In an official announcement released Tuesday, 1 September 2026, the Caribbean Sociological Association (CSA) confirmed that its sixth annual academic conference will take place from 23 to 25 September 2026, hosted by the University of Guyana on its Georgetown campus. This year’s gathering is set to draw a diverse cross-section of attendees, including academic scholars, independent researchers, social policy advocates, youth leaders, and field practitioners from across the Caribbean basin, as well as North and South America, all gathering around the timely central theme: “Sociology of Societies in Transition: Exploring Tensions Between Stability and Change”.
Association leaders note that the 2026 theme was deliberately chosen to reflect the sweeping shifts reshaping communities across the region. Many Caribbean nations, including host country Guyana, are currently navigating far-reaching socio-economic transformations driven by a range of factors: from the recent discovery of massive oil reserves that have upended traditional economic structures, to ongoing recovery efforts following major climate disasters, to evolving global geopolitical interventions that alter regional social dynamics.
Over the three-day event, more than 40 individual presentations will delve into these interconnected shifts, examining transitions across socio-economic, political, environmental, geopolitical, and digital spheres across the Americas. In a statement included in the announcement, CSA President Dr. Duane Edwards framed the decision to hold the 2026 conference in Guyana as a uniquely fitting choice. “There is perhaps no better place to hold this conference than in Guyana,” Edwards explained. “Guyana itself is undergoing one of the region’s most notable economic transitions. Over the few days, participants will be given the unique opportunity of witnessing glimpses of transitions and the real-time impact it has on the society.” Edwards added that the event will create space for attendees from across the Caribbean and its global diaspora to open collaborative conversations about how nations across the region are managing varying forms of transformation.
One of the most anticipated highlights of the conference will be the opening keynote address delivered by Professor Paloma Mohammed-Martin, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana. A trailblazer as the first woman to hold the Vice Chancellor role at the institution, Mohammed-Martin is a respected Guyanese behavioral scientist, long-standing academic leader, and prominent cultural advocate. Conference organizers note that her lived and professional experience positions her keynote to set a dynamic, thoughtful tone for what is expected to be a groundbreaking platform that advances dialogue around sustainable development across the Caribbean and beyond.
Local community members in Guyana are invited to register and participate in the momentous academic gathering. For full information on the conference agenda, registration details, and venue logistics, interested parties can visit the CSA’s official website at www.caribsociology.org.
Founded as a regional scholarly collective, the CSA is committed to advancing rigorous sociological research, fostering cross-border collaboration, and elevating public understanding of the unique dynamics shaping Caribbean societies. The organization’s core mission centers on advancing social justice, advancing equitable development, and strengthening regional cooperation across the Caribbean and its global diaspora.