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Call for Abstracts 2026

SMAANZ 2026 Call for Submissions

SMAANZ invites submissions for presentation at the 31st Annual Conference, to be held December 2-4, 2026, at Flinders University, Adelaide - Australia. Abstract submissions are welcome for work related to the conference themes listed below. Following great success in 2025, the conference organising committee is also accepting submissions for workshops on professional development or contemporary issues. All submissions are due by July 3rd, 2026, 11:59 pm AEST through the online portal. Please note that no further extensions will be permitted. Results of submissions will be shared on July 31, 2026.

The submission portal is now OPEN.

Submit your Abstract Here

Abstract Guidelines:

Authors can appear on up to 2 abstract submissions, except supervisors on first-author student submissions. In such cases, please indicate which author is the supervisor. At least one author must register by the conference early bird registration deadline (Wednesday, 30th September 2026) to avoid exclusion from the conference programme. All abstracts submitted must contain original research that has not been previously presented or published; if the research is under review, it must not be published before the conference.

Conference Theme: Fearless Transformation in Sport

Conference subthemes for Research Presentations include:

  • Sport Communication and Media
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Sport Management
  • Sport for Development
  • Sport Economics
  • Sport Governance
  • Sport Management (Event Management, Human Resource Management, Globalisation, Organisation Management, Organisational Behaviour, Leadership, Strategy)
  • Sport Marketing (Advertising, Branding, Consumer Behaviour, Sponsorship)
  • Socio-Cultural Perspectives in Sport Management
  • Research Methods in Sport Management
  • Sport Sustainability
  • Sport Management Teaching & Pedagogy
  • Technology & Innovation in Sport Management

Abstract Submission Format:

Abstracts must be 500 words or fewer (excluding title and author information). Abstracts should not include figures or tables. Include in-text citations following APA 7th edition, but no reference list is required. All abstracts must include relevant headings for:

  • Research Purpose/Question
  • Theoretical Background and Literature Review
  • Research Methodology (if applicable)
  • Results/Findings and Discussion (if applicable)
  • Contributions (if applicable)

Please include the full name(s) of the author(s) and institutional affiliation(s). Abstracts should not include figures or tables. Please use APA style for all referencing.

Authors may submit abstracts for one of the following categories:

  • Oral Presentations: Empirical, Methodological, Conceptual, or Teaching-related scholarship. Format: 20-minutes (10-minute presentation; 10-minute question period).
  • Enlightening Talks: PechaKucha-style presentations focused on current sport management issues (limited selection). Format: 20 slides with 20 seconds timed per slide.

Workshop Guidelines:

Workshops are structured sessions designed to actively engage attendees in practical skill development, applied discussion, and shared learning. Proposals must prioritise participant interaction and include structured activities, facilitated discussion or similar interactive components (limited selection).

 

Format: 40 minutes 

 

Each author may appear on a maximum of one workshop submission. The organising committee will be accepting two types of workshop proposals:

Professional/Academic Development Workshops

These sessions are designed to build the skills and knowledge of early- and mid-career scholars. The focus should be on a specific research or teaching and learning topic, with the goal of enhancing professional practice.

Proposals must:

  • Focus on developing or showcasing research skills, practical tools, teaching strategies, or leadership approaches.

Proposals may include gamified learning activities, applied teaching and research skills exercises, industry training models, or interactive simulations.

Contemporary Issues in Sport Management 

In these workshops, a contemporary or critical concept is explored through a sport management frame.

These workshops:

  • Focus on pressing sector challenges such as governance reform, climate action, sustainability, technological innovation, policy change, partnerships, or university-industry collaboration.

These sessions must be designed to actively involve participants in dialogue, problem-solving, or scenario-based activities.

Workshop Submission Format (Max. 500 Words)

Submissions must clearly outline:

  • The topic and purpose of the session

  • The structure and format of the workshop

  • The interactive methods that will be used to engage the audience

  • Why the authors are well-positioned to deliver this workshop

Please do not include figures or tables. In-text citations should follow APA 7th edition (no reference list required). Include full names and institutional affiliations of all authors.

If you have an initiative you would like to lead that falls outside the formats above (e.g., a community of practice session, an applied activity, or an alternative engagement format), we welcome your proposal. Please contact us at info@smaanz.org to discuss further.