Okinawa JALT · Save the Date

Global Summit 2027

Innovations in Language Education · 言語教育のイノベーション. Three days of research, practice, and community in Naha, timed with the 57th Naha Great Tug-of-War, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage festival.

📅 October 8–10, 2027📍 Gender Equality Center Tiruru, Naha🪢 57th Naha Ōtsunahiki📝 Proposals due June 15, 2027

Key Dates Registration Fees Call for Proposals

Okinawa JALT Global Summit 2027

A dynamic international conference celebrating innovation, collaboration, and community in language education

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Conference Dates

October 8–10, 2027
Friday · Saturday · Sunday

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Theme

Innovations in Language Education
言語教育のイノベーション

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Venue

Gender Equality Center Tiruru
Naha, Okinawa, Japan

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Special Event

57th Naha Ōtsunahiki
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Okinawa Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT) warmly invites language educators, researchers, and professionals from around the world to the Okinawa JALT Global Summit 2027, a dynamic international conference celebrating innovation, collaboration, and community in language education.

Held over three days in the vibrant city of Naha, the Summit coincides with the legendary 57th Naha Ōtsunahiki (Great Tug-of-War Festival), a UNESCO-recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage event drawing over 270,000 participants and spectators. Delegates are invited to experience this extraordinary celebration of Okinawan culture alongside world-class academic programming.

Curious what the Summit looks like? Browse the Global Summit 2026 conference record, with summaries and abstracts from 27 recorded presentations.

Registration Fees

Registration is open now. Early-bird discounts apply to all paid categories: register by July 15, 2027 to save.

OkiJALT Member

Early bird¥5,000

Regular¥7,000

🐦 Pay Early Bird

Best Rate

JALT National Member

Early bird¥7,000

Regular¥9,000

🐦 Pay Early Bird

Non-Member

Early bird¥9,000

Regular¥12,000

🐦 Pay Early Bird

Digital Presenter †

Pre-recorded video submissions

Early bird¥3,000

Regular¥5,000

🐦 Pay Early Bird

Early bird deadline: July 15, 2027. Registration is open now. Online registration closes October 5, 2027; onsite registration is available October 8–10.
† The digital presenter fee covers pre-recorded video submissions and is required for all digital presenters.

Key Dates & Deadlines

Mark your calendar

April 1, 2027
Call for Proposals opensAttendee registration is already open
June 15, 2027
Proposal / abstract submission deadline
July 1, 2027
Acceptance notifications sent to presenters
July 15, 2027
Early bird registration deadline
August 15, 2027
Presenter registration & payment deadlineSecure your session slot
September 15, 2027
Digital presenter video submission deadline
October 5, 2027
Online registration closes
Oct 8–10, 2027
🎉 Conference!Onsite registration available · Okinawa Prefecture Gender Equality Center Tiruru, Naha

Provisional Program

Three-day schedule. Full program with speaker names, session titles, times, and room assignments will be published closer to the event (details TBA).

Friday · Oct 8

Day 1

Registration & badge collection
Opening ceremony & plenary
Concurrent sessions
Welcome reception

Saturday · Oct 9

Day 2

Keynote / featured speaker
Full-day parallel sessions
Poster sessions
SIG forums
Conference dinner

Sunday · Oct 10

Day 3

Morning plenary
Final sessions & awards ceremony
Closing ceremony
🪢 57th Naha Great Tug-of-War Festival

Naha Ōtsunahiki: The Great Tug-of-War

Cultural highlight · 57th annual · UNESCO heritage

Crowds gathered around the giant straw rope at the Naha Great Tug-of-War Festival

The conference weekend coincides with the legendary Naha Ōtsunahiki (Great Tug-of-War), one of the world's largest tug-of-war events, held annually on National Sports Day in October along Kokusai-dōri, Naha's famous international street.

Recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, the event draws over 270,000 participants and spectators. The great straw rope stretches 200 metres and weighs 40 tonnes. Sunday afternoon sessions conclude early to allow all delegates to experience this extraordinary event.

⚠️ Book your hotel immediately. Naha sells out extremely fast during festival weekend!

Call for Proposals

Share your research and expertise

We welcome proposals on any topic related to language teaching, learning, and research. The conference theme is Innovations in Language Education, and we particularly encourage submissions that explore:

Technology & AI in language teaching
Innovative classroom methodologies
Intercultural competence & identity
Collaborative & community-based learning

Okinawan / Ryukyuan cultural heritage in ELT
Heritage language maintenance & revitalization
Assessment & feedback innovations
Teacher development & well-being

Global English & multilingualism
Curriculum design & materials development
Digital literacies & online learning
Learner motivation & autonomy

🎤 Research Presentation

20 min + 5 min Q&A

📋 Poster Presentation

Saturday & Sunday sessions

💻 Digital Presentation

Pre-recorded MP4 submission

📩 Proposal submission deadline: June 15, 2027. The submission form will be available from April 1, 2027 at our conference website.

Conference Location

Naha's festival district

Okinawa Prefecture Gender Equality Center Tiruru

沖縄県男女共同参画センター「てぃるる」
3-11-1 Nishi, Naha, Okinawa 900-0036, Japan

The venue is centrally located in Naha, just minutes from the site of the 57th Naha Great Tug-of-War and the heart of the city's October festival district. Delegates will be within easy walking or transit distance of Kokusai-dōri (International Street), Naha's main festival parade route, and the surrounding cultural events that fill the city during this season. Sunday's sessions will conclude early to allow delegates to join the Naha Great Tug-of-War Festival.

Okinawa JALT mascots Nini and Nene holding a JALT Okinawa sign

Okinawa JALT Global Summit 2027

October 8–10, 2027 · Naha, Okinawa, Japan

🌐 sites.google.com/view/joinokinawa
✉️ okijalt@gmail.com
▶️ @okinawajalt on YouTube

#OkinawaJALT #GlobalSummit2027