Disrupting the Status Quo: Putting Sociology to Work for a More Equitable Society

The 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association will bring together sociologists from both inside and outside of the academy and across sub-disciplines and methodological approaches in a determined effort to answer the question: How can we put sociology to work to create a better, more equitable world? How do we best leverage existing and new methods, data sources, and approaches to develop and evaluate theories of change – theories that articulate how to change the status quo? How might changes to organizational practices, improved education, and other interventions work in tandem with national polices and larger social movements to create sustained change? How can we prioritize a research agenda that moves beyond explaining social problems to providing solutions to overcome them.

The 2026 Annual Meeting will explore what we need to build upon, upend, and do differently to foster a sociology that not only examines social problems but also offers evidence-based solutions for social progress.