North East Texas Humor Research Conference
We Take Humor Seriously.
The North East Texas Humor Research Conference (NETHRC) is a student-organized, international, multidisciplinary, all-plenary online event dedicated to the study of humor in all its facets.
2026 Conference
Looking to access a conference schedule, book of abstracts, or YouTube playlist of our presentations?
2026 Keynote Speakers
We are excited to welcome the following keynote speakers for HRC 2026:
University of Alberta, Canada
Dr. Herb Colston
Gettysburg College, USA
Dr. Steven Gimbel
Humor Ethics and Joke Capital: How to Win Friends and Insult People
Brunel University, United Kingdom
Dr. Sharon Lockyer
Standing Up for Tics and Tourette’s Syndrome in Live Comic Performance
University of Zurich, Switzerland
Dr. Mirella Manfredi
The Neuroscience of Humour: Insights into Diversity of Minds
University of Oulu, Finland
Dr. Henri Olkoniemi
Who Gets It? Individual Differences in Irony Comprehension Across the Lifespan
Submissions
Note: HRC 2026 is currently closed to new participant submissions; however, you may still register to attend.
The annual Humor Research Conference is student-friendly and invites submissions on any topic related to humor studies, including and not limited to literary studies, psychology, folklore, sociology, computer science and linguistics.
The call for papers opened mid-September 2025. If you would like to receive notifications, be sure to join our mailing list. The submission deadline was November 15, and acceptance decisions were sent on December 1.
Registration
Registration for the 16th HRC is now open. The conference is free—no registration fee! Presenters must register by the deadline of Friday, February 27. General attendee registration stays open throughout the conference.
Attendee and Presenter Certificates
If you would like an attendee or presenter certificate, a request form will be available during the conference and for a short period afterward. Requests must be submitted by a deadline shortly after the conference, and certificates will be emailed to the address you used to register.
Book Exhibit
Got a book? The HRC Book Exhibit accepts submissions year-round, so authors don’t have to wait until the next conference to showcase their books. We want our exhibit to continually promote and support the work of humor scholars. You can visit this page at any time throughout the year to discover the latest books published by scholars in the field. This ongoing initiative ensures that the contributions of humor researchers are consistently highlighted and celebrated.
Stay in Touch
Mailing List: [email protected]
Conference Email: [email protected]
Conference Facebook Page: Facebook.com/HRC2026
Conference YouTube Channel: YouTube.com/@HRCetamu
Please use #HRC2026 for all conference-related posts on social media.
Contact Us
- Humor Research Conference
- [email protected]
