CFP: Fourth Shanghai International Shakespeare Forum—Shakespeare, Universes, and Universality in the Algorithmic Era

Place: 2999 North Renmin Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai, China
Time: 23-25 October, 2026
Organizer: Shakespeare Institute at Donghua University

As the Fourth Shanghai International Shakespeare Forum, this conference seeks to explore the cosmic dimensions of Shakespeare’s works, examining how his imagination transcended terrestrial boundaries and continues to resonate across cultures. We invite participants to investigate the intersection of Shakespearean drama with concepts of universe, cosmology, and global adaptability, to reassess his universal themes and humanist legacy through reinterpretations of his imaginary and symbolic cosmos across media and cultures, and to further reflect how our understandings of Shakespeare, the universe, and universality may be, or have been, challenged with increasing algorithmic domination of contemporary life.

We welcome submissions on a wide range of topics related to Shakespeare’s works and their cosmic, universal, and global dimensions, including but not limited to:

• Shakespeare and universal human experiences
• Global Shakespeares and cultural adaptation
• Shakespeare in the digital world and Shakespearean multiverse
• Ecological and planetary Shakespeares
• Shakespearean language as cosmic force and its interlingual universes
• Shakespeare in intercultural theaters and transmedia
• Shakespeare as a dataset in a posthuman universe

These themes are intended as guidelines rather than restrictions, and we welcome innovative approaches that might fall outside these categories. Any proposal and/or abstract along with a brief academic biography must be received by September 1, 2026. Qualified submissions will be considered for presentation at plenary sessions or seminars of the forum. Keynote and plenary speakers at past forums include David Bevington, Jill Levenson, Valerie Wayne, Susan Bennett, and other renowned Shakespeareans.

For submission or inquiries, please send to shks100@126.com. For information on past forums and the organizer, please visit https://flc.dhu.edu.cn/sha/zbhd/ and https://flc.dhu.edu.cn/sha/.