Tacloban City, Leyte —The Philippines will take center stage in global island research as Tacloban City hosts the Island Studies International Conference 2026 from June 25–28, convening scholars, policymakers, and community leaders under the theme “Navigating Island Futures: Intersections of Heritage, Transitions, and Regenerative Practices.”
The conference will spotlight pressing issues for small island communities, including heritage and identity, regenerative livelihoods, climate resilience, green technologies, youth empowerment, migration and mobility, and governance.
Organized by the Small Island Cultures Research Initiative (SICRI) in partnership with the Leyte-Samar Heritage Center of UP Tacloban, the event continues a tradition of annual gatherings since 2005 in venues such as Kagoshima, Prince Edward Island, Guernsey, Nova Scotia, Jamaica, and Shetland.
Beyond academic sessions, highlights include the workshop “From My Short to Your Shore,” cultural performances, and the New Voices in Island Studies Awards.
Delegates will also have the option to join a heritage tour featuring the Yolanda (Haiyan) commemorative marker, MacArthur Leyte Landing Memorial National Park, and excursions in Basey, Samar.
The program coincides with Tacloban’s Sangyaw Festival parade of lights, offering participants a vibrant cultural immersion. # (RANDY NOBLEZA)
