The New Ways of Analyzing Variation (NWAV) conference was founded in 1972 and is a major international forum dedicated to the study of linguistic variation and change. It brings together researchers interested in how language practices vary across speakers, communities, and social contexts, as well as the links between variation and linguistic change. Over the past five decades, NWAV has become a central hub for empirical, theoretical, and methodological advances in sociolinguistics.
The 54th edition of the event will be held at the University of Montreal (Canada) from October 22 to 24, 2026. This will be the fourth edition of the conference to take place in the city of Montreal, following NWAV 8 (1979), 12 (1983), and 17 (1988).