Afrofuturism Explored! was started with approval from the College of Performance, Visualization, and Fine Arts Dean of Academic Affairs in December 2023. The idea behind the conference was to give a much-needed platform to invite discourse surrounding the topic of Afrofuturism. Inaugural scholarly engagement with Afrofuturism focused on literature and the social commentary, and expanded to include other art forms – visual, movement, sound, film, et cetera – almost immediately. The climate in which Afrofuturism developed (prior to it being given its moniker in the early 1990s) was one of hopefulness in the face of unrest, solidarity via experimentation, and adding a new voice in a landscape of expanding academics. Today, Afrofuturism still retains these traits, and invites new waves of commentary, expression, and contemporary engagement with a variety of humanities, not only embracing the arts in all forms, but also anthropology, ethnomusicology, global language and cultural studies, historical studies, and much more.

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This annual conference celebrates Black History Month combining scholarly research and creative practice related to Afrofuturism and other parallel movements such as Latinofuturism, Gothic Futurism, and First American Futurism. The conference is open to undergraduates, graduates, faculty, professionals, and anyone with an interest in Afrofuturism and the cultures through which it communicates. Submission related to adjacent art movements and genres such as Afro-Horror and Afro-Cuban Futurism or any other relevant topics are also welcome.

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Some suggested topics include:

Afrofuturism and Non-Human Characters (animals, sentient spaceships, et cetera)
Afrofuturism as Diaspora
Afrofuturism and the Supernatural (yes, the same as last year)
Movement Art and Afrofuturist Sentiment
Renewable/Sustainable Living in Afrofuturism
Afrofuturist Rituals and Ceremonies
Technological Advancement in Afrofuturist Contexts

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Participants should expect 15+ mins for presentations plus a Q&A session as part of the panel. In-person or Zoom presentations can be accommodated. To join us for the Afrofuturism Explored! 2026 conference, please send an abstract with a maximum of 300 words for papers, panels, or performances to Will Connor (willconnor@tamu.edu) by Friday, January 30, 2026. Successful abstract submissions will be announced on or before Friday, February 06, 2025.

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Thank you! We’re looking forward to your submissions and we hope you can join us for the third annual Afrofuturism Explored!