the 19th century and the tradition of jazz funerals. In those somber yet celebratory processions, the "first line" was the family of the deceased, funeral directors, and a brass band. The "second line" was made up of those who joined the procession to honor the dead and celebrate their life. Over time, second lines evolved beyond funerals to become a regular part of New Orleans social life. Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs, formed in the late 1800s to provide financial assistance and community support, began hosting their own second lines as celebrations of life, culture, and community resilience.—From Jean Lafitte House.
The concept for the 2026 convention theme stems from the ideas of inclusion and resilience that are embodied in the tradition of the Second Line. Like the Second Line, Sigma Tau Delta, and the profession of language and literature that it represents, is inclusive. We invite anyone to join our profession and join the celebration of voices and stories it represents. It offers a place where one can find a new beginning.
We also celebrate the resilience of the community. At a time when our profession is under attack in many parts of the country, we will remain resilient and make sure that those voices and stories are preserved and heard. The people, culture, and geography of New Orleans exemplify the spirit of resilience, and provide a perfect backdrop to celebrate this theme. The Second Line embodies the New Orleans philosophy of transforming hardship into celebration. We hope to see you in New Orleans, and "Laissez les bon temps rouler"—Let the good times roll!
Convention Co-Chairs:
Michaelann Nelson, Sonia Mae Brown, and Chloe Evans
Common Reader Keynote Speaker: Jesmyn Ward
MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient and two-time National Book Award-winner Jesmyn Ward has been hailed as the standout writer of her generation, proving her “fearless and toughly lyrical” voice in novels, memoir, and nonfiction. Betsy Burton of the American Booksellers Association has called her “the new Toni Morrison.” In 2017, she became the first woman and the first person of color to win two National Book Awards for Fiction—joining the ranks of William Faulkner, Saul Bellow, John Cheever, Philip Roth, and John Updike. In 2024, Men We Reaped, Salvage the Bones, and Sing, Unburied, Sing were named in the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century by the New York Times.
Common Reader Text: Salvage the Bones, by Jesmyn Ward
Spotlight Author: Tennessee Williams
New Orleans is home to one of the largest literary festivals in the United States, the Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival, in honor of itinerant New Orleans resident and playwright Tennessee Williams. It was at 722 Toulouse Street in the French Quarter that Williams reinvented himself and found his new beginnings. It was also where he began to embrace his queer identity. Reflecting on this period of his life, Williams recalled that “In New Orleans . . . I found the kind of freedom I had always needed, and the shock of it—against the Puritanism of my nature—has given me a subject, a theme, which I have never ceased exploiting.” The theme can especially be seen in the character of Blanche from A Streetcar Named Desire, Williams’ 1947 award-winning play. Set in New Orleans, Blanche moves there to start her life anew with her sister Stella after losing her teaching job and the family home in Laurel, MS. She finds hope and renewal in a potential new relationship. Williams went on to win two Pulitzer Prizes (including for Streetcar), three New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards, and a Tony award for work such as The Glass Menagerie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Night of the Iguana, and Garden District.
Williams frequently wrote in the Southern Gothic tradition, which he shared with other New Orleanian writers, such as Kate Chopin and Anne Rice. New Orleans’ rich literary history can be found in its alleyways and bookshops, streetcars and cemeteries. We will celebrate this unique literary history in all its manifestations at the 2026 Convention and welcome papers on all aspects of New Orleanian literary heritage. It is also celebrated each year by the Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival, which will hold its 40th anniversary festival March 25–29, 2026, just prior to the start of the 2026 Convention. Come to Convention early and see the New Orleans Literary Festival!
