About Conference

84th Annual MPSA Conference
Thursday, April 1 through Sunday, April 4, 2027
Hybrid Format: In Person at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, IL or Virtual

All Panels/Paper Sessions, Roundtables, Lightning Talks and Working Groups will Feature a Hybrid Format (for In-Person or Virtual Participation). Undergraduate Poster Sessions will be In Person Only. Learn more about each conference participation format.

Submit a Subfield or Undergraduate Section Proposal for the 84th Annual MPSA Conference

There is still time to submit a proposal to share research at the MPSA Annual Conference!

The MPSA is accepting proposals from various sections for the conference. The later conference proposal deadline for these sections provides additional time for individuals to submit their proposal that reflects the best thinking in the discipline, informed by theory, research, and practical application for the conference.

Conference Program Chairs Shana Gadarian, Syracuse University and Laura Stephenson, University of Western Ontario, along with Section Heads, invite you to submit a research proposal to the following sections by the deadline date of December 1, 2026:

Section 64 – Subfield Lightning Talk: Institutions and Theory
Section 65 – Subfield Lightning Talk: Public Policy and Administration
Section 66 – Subfield Lightning Talk: Behavior and Methods
Section 67 – Subfield Lightning Talk: American Politics
Section 68 – Subfield Lightning Talk: International Relations
Section 69 – Subfield Lightning Talk: Comparative Politics

Encourage an undergraduate student to submit a proposal to the following sections by the deadline date of December 1, 2026. Undergraduate sections provide students with the opportunity to present their capstone projects in a professional environment while impressing upon them the importance of faculty-mentored projects to their overall education, especially for those considering graduate education. Undergraduate students may submit a research proposal to the following sections: 

Section 70 – Undergrad Poster Session: Institutions and Theory
Section 71 – Undergrad Poster Session: Public Policy and Administration
Section 72 – Undergrad Poster Session: Behavior and Methods
Section 73 – Undergrad Poster Session: American Politics
Section 74 – Undergrad Poster Session: International Relations
Section 75 – Undergrad Poster Session: Comparative Politics

Undergraduate section presentations will be made in a poster format and are limited to in-person participation only; there is no online participation option for posters.

Staff will be scheduling undergraduate student poster sessions on two consecutive days (Friday and Saturday only) for convenience of coordinating schedules and presentation times.

Instructions for Submitting or Editing a Proposal:

MPSA has transitioned to a new online system for managing user accounts.

Log In to Your MPSA Account

If you have already logged in to your MPSA account and set your password, click here to login.
If you already have an existing MPSA account, and have not logged in yet, you must reset your password before logging in to the new system for the first time. If your account is associated with an email address you can no longer access, please contact MPSA for assistance rather than creating a new account.
If you do not have an MPSA account or are unsure whether you have one, Select “Create an Account” at the bottom of the login screen.

After You Log In
If you have not already done so, you will be prompted to review and update your profile information before submitting a conference proposal. Once your profile is complete:

Select “Visit Annual Conference Hub” from the home screen.
Click “Submit a Proposal”.
You will be redirected to the proposal submission system to complete your submission.

Instruction on how to create or access your MPSA account are available in the MPSA Account Creation Process to Submit a Conference Proposal guide. If you need assistance accessing your account or submitting a proposal, please contact the MPSA at mpsainfo@mpsanet.org or (812) 558-0588.

We look forward to welcoming you to the 84th Annual MPSA Conference, whether in person or virtually, in April. Thank you for your continued support of the MPSA and your engagement with the political science discipline.

Offer to Serve as a Chair or Discussant

Please consider volunteering your expertise and supporting colleagues in the discipline by serving as a chair or discussant at the MPSA Annual Conference.

Professional-level participants may volunteer to serve as a chair or discussant. Second-year graduate students may volunteer to serve as discussants for undergraduate sessions. Please note that poster sessions are available for in-person participation only; no virtual option is available.

To volunteer, you must be logged in to your MPSA account using your username and password. All volunteers must also have a complete account profile before signing up for a chair or discussant role. If your profile is incomplete, you will be prompted to update it before proceeding.

After logging in:

Click “Annual Conference Hub” on the home screen.
Select “Volunteer to be a Chair or Discussant”. You will be redirected to the proposal system.
In the proposal system, click “Volunteer to be a Chair or Discussant for a Section.”

For additional information about chair, discussant, and other conference participation roles, please see the MPSA conference session formats and role descriptions.

Organize a Working Group/Conference-within-a-Conference

Individuals holding a Ph.D. may submit a proposal to convene a conference-within-a-conference, or multiple organized sessions related to a single theme, topic, or area of study. Proposals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The convenor(s) are responsible for recruiting participants, organizing them into sessions, and facilitating communication and cooperation within the group. MPSA staff will assign meeting space, provide for the logistical needs of the group, maintain a roster of participants, help to promote the event, and work with the convenor(s) to accommodate scheduling requests. This is an excellent opportunity for cohorts to gather around specific areas of study that may not be well-represented in the normal conference sections, or to develop specific projects like an edited volume. All working group participants must register for the conference.

If you are interested in organizing a Working Group or Conference-within-a-Conference at the 2027 MPSA Conference, please fill out this proposal form. Please note the scheduling policy for Working Groups and Conferences-within-a-Conference prior to submitting your request.

Schedule a Meeting or Reception at the Conference

MPSA intends to hold some networking sessions, meetings and receptions. Attendees are also invited to propose meetings, receptions and networking events for the conference. If your group needs to arrange for a meeting, reception, or catered meal in conjunction with the 2027 MPSA Annual Conference, complimentary meeting and reception space is available to our professional colleagues on a first-to-ask, first-to-receive basis. If your group needs to arrange for a function at the conference, please contact MPSA Conference Administrator, Bonnie Van Deventer (vandeventer@mpsanet.org).

Exhibit, Sponsor or Advertise

We invite you to secure your chance to share information about your organization, its books, products and services, and network with members and attendees through exhibiting, advertising and sponsorship opportunities throughout the conference. We have some great bundle deals featuring options to get in front of conference attendees, expanding your outreach and visibility to more professionals in the political science community. For questions or assistance, please contact MPSA Professional Development Manager, Lewis Hoss, Ph.D. at hoss@mpsanet.org or (812) 558-0588, ext. 13.

About the MPSA Annual Conference

The MPSA Annual Conference is one of the largest political science conferences in the discipline with over 1,000 sessions, a large exhibit hall, and a variety of networking and professional development activities. The conference historically averages more than 4,000 attendees from across the US and over 60 countries around the world representing 80+ political interest areas. The conference brings together scholars, researchers and decision makers in the political science community to exchange information and address the latest scholarship in political science.

The conference has the international and multidisciplinary research collaboration opportunities you seek and the networking opportunities and professional development sessions tailored to help you take the next step with your research.

Hybrid Session Formats and Real Time Sessions
The conference features a hybrid session format for all Panel/Paper Sessions, Roundtables, Lightning Talks, and Working Groups. Sessions will be broadcast in real time via the virtual conference platform and will consist of individuals participating in person or online. Poster sessions and Receptions and Networking Events are available for in-person participation only. Each format is described in detail here.

In-Person Conference Participation
In-Person Participation. All conference events will be held in person at the historic Palmer House Hilton Hotel. Receptions, networking events, and Undergraduate Poster Sessions will be in person only. Hotel rooms are available in the official MPSA room blocks at the Palmer House Hilton and Hilton Chicago, and two international airports (ORD and MDW) make travel to Chicago easy and accessible.

Conference Policies
The Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) is committed to providing a safe, harassment-free, hospitable and productive meeting environment for everyone attending our events, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, religion or belief. All conference participants must agree to abide by the MPSA Code of Conduct at Events as well as the MPSA Streaming and Recording Policy.

About the MPSA

Home of the American Journal of Political Science (AJPS), one of the top-ranked academic journals in the discipline, the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) was founded in 1939 and is dedicated to the advancement of scholarship in all areas of political science.

The purposes of the MPSA are to promote the professional study and teaching of political science, to facilitate communications between those engaged in such study, and to develop standards for and encourage research in theoretical and practical political problems.

As such, MPSA is a nonpartisan association. It does not support political parties or candidates.

Questions?

Please contact MPSA staff at mpsainfo@mpsanet.org.

Future MPSA Conference Dates

- Thursday, March 30 – Sunday, April 2, 2028
- Thursday, April 19 – Sunday, April 22, 2029
- Thursday, March 28 – Sunday, March 31, 2030

84th Annual MPSA Conference Thursday, April 1 through Sunday, April 4, 2027 Hybrid Format: In Person at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, IL or Virtual