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IATEFL BESIG runs a number of events each year, our biggest being our annual conference, which takes place in a different venue every November.
39th Annual IATEFL BESIG Conference
When: Friday, November 20, 2026 (13.00 CET / 12.00 UK time) - Sunday, November 22, 2026 (14.00 CET / 13.00 UK time)
Venue: Hotel Flemings Wien Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria.
We are excited to welcome you to the 39th IATEFL BESIG Annual Conference in Vienna!
Under this year’s theme, Building Bridges: Preparing for Global Business, the conference will bring together Business English professionals from around the world to explore how our field is evolving in response to global change, shifting workplace realities, and new forms of communication and collaboration.
Whether you work in higher education, corporate training, vocational education, or freelance teaching, the conference offers a space for meaningful dialogue and practical insights.
Conference Fees:
Early-bird IATEFL member: £230
IATEFL member normal: £310
Early-bird non-members: £280
Non-member normal: £360
The registration fee includes: access to all conference sessions, coffee breaks, Friday evening reception, Saturday lunch, access to the exhibition area with our sponsors, certificate of attendance.
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Plenary by Chia Suan Chong
It is a great pleasure to welcome Chia Suan Chong as one of our plenary speakers at this year's BESIG conference.
An internationally recognised communication skills trainer, teacher trainer, and writer, Chia has inspired educators and learners around the world through her engaging and highly practical workshops, talks, and plenaries. Her expertise lies in helping people communicate more effectively across cultures, build meaningful relationships, and navigate the complexities of today's global workplace with confidence and empathy.
In her plenary, "Global Communication: Building Bridges Across Differences," Chia will explore the interpersonal and intercultural communication skills that are essential in an increasingly interconnected world. Moving beyond language proficiency and cultural awareness, she will examine how curiosity, flexibility, and openness enable us to communicate successfully across cultures. Through thought-provoking examples and practical classroom ideas, participants will gain valuable insights into supporting learners as they develop the skills to manage misunderstandings, differing expectations, and potential conflict in international contexts.
We are absolutely thrilled that Chia will be joining us and are looking forward an inspiring, practical, and thought-provoking plenary.
Plenary by Grant Kempton
We are also thrilled to welcome Grant Kempton as one of our plenary speakers at this year’s BESIG conference.
With more than 40 years of experience in ELT, Grant has worked as a teacher, teacher trainer, curriculum coordinator, tester and school director, collaborating with educators, governments and organisations around the world. His extensive experience in Business English and teacher development gives him a unique perspective on how our field has evolved — and where it needs to go next.
In his plenary, “From Vintage to Vital: Reinventing Business English for a Changing Workplace,” Grant will explore how Business English can respond to a professional world being rapidly reshaped by AI, emerging roles and changing expectations. As employers increasingly value employability skills alongside professional expertise, he will consider whether our role goes beyond teaching the language and conventions of business to helping learners make their skills, experience and professional value visible through English.
The plenary will invite us to reflect on some important questions: What should we preserve from established Business English practice, what needs to be adapted, and what might we need to leave behind? And how can we help professionals develop the communicative capabilities they need for today’s workplace without overstepping our expertise as language teachers?
We are delighted that Grant will be joining us and are looking forward to a thought-provoking exploration of how Business English can move from vintage to vital.
Social Program
Join us for two optional social events, which you can book after you have registered for the conference. Once your registration has been confirmed, you will receive a confirmation email with details of how to book these events. Please note that social events must be paid for separately.
Social event one
Saturday – Conference dinner at Blunzenstricker – £40
The price includes a varied regional Viennese buffet with both vegetarian and meat options, plus one non-alcoholic beverage.
Places are limited, so we recommend booking early. If you have any dietary requirements, please email besig.conference-events@iatefl.org.
Social event two
Sunday – Guided city tour – £13
Join us for a festive afternoon in Vienna! Before the guided city tour, we'll visit one of the city's famous Christmas markets, where you'll have time to enjoy the seasonal atmosphere, browse the stalls, and perhaps sample some local treats. The guided tour will then take place from 15:00–17:00 local time (14:00–16:00 UK time).
Please note:
Guests are welcome to attend both social events. If you wish to bring a guest, please purchase a guest ticket and select this option before making your payment.
Please check that you have selected the correct ticket option before completing your purchase.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please email sig@iatefl.org.
Accommodation
The conference will take place at Flemings Hotel Wien Stadthalle, a comfortable and conveniently located hotel. A limited number of rooms is available at special rates; to book, please contact the hotel by email (res.wien-stadthalle@stay-flemings.com) and refer to the allotment keyword: IAT191126
FAQs
Below you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the conference.
This list will be updated regularly as new questions arise and additional information becomes available.
What is the BESIG Conference and who is it for?
The BESIG Conference is an annual event for professionals in Business English and workplace communication. It offers a space to share ideas, explore current developments, and connect with colleagues from around the world.
The conference welcomes:
Business English teachers and trainers
Corporate trainers
Teacher educators
Materials writers
Researchers
Educational managers
Anyone interested in language learning for professional contexts
2. Where and when will the conference take place?
Where: In the wonderful city of Vienna at Flemings Hotel Wien-Stadthalle
When: Friday, November 20, 2026 (13:00 CET / 12:00 UK time) – Sunday, November 22, 2026
(14:00 CET / 13:00 UK time)
3. Is the conference onsite, online, or hybrid?
The conference is an on-site event only.
If you can’t make it this year, we’ll miss you! But BESIG also offers many online events
throughout the year, so there will be plenty of opportunities to connect with us in the future. Please
visit our website and follow our social media channels (e.g. LinkedIn , Facebook ) to stay informed
about upcoming events.
4. How and when can I register?
Registration opens on June 1.
The registration link will be published on the IATEFL website , here on our website and shared via
our social media channels (e.g. LinkedIn , Facebook ).
Early-bird registration closes on September 30, 2026. Registration will remain open after that, and
on-site registration is possible to a limited extent. However, we would appreciate advance
registration to help us plan the event effectively.
5. What does the registration fee include?
The registration fee includes:
Access to all conference sessions
Coffee breaks
Friday evening reception
Saturday lunch
Access to the exhibition area with our sponsors
Certificate of attendance
6. How can I become a speaker?
We are looking forward to your proposal!
Please use this link to submit your proposal: Proposal Form.
For data privacy reasons, the submission process is handled through the IATEFL Head Office and takes place via a Google Form. This means you will need a Google account to submit your proposal.
If you experience any problems with the submission process, please contact the conference coordinator, Alexia Schemien, at besig.conference-events@iatefl.org .
7. What session types can I propose?
We welcome the following session formats:
Talk (30 minutes including Q&A)
Choose this option if you would like to present and share information on your topic.
Workshop (60 minutes)
Choose this option if you plan to actively engage participants through discussions, activities, or tasks. Please add an outline of your workshop (maximum 1,600 characters including spaces) when filling out the proposal form.
Commercial session (30 minutes including Q&A)
Choose this option for sessions presented in collaboration with or on behalf of an organisation. For further information, please refer to the sponsorship package or contact our sponsorship contact person, Philip Dietschi, at philip.dietschi.besig@gmail.com.
8. When is the call for proposals open?
The call for proposals is now open and closes on June 30, 2026.
9. Do I have to be a BESIG member to be a speaker?
Only members of IATEFL BESIG can present at the conference.
You may submit a proposal if you are not yet a member; however, if your proposal is accepted, you will be required to join IATEFL BESIG to be included in the conference programme.
10. Do I need to register if I am a speaker?
Yes. Once you have received confirmation that your proposal has been accepted, you will need to register for the conference.
11. When will the conference programme be available?
The conference programme will be available on our website from 1 September onwards.
12. What topics will be covered?
This year’s conference theme is “Building Bridges: Preparing for Global Business“.
We welcome contributions that explore how Business English education can respond to the challenges of an increasingly interconnected professional world. Suggested topics include:
Intercultural communication and collaboration across cultures
Preparing learners for global and multilingual workplaces
Bridging education and professional practice
Inclusive, ethical, and effective professional communication
Innovative teaching approaches, workplace trends, and AI in Business English
Other emerging topics in the field
To learn more about this year’s conference theme and the full call for proposals, please click here.
13. Will there be networking opportunities?
Yes, plenty! Networking is at the heart of the BESIG Conference. There will be many opportunities to connect with colleagues throughout the event:
During coffee breaks
At the conference dinner (find out more about this here)
On the post-conference city walking tour
During the post-conference visit to the Christmas market
In shared conference sessions specifically designed to bring everyone together
At the Opening Reception on Friday evening
At the Saturday lunch
14. Are there any social events outside the conference programme?
Yes.
The conference includes a conference dinner on Saturday evening and an optional social programme on Sunday, including a visit to one of Vienna’s famous Christmas markets and a city walking tour.
Registration for both the conference dinner and the Sunday social programme opens on June 1, 2026 together with conference registration. More information about the conference dinner venue will be available here when registration opens.
The social programme will end at approximately 18:00 CET (17:00 UK time) on Sunday. If you are planning your stay, we recommend allowing some extra time after the conference to join us. You are also welcome to take part in only part of the social programme.
15. Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance after the conference.
16. Where can I stay?
Our conference hotel is Flemings Hotel Wien-Stadthalle.
We have arranged a reduced conference rate for participants. Please write an email to res.wien-stadthalle@flemings-hotels.com and use the following allotment code when booking:
IAT191126.
There are also plenty of other hotels nearby. Please book early because November is always a busy time in Vienna.
17. How do I get to the venue?
Information on how to get to the venue and important information about public transport in Vienna
can be found on our website.
18. Will presentation slides or materials be shared?
Subject to presenter agreement, materials will be shared with delegates after the conference.
20. Who can I contact for questions?
For further questions, feel free to contact our BESIG conference coordinator, Alexia Schemien, at besig.conference-events@iatefl.org .
Sponsorship opportunities
We offer a range of sponsorship opportunities, suitable for large publishers, service providers, and freelancers alike. If you're interested in supporting our conference, please reach out to our sponsorship contact person, Philip Dietschi, at philip.dietschi.besig@gmail.com or visit our "Partner with us" section.
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