Exploring the Science and Technology of Spoken Language Processing
Summary
Sydney is preparing to host the Interspeech 2026 Conference, the world’s leading event in the science and technology of spoken language processing. This landmark conference, hosted by the Australasian Speech Science and Technology Association (ASSTA), will bring approximately 1,200 participants from around the globe to Sydney. The successful bid to host the conference involved collaboration between Associate Professors Michael Proctor, Beena Ahmed, and Vidhya Sethu, along with support from Business Events Sydney (BESydney). The conference will highlight the multilingual diversity of Australasia and focuses on speech research for under-resourced languages. BESydney’s role in guiding and supporting the conference preparation reinforces its commitment to fostering global academic and industry advancements through world-class events.
Astraea’s Insight
The upcoming Interspeech 2026 Conference in Sydney serves as a significant opportunity to bring attention to under-represented areas in speech science, particularly focusing on the linguistic diversity of Australasia. This event not only underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in speech technology but also emphasizes the potential for major international conferences to drive positive change by prioritizing multicultural and multilingual contexts. Additionally, the strategic collaboration and leadership demonstrated in securing the conference highlight the value of dedicated partnership efforts in achieving impactful outcomes that benefit both the scientific community and broader society. Business Events Sydney’s expertise in facilitating such events presents a valuable model for fostering international discourse and progression in key academic and industry arenas.