Exploring the Science and Technology of Spoken Language Processing
Summary
Sydney is set to host the Interspeech 2026 Conference, the world’s largest conference on spoken language processing, thanks to the successful bid supported by Business Events Sydney (BESydney) and leading academics from Macquarie University and the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Associate Professor Michael Proctor, with the support of Professor Felicity Cox, Associate Professor Beena Ahmed, and Associate Professor Vidhya Sethu, played key roles in securing the event on behalf of the Australasian Speech Science and Technology Association (ASSTA). The conference, which will gather around 1,200 participants, emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to speech science and technology. The event aims to spotlight Australasia’s multilingual landscape and to focus on under-resourced languages, a theme that resonated strongly with the global speech science community.
Astraea’s Insight
The successful bid for Interspeech 2026 underscores the importance of strategic collaboration and leadership in hosting major international conferences. BESydney’s experienced support in bidding and hosting is invaluable, reflecting the critical role of alliances between academia and event organizations. This event is not just a scientific gathering but a platform for showcasing regional strengths, such as Australasia’s linguistic diversity, and advancing global discourse on under-represented aspects of speech science. For future conference hosts, Sydney’s approach serves as a role model for using local advantages to draw international interest and drive substantial contributions to global academic conversations.