This October, Goa, India, will host a significant gathering for the sign language interpreting world: the WASLI Asia Meeting 2026, bringing together Sign Language Interpreters and Deaf Interpreters from across the continent.
What to Know
The meeting is organized by the World Association of Sign Language Interpreter Association Asia (WASLI Asia) in partnership with the Indian Sign Language Interpreter Association (ISLIA), and will be held October 10–11, 2026, at the Entertainment Society of Goa in Panaji.
WASLI itself was established in 2003 during the 14th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf in Montreal, Canada, with a mission to advance the profession of sign language interpreting worldwide, and its Asia regional body has grown into one of the association’s most active regional networks.
Why Regional Meetings Like This Matter
Asia is home to an enormous range of national sign languages and vastly different levels of interpreter training infrastructure from country to country. Regional meetings like this one give interpreters and Deaf Interpreters a chance to:
- Share training practices and professional development strategies across borders
- Strengthen national interpreter associations in countries still building out their infrastructure
- Build the kind of cross-border professional relationships that later support International Sign work at bigger global events
- Discuss issues specific to the region, from language recognition to interpreter working conditions
Deaf Interpreters at the Center
It’s worth noting that the meeting’s framing specifically includes Deaf Interpreters alongside hearing Sign Language Interpreters, not as an afterthought, but as core participants. Deaf Interpreters play an essential role in the field, often bridging communication in situations that call for a Deaf-led approach, including many settings where International Sign comes into play.
Looking Ahead
Meetings like this one are also a reminder that the interpreting world doesn’t stop at regional borders. WASLI has already announced its next global quadrennial conference will be held in Abu Dhabi in 2027, meaning the professional relationships and momentum built in Goa this October will likely carry forward onto an even bigger international stage soon after.
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