2026 Annual Conference

Celebrating 50 Years of Border Studies: Past, Present and Future

March 25 through March 28, 2026

Clyde Hotel

Albuquerque, NM


Every year, the ABS partners with the World Social Science Association (WSSA), an international and multi-disciplinary organization based in the American West, to organize its annual meeting. The WSSA advances scholarship, teaching, service, and professional exchange across the social science disciplines.

To learn more:

WSSA Conference Homepage

ABS 2026 Program

COMING SOON

Call for Papers

The Association for Borderlands Studies (ABS) is celebrating! In 2026, we will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Association and the 40th anniversary of the Journal of Borderland Studies (JBS). Founded in 1976, the ABS originally promoted the study of the US-Mexico border. As its membership grew, the association expanded its focus to encompass a broader range of geographical areas, disciplines, theoretical perspectives, and methodological approaches. First published in 1986, the JBS embodies the dynamism and diversity of the ABS and has evolved to become the leading international forum for the interdisciplinary and comparative study of borders.


Through its activities, including the Annual and World conferences and the JBS, the ABS has contributed to and witnessed the development and institutionalization of Border Studies. Over the past 50 years, our academic community has documented how borders affect the physical, psychological, economic, cultural, and environmental well-being of border communities and people on the move, and how borderlanders and migrants have actively shaped the trajectory of states. The 2026 Annual Conference in Albuquerque, coinciding with these anniversaries, provides an opportunity to discuss both the conditions that enabled Border Studies’ emergence, positioning and formalization, and its thematic, theoretical, conceptual, and methodological trajectories. Despite significant progress, there is still much to be done and challenges that lie ahead. We hope to gain a clearer and more complete vision of the emergence, current state, and future directions of this academic field.

We aim to foster epistemological dialogue and comparative research between borderland regions, and invite submissions that create opportunities for such exchange. To this end the ABS invites border scholars from all disciplines, areas, and regions, as well as colleagues from non-academic sectors, including policymakers, non-governmental organizations, and artists, with diverse perspectives on borders and borderlands to present their research and share their knowledge. As always, the ABS extends its invitation beyond the conference theme. We welcome proposals from across the diverse field of Border Studies, that reflect a diversity in themes, focus, methodologies, and voices. We particularly encourage individual papers, complete panels and roundtable sessions, as well as book presentations.

Important dates

• November 30, 2025: Deadline for early bird registration

• January 16, 2026: Deadline to submit a proposal

• January 23, 2026: Notification of acceptance to participants

• Mid-February, 2026: First draft of the program

Download Call for Papers Here

Important Information


COMING SOON

ABS Annual Conference Support Grant 2026

The Association for Borderlands Studies (ABS) invites applications for support to attend the ABS Annual Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 25 through 28, 2026. The ABS will offer a limited number of grants (approximately, $250 USD to $500 USD, depending on needs) to students (prior to receiving a PhD) and early career scholars without permanent positions (such as those employed on temporary contracts as post-docs / teaching fellows / research assistants). These awards are open regardless of country of residence but applications from scholars based in non-OECD countries will have priority.


Eligibility

  1. Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program (or ABD), or early career scholar employed on a temporary research or teaching contract.
  2. Member of the ABS before the application deadline.
  3. Registered and paid the WSSA Conference Fee before the application deadline.
  4. The applicant should be committed to traveling to Albuquerque to present their paper in person.
  5. Where papers have multiple authors, only one award per paper will be granted.


Application Guidelines

Applications must include the following items as a single document:

  1. Application form (see website)
  2. Extended abstract (800 to 1,000 words) summarizing the research to be presented at the ABS Annual Conference in Albuquerque, 2026.
  3. Application materials may be in English or Spanish.


Evaluation criteria

Abstracts will be evaluated on criteria including but not limited to the following:

  1. Potential impact or contribution of the research to the field of border studies
  2. The originality of the research question, topical area, and methodology
  3. Clarity of the argument and writing
  4. Adherence to application guidelines – applications will not be considered unless all relevant sections are completed
  5. Relevance to the conference theme


Submissions and deadline

All applications should be submitted via email to absborderlands@gmail.com no later January 16, 2026.


Emails subject line should be titled: ABS 2026 – Travel grant application


Please save the file for your application as:

[Your Last Name]_ABS Albuquerque_2026_Travel

Download ABS Travel Grant Application Here

Best Paper Awards

Every year, the Association for Borderlands Studies offers awards for outstanding scholarship in borderlands studies. For the 2026 conference in Albuquerque, we invite submissions in the following categories:

  1. Best Undergraduate Student Paper
  2. Best Graduate Student Paper
  3. Best Dissertation (NEW for 2026: Honours, Masters, Doctorate)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Student Paper Awards (Categories 1 & 2)

Eligibility: Papers must be presented at the 2026 ABS Annual Meeting and focus on border studies. Applicants must be ABS members.

Submission Requirements:

  1. Papers should be formatted according to the Journal of Borderlands Studies Instructions for Authors
  2. Maximum 10,000 words, inclusive of abstract, tables, references, and endnotes
  3. Submit as PDF or Word document

Best Dissertation Award (Category 3):

Eligibility: Dissertations completed between January 2025 and February 2026 or those nearly complete are eligible for consideration. While dissertations must focus on borderlands studies, work from any academic discipline is welcome.

Purpose: The award recognizes the dissertation that, in the judgment of the committee, most clearly demonstrates the potential to contribute to substantial advances in borderlands research and practice. The committee welcomes a variety of research approaches, including normative/theoretical, social science/empirical (both qualitative and quantitative), historical, and policy-oriented studies.

Submission Requirements: Those wishing to be considered should submit an abstract up to 10 pages in length.

A complete submission includes 3 files:

  1. Abstract: Not more than 10 double-spaced pages (including references, tables, figures, and appendices), standard margins, Times New Roman 12-point or similar font. Please do not include any identifying information (author name, advisor name, or university name) in the abstract.
  2. Signature page: Copy of the official signature page with university name, signatures, and date of completion, or similar official evidence of completion date.
  3. Title page (separate file): Include author’s name, current mailing address, phone number, and email address.

We strongly encourage supervisors to inform their students about this award opportunity. All submissions must be made by the candidate directly.

Note: Presentation at the conference is not required for dissertation submissions, though the award includes $300 for travel expenses. The travel expenses allocation will only be disbursed to recipients who present in-person at the conference.

EVALUATION:

Papers and dissertation abstracts will be evaluated on criteria including, but not limited to, the following:

  1. Potential impact or contribution to the field of borderlands studies
  2. The originality of the research question, topical area, and methodology
  3. Clarity of the argument and writing
  4. Relevance to the conference theme
  5. For student papers only: Adherence to JBS Instructions for Authors

SUBMISSION:

To submit your application, please send an email to absborderlands@gmail.com, including the following:

  1. Your paper or dissertation abstract (in PDF or Word document)
  2. Please note dissertation requirements above
  3. Your name and affiliation
  4. The category to which you are submitting as the subject line of your email

AMOUNT OF THE AWARDS:

Best Undergraduate Student Paper: $250

Best Graduate Student Paper: $350

Best Dissertation: $550 (if attending the conference); $250 if not in attendance

All paper awards include an annual membership.

THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT PAPERS/DISSERTATIONS IS FEBRUARY 15, 2026.

Winners will be announced and recognized at the conference in March 2026 in Albuquerque.