Staff Correspondent

The "3rd International Indigenous Language Journalism Conference 2026" is scheduled to take place in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, from August 9 to 12, 2026.

Preparations for this major global gathering are currently in full swing, spearheaded by the Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities Journalists (FoNIJ) in coordination with the Newa National Forum of Journalists and the SAARC Journalist Forum.

The preliminary blueprints and session frameworks were officially finalized during a recent preparatory meeting held in Nayabazar, Kathmandu, where FoNIJ General Secretary Samir Balami presented a comprehensive action plan for the four-day event.

According to the organizing committee, media professionals practicing indigenous language journalism from approximately 40 countries across the globe are expected to participate. The conference will serve as a global platform for in-depth deliberations on the contemporary status, structural challenges, and future strategic roadmap of mother-tongue and indigenous media ecosystems on an international scale.

The itinerary for the four-day international summit features rigorous panel discussions and research paper presentations by global experts, alongside a vibrant cultural procession designed to blend the diverse local traditions of Nepal with the heritage of the participating nations. In addition to the academic sessions, delegates will visit several historical and tourist landmarks across Nepal and will be introduced to traditional Nepalese cuisine as part of an effort to promote local heritage globally.

The organizers emphasized that the primary objective of the conference is to professionalize and systematically develop indigenous language journalism.

The Forum also aims to advocate for the formal recognition and integration of mother-tongue journalism into national government policies, while highlighting Nepal's structural milestones in this sector.