The World Council hosts a biennial World Conference at a major international city during late July or early August in odd-numbered years. The 2021 World Conference will be held in Nashville, Tennessee. Please see below for a list of World Conference locations throughout the years. A more extensive description of each World Conference may be found in the history document written by Dorothy Sisk in 2017. Click here to see a list of articles included in past conference proceedings.

1975 London Program 1

1975: London, England

The first World Conference was held September 8 - 12, 1975 at the Royal College of Surgeons, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. General information about this conference can be found by clicking here.

1977 World Conference San Francisco

1977: San Francisco, California, USA

The second World Conference was held July 27 - August 2, 1977 in San Francisco. The aims of this conference were to:

  • FOCUS world attention on gifted children and their valuable potential contribution to the benefit of mankind;
  • EXPLORE the nature of their talents and resultant problems in childhood and adolescence;
  • CREATE a 'climate' of acceptance of gifted children, not as a privileged elite, but as a valuable global asset
  • ASSEMBLE, for an exchange of ideas and experiences, people from all over the world, interested in the gifted and talented;
  • PERSUADE the governments of the world to recognize gifted children as a category for special attention in normal educational programs; and
  • ESTABLISH means for a continuing world-wide exchange of ideas, experiences, teaching and teacher-training techniques in respect of gifted children.

We need a copy of the program from this World Conference to include in our archives. If you have access to this document, please let us know.

1979 Jerusalem Conference Program

1979: Jerusalem, Israel

The third World Conference was held July 22 - 26, 1979 in Jerusalem, Israel. General information about this conference can be found by clicking here.

1981 World Conference Montreal

1981: Montréal, Canada

The fourth World Conference was held August 21 - 25, 1981 in Montréal. The conference theme was Education of the Gifted for the Benefit of All Children.

1983 World Conference Manila Philippines Proceedings Cover

1983: Manila, Philippines

The fifth World Conference was held August 2 - 6, 1983 in Manila, Philippines. The conference theme was Gifted and Talented Children, Youth and Adults: Their Social Perspectives and Culture.

We need a copy of the program from this World Conference to include in our archives. If you have access to this document, please let us know.

1985 World Conference Hamburg Germany

1985: Hamburg, Germany

The sixth World Conference was held August 5 - 9, 1985 in Hamburg, Germany. The theme of the conference was Giftedness over the decades - A continuing worldwide challenge.

We need a copy of the proceedings from this World Conference to include in our archives. If you have access to this document, please let us know.

1987 World Conference Salt Lake City

1987: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

The seventh World Conference was held August 3 - 7, 1987 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The theme of the conference was Expanding Awareness of Creative Potentials.

We need a copy of the program from this World Conference to include in our archives. If you have access to this document, please let us know.

1989 World Conference Proceedings Cover Sydney Australia

1989: Sydney, Australia

The eight World Conference was held July 2 - 7, 1989 in Sydney, Australia.

We need a copy of the program from this World Conference to include in our archives. If you have access to this document, please let us know.

1991 World Conference The Hague The Netherlands

1991: The Hague, The Netherlands

The ninth World Conference was held July 29 - August 2, 1991 in The Hague, The Netherlands. The theme of the conference was Talent for the Future: Social and Personality Development of the Gifted Child.

We need a copy of the program from this World Conference to include in our archives. If you have access to this document, please let us know.

1993 Toronto Conference Book

1993: Toronto, Canada

The tenth World Conference was held August 8 - 13, 1993 in Toronto, Canada. The theme of the conference was The Gifted Globe.

We need a copy of the proceedings from this World Conference to include in our archives. If you have access to this document, please let us know.​

1995 World Conference Program Hong Kong

1995: Hong Kong

The 11th World Conference was held July 30 - August 4, 1995 in Hong Kong. The theme of the conference was Maximizing Potential: Lengthening and Strengthening Our Stride.

1997 World Conference Proceedings Seattle

1997: Seattle, Washington, USA

The 12th World Conference was held July 30 - August 1, 1997 in Seattle, Washington. The theme of the conference was Connecting the Gifted Community Worldwide.

We need a copy of the program from this World Conference to include in our archives. If you have access to this document, please let us know.​

1999 World Conference Program Cover Istanbul Turkey

1999: Istanbul, Turkey

The 13th World Conference was held August 2 - 6, 1999 in Istanbul, Turkey. The theme of the conference was Gifted and Talented: A Challenge for the New Millennium.

Conference Proceedings Table of Contents
Conference Proceedings

2001 World Conference Program Cover Barcelona Spain

2001: Barcelona, Spain

The 14th World Conference was held July 31 - August 4, 2001 in Barcelona, Spain. The theme of the conference was The World of Information: Opportunities and Challenges for the Gifted and Talented.

Barcelona 2001 World Gifted Conference Schedule
Barcelona 2001 Conference Proceedings Table of Contents
Barcelona 2001 Conference Proceedings

2003 World Conference Brochure Cover Adelaide Australia

2003: Adelaide Australia

The 15th World Conference was held August 1 - 5, 2003 in Adelaide, Australia. The theme of the conference was Gifted 2013: A Celebration Downunder.

We need a copy of the program and proceedings from this World Conference to include in our archives. If you have access to these documents, please let us know.

Adelaide 2003 Photos
Adelaide 2003 Conference Website

2005 World Conference Program Cover New Orleans Louisiana

2005: New Orleans, Louisiana

The 16th World Conference was held August 3 - 7, 2005 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The theme of the conference was Gifted 2013: A Celebration Downunder.

We need a copy of the program and proceedings from this World Conference to include in our archives. If you have access to these documents, please let us know.

Conference Schedule

2007: Warwick, England

The 17th World Conference was held August 5 - 9, 2007 in Warwick, England.

Warwick 2007 Conference Schedule
Warwick 2007 Conference Article in Gifted Children - AERA SIG Publication
Warwick 2007 Conference Proceedings

2009 World Conference Program Cover Vancouver Canada

2009: Vancouver, Canada

The 18th World Conference was held August 3 - 7, 2009 in Vancouver, Canada. The theme of the conference was Promoting the Dream: Visions for the Future.

Vancouver 2009 Conference Proceedings Table of Contents
Vancouver 2009 Conference Proceedings

2011 World Conference Program Cover Prague Czech Republic

2011: Prague, Czech Republic

The 19th World Conference was held August 8 - 12, 2011 in Prague, Czech Republic. The theme of the conference was Making a World of Difference for Gifted Children.

2013: Louisville, Kentucky, USA

The 20th World Conference was held August 10 - 14, 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky. The theme of the conference was Celebrating Giftedness and Creativity.

Louisville 2013 Conference Program
Louisville 2013 Photos
Louisville 2013 Keynote Videos
Louisville 2013 Conference Brochure

2015 World Conference Program Cover Odense Denmark

2015: Odense, Denmark

The 21st World Conference was held August 10 - 14, 2015 in Odense, Denmark. The theme of the conference was Educating Gifted and Talented Children: Turning Research into Practice.

Odense 2015 Conference Program
Odense 2015 Photos
Odense 2015 General Member Meeting Minutes
Odense 2015 Keynote Videos

2017 World Conference Program Cover Sydney Australia

2017: Sydney, Australia

The 22nd World Conference was held July 20 - 23, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. The theme of the conference was Global Perspectives in Gifted Education.

Sydney 2017 Conference Program
Sydney 2017 Conference Schedule
Sydney 2017 Presentations
Sydney 2017 Keynote and Promotional Videos
Sydney 2017 Photos
Sydney 2017 Conference Website

2019 World Conference Program Cover - Nashville, Tennessee - A World of Possibilities: Gifts, Talents, and Potential

2019: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

The 23rd World Conference was hosted July 24 - 28, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. The theme of the conference was A World of Possibilities: Gifts, Talents, & Potential.

Nashville 2019 Program
Nashville 2019 Promotional Video
Nashville 2019 Conference Brochure
Nashville 2019 Schedule
Nashville 2019 Official Photos
Nashville 2019 Conference Website
Nashville 2019 Conference Highlight Video

2021 Virtual World Council for Gifted and Talented Children Program Cover

2021: Virtual

The 24th World Conference was hosted July 31 - August 1 & August 7 - 8 Virtually. The theme of the conference was Developing the Future of Gifted Education.

Virtual 2021 Program
Conference Website
Recordings and Videos

World Council for Gifted and Talented Children - Registered Trademark

2023: Virtual

The 25th World Conference was hosted August 5 - 6 and 12 - 13 virtually. The theme is Excellence Without Borders: Gifted Education in a Changing World.

2025: Braga, Portugal

The 26th World Conference will be hosted July 29 - August 2, 2025 in Braga, Portugal. The theme is The Power of Gifted Education and Talent Development in a Changing World.

Login



Create an Account
Lost Password

Archives
Categories