Call for Papers: 40th Annual International Society of Franchising Conference
October 2, 2026
Downtown Louisville skyline at sunset.
The University of Louisville will welcome franchise scholars and industry leaders from around the world to Louisville June 3–5, 2027.
The Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence at the University of Louisville College of Business will host the 40th Annual Conference of the International Society of Franchising June 3–5, 2027. This marks the first time the center will host the international conference.
About the conference
The 2027 conference, themed “Franchising and Networked Business Systems: Scholarship, Practice and Emerging Challenges,” will bring together scholars and industry leaders to share research, exchange ideas and advance knowledge of franchising and related business models.
For 40 years, ISoF has served as a global forum for franchising research, bringing together academics and industry leaders from a range of disciplines, including entrepreneurship, management, strategy, marketing and law. The organization also welcomes practitioners whose work connect research and practice through applied research, teaching cases and evidence-based insights.
“Hosting the 40th annual ISoF conference at the University of Louisville is an exciting opportunity to welcome franchise scholars from around the world to our campus and strengthen connections between research, education and practice,” said Kathy Gosser, director of the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence and Yum! Brands associate professor of franchise management practice. “We look forward to showcasing Louisville while creating an environment for meaningful exchange, collaboration and new ideas that can advance the study of franchising.”
Call for Papers
Researchers are invited to submit work exploring franchising and related business models, including licensing, dealer networks, business-format replication and cooperatives. Topics may address:
- Strategy, growth and performance
- Artificial intelligence, innovation and technology
- Governance and compliance
- Workforce issues
- Operations and supply chain management
- Global expansion
- Social impact and sustainability
- Marketing and branding
- Education and pedagogy
ISoF welcomes submissions in three formats: full research papers, teaching cases and extended abstracts. Full research papers, teaching cases and doctoral student full papers will be considered for conference awards.
The deadline to submit is January 10, 2027, with notification of decisions scheduled for February 22.
View the call for papers on the ISoF website
Scholarship, Connection and the Louisville Experience
The three-day conference will combine scholarly research with industry perspectives and opportunities for collaboration. Programming will include a keynote address, an industry panel focused on trends in franchising, a scholar-practitioner symposium, research sessions and conference awards.
Attendees will also have opportunities to experience Louisville beyond the conference sessions. Thursday evening will feature a racing experience and dinner at Churchill Downs, followed Friday evening by a bourbon tasting, distillery tour and dinner at Angel’s Envy. The conference concludes Saturday with morning sessions, conference awards and the ISoF business session.
Conference registration is $475 through March 21, 2027, and $525 after the early-bird deadline. The registration fee includes conference meals and the Friday gala dinner, while additional sponsored activities are being offered to attendees at no additional cost.
Support is also available for doctoral students. Up to 10 doctoral student stipends may be awarded to students who submit full papers, with each stipend covering the conference registration fee.
Researchers, practitioners and doctoral students interested in participating can find complete submission guidelines, registration information and additional conference details on the official ISoF conference website.
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