The 12th International Conference of
the Asian Association for Language Assessment 2026

Humanistic Approach to
Assessment, Standards, Innovation, and Accountability

⏰ September 18-20, 2026 | 📍City University of Macau

AALA 2026

The Asian Association for Language Assessment (AALA) 2026 Conference will be held from September 18-20, 2026, at the City University of Macau. This year's theme is the 'Humanistic Approach to Assessment, Standards, Innovation, and Accountability'. We invite you to contribute to this important conversation. You can find more information on our Call for Papers page.

Why Attend?

Learn from leading scholars in plenary sessions and workshops
Exchange ideas with peers from across Asia and the world
Explore Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage city with rich cultural heritage and world-class facilities

Macau Overview

Macau or macao?

Both "Macau" and "Macao" refer to the same place, a Special Administrative Region of China; "Macau" is the modern Portuguese spelling and more common in English, while "Macao" comes from the older Portuguese form and appears in some official English documents like the passport, but both are acceptable, with "Macau" being the prevalent spelling for the SAR in most modern contexts.

Macau offers a unique cultural blend and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has a compact city layout with easy transport connectivity, which is convenient for conference attendees to explore leisure and cultural attractions. Here's a glimpse into the city's key offerings:

Dining: The city has diverse dining options, ranging from authentic local eateries to high-end international restaurants.
Nightlife: The nightlife is a vibrant mix of world-class casinos, rooftop bars, and local pubs.
Tourism Infrastructure: There's strong government support for cultural tourism and historic site revitalization.

Asian Association for Language Assessment

The Asian Association for Language Assessment (AALA) is a non-profit professional association of educators, researchers, practitioners, and students dedicated to the ethical development and well-being of language testing throughout Asia. Its primary purpose is to promote language assessment across the region by offering students, faculty, and professional staff platforms to present current research and share best practices. Through the organization of an annual conference and other regional events, AALA fosters interaction among professionals, promotes scholarly publications that advance both theory and practice, and advocates for the responsible and ethical use of assessments in educational and high-stakes contexts. Learn more about us on the official AALA website.