Join us for the 2026 Comparative Drama Conference at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, July 9-11, 2026
We are delighted that the 2026 Comparative Drama Conference will be hosted by the University of Wisconsin–Madison, from July 9–11, 2026. We look forward to welcoming colleagues to this dynamic campus in the heart of the American Midwest for another year of rich, international dialogue in drama, theatre, and performance studies.
Contact
Baron Kelly & Ann M. Shanahan at cdc2026@theatre.wisc.edu
Location
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus and the Concourse Hotel, 1 W Dayton St., Madison, WI, 523703
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2026 Call for Papers
Abstract Submission Deadline: December 15, 2025
Papers reporting on original investigations and critical analysis of research and developments in the field of drama and theatre are invited for the 48th Comparative Drama Conference, hosted by the University of Wisconsin, Madison, to be held July 9-11, 2026. Papers may be comparative across nationalities, periods and disciplines; and may deal with any issue in dramatic literature, criticism, theory, and performance, or any method of historiography, translation, or production. Papers should be 15 minutes in length, written for oral presentation, and accessible to a multi-disciplinary audience. Scholars and artists in all languages and literatures are invited to email a 250-word abstract in English to Ann M. Shanahan and Baron Kelly at cdc2026@theatre.wisc.edu by December 15, 2025.
In addition to abstracts for papers, we are also inviting proposals for new plays for staged reading at the conference, also due by December 15, 2025.
For full details, see the CFP linked here.
Please reach out with any questions to Ann Shanahan and Baron Kelly at cdc2026@theatre.wisc.edu.
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The Conference
The Comparative Drama Conference is an international, interdisciplinary conference founded by Dr. Karelisa Hartigan at the University of Florida in 1977. Every year, approximately 175 scholars are invited to present and discuss their work in the field of drama and 2 new plays receive a staged reading. The conference draws participants from the Humanities and the Arts, as well as other fields. The papers delivered range over the entire field of theatre research and production. Over the past 40 years, participants have come from 32 nations and all 50 states. Each year a distinguished theatre scholar or artist is invited to address the participants in the Keynote event.
From 2025-2030, the conference is hosted by the University of Wisconsin, Madison (UW-M) and the London Academy for Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in alternating years (2025, 2027, and 2029 in London, UK and 2026, 2028, and 2030 in Madison, WI, USA) and is co-directed by Baron Kelly and Ann M. Shanahan in Madison, and Nick Holden and Mark O’Thomas in London.
Key Dates
September 15, 2025
Call for papers and staged reading proposals opens
December 15, 2025
Deadline for 2026 paper abstracts and staged reading proposals
Pre-Arranged Panels
Special Call for American Theatre and Drama Society (ATDS) Panels
The PDF of the full call for ATDS Panels at CDC 2026 is linked here.
Special extended deadline for these prearranged ATDS panels (only): January 10, 2026
For this special call for ATDS panels (only), please contact Richard Gilbert at rgilbert1@luc.edu
Registration
The Comparative Drama Conference is committed to retaining reasonable rates for attendance that make the conference accessible to scholars and artists in all phases of a career, as well as graduate and undergraduate students. CDC conference rates have remained relatively stable over many years. Budget shifts with the new international model and other economic factors will necessitate a very modest increase this year across the rate scale.
Registration will open in March 2026
2026 Early Bird Rates
Available through May 15, 2026
| Ticket Type | Rate (USD) |
| Presenter, Reader or Presenter Session Chair (Faculty) | $145.00 |
| Presenter, Reader or Presenter Session Chair (Student) | $115.00 |
| Non-presenter Session Chair | $95.00 |
| Guest/Attendee | $80.00 |
| Student Guest/Attendee | $47.00 |
| One Day Pass | $40.00 |
| One Day Student Pass | $25.00 |
2026 Standard Rates
Available May 16 to July 11, 2026
| Ticket Type | Rate (USD) |
| Presenter, Reader or Presenter Session Chair (Faculty) | $170.00 |
| Presenter, Reader or Presenter Session Chair (Student) | $125.00 |
| Non-presenter Session Chair | $115.00 |
| Guest/Attendee | $95.00 |
| Student Guest/Attendee | $55.00 |
| One Day Pass | $50.00 |
| One Day Student Pass | $35.00 |
Conference Venue
The 2026 Comparative Drama Conference will be held at The Madison Concourse Hotel (1 W Dayton St., Madison, WI, 523703) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus.
Lodging
The Comparative Drama Conference is thrilled to announce that the 2026 conference has secured a reduced lodging rate for attendees at the Concourse Hotel, which already offers competitive pricing. We are also exploring the possibility of further reduced lodging opportunities for graduate students as part of our commitment to ensuring an accessible conference experience for scholars and artists at all career stages.
Location: The Madison Concourse Hotel
1 W Dayton St., Madison, WI, 523703
Rate: $138/night + tax*
*Rooms at this rate are located on the Concourse Premier Level, while rooms on the Governor’s Level will be available at the standard rates listed on the hotel website. Please see The Madison Concourse Hotel website for current pricing and details.
Booking details will be included in the registration confirmation email sent to attendees upon successful registration.
Parking: Guests who book through the Comparative Drama Conference block are eligible to receive the reduced parking rate of $10.00 per night
Airport Access
The 2026 Comparative Drama Conference boasts convenient access to multiple airports—MSN, MKE, and ORD—offering attendees a wide range of flight options and price points. This connectivity helps ensure flexible, affordable travel for participants coming from across the country and abroad.
Public Transportation
Madison Metro Transit provides convenient route options from the airport to the downtown/campus area and is a reliable way to explore Madison. Riders can purchase fares using contactless payment with Mastercard, Visa, or Samsung, Apple, and Google virtual wallets directly on the bus, or at ticket machines located on most BRT platforms.
The Van Galder bus provides convenient route options from the Chicago O’Hare International Airport to the Madison campus area (250 N. Lake St.).
The 2026 Comparative Drama Conference is hosted by the UW-Madison School of Education’s Department of Theatre and Drama and the office of Professional Learning and Community Education (PLACE). This partnership was made possible by the generosity of the School of Education Dean’s Office, and the Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies Program.
*PLACE is committed to creating inclusive and accessible events. If you need accommodations, please make sure to include this information when you register for this event. If accommodation needs arise after registration, please contact us at conferences@education.wisc.edu at least two weeks before the event. While we will do our best to fulfill late requests, we may not always be able to guarantee them.