ACLALS was founded in 1964 with a conference at the University of Leeds and was officially accredited to the Commonwealth in 2005. The organization has a storied history, and has held numerous regional conferences and more than a dozen international triennial conferences since its founding.
The objectives of ACLALS are to promote and coordinate Commonwealth Literature Studies, organize seminars and workshops, arrange lectures by writers and scholars, publish a newsletter about activities in the field of Commonwealth Literature and hold one conference triennially. The latest conference took place in July 2022 in Toronto, Canada, and the next edition will be held in Kenya in July 2025.
Membership in ACLALS is offered through its local branches in Commonwealth countries. Please email the chairpersons of the branches for further information.
Contact details for the current ACLALS representatives can be found in the Committee section.