Spoken Language Processing: Science & Tech
Sydney will host the world’s largest spoken language processing conference, Interspeech 2026, at the International Convention Center (ICC) in Sydney. This event, backed by besydney, anticipates 1,200 global delegates and highlights Australasia’s crucial role in speech research. The conference will focus on diversity, equity, and under-resourced languages, reflecting current trends in the field. Expect expert speakers, tutorials, and exhibitions emphasizing all aspects of speech science and technology. This milestone for the Australasian Speech Science and Technology Association (ASSTA) will also catalyze local activity in machine learning and language modeling. Discover what’s next for inclusive language technologies and continued breakthroughs by News Directory 3.
Sydney Secures Interspeech 2026 Conference
Updated May 26, 2025
Sydney has won the bid to host Interspeech 2026, the world’s largest conference on spoken language processing. The event, slated for the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney, is expected to attract around 1,200 participants from across the globe. Business Events sydney (BESydney) played a crucial role in supporting the bid.
Associate Professor Michael Proctor from Macquarie University, a key figure in the bid, emphasized the importance of showcasing Australasia’s rich multilingual landscape. the conference aims to refocus attention on under-resourced languages and the diversity of speech.
Interspeech conferences emphasize interdisciplinary approaches addressing all aspects of speech science and technology. The sydney conference will feature expert speakers, tutorials, oral and poster sessions, challenges, exhibitions, and satellite events.
Proctor, along with Professor Felicity cox (Macquarie University) and Associate Professors Beyan Ahmed and Vidhya Sethu (UNSW), collaborated on the bid on behalf of the Australasian Speech Science and Technology Association (ASSTA).
“Organizing a major international conference is an critically important service to the scientific community. It provides a forum to highlight our work, and a unique opportunity for local students and researchers to engage with the international community.”
—Associate Professor Michael Proctor,Macquarie University
According to Proctor,hosting Interspeech provides a unique opportunity for local researchers and students to engage with the international community. The conference theme, “Diversity and Equity – Speaking Together,” underscores the importance of inclusivity and support for under-resourced languages.
The conference is an critically important milestone for ASSTA, offering a platform to showcase work on indigenous language research and sociophonetics. It will also catalyze local activity in areas like machine learning and language modeling.
What’s next
Preparations are underway to ensure Interspeech 2026 is inclusive and representative of the diversity in speech and language research. Initiatives are planned to support work on lesser-studied languages and atypical speech and hearing, making speech and language technologies more inclusive.