2025––26 Call for Papers
The Department of Religious Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder invites you to submit papers for the 2025––26 publication of our graduate and undergraduate journal, NEXT. As a peer-reviewed student journal, we are proud to feature insightful work from the next generation of religious studies scholars.

Papers may be on any topic pertaining to the academic study of religion. Understanding religious studies to be an interdisciplinary field, we encourage work from a breadth of theoretical paradigms and methodological frameworks and disciplines.

In addition, we are also interested in creative works that take up concepts or issues within, or related to, the academic study of religion. These may take the form of poetry, visual art, shorter works of creative writing, etc. All submissions and any questions should be emailed to the editorial board at next@colorado.edu. Please see the guidelines below for more details.

Submission Requirements
DEADLINE for Submission: February 20th, 2026, by 11:59 pm MT
LENGTH: maximum of 30 pages double-spaced (not including works cited)
FORMAT:
Chicago Manual of Style, 18th edition, Footnote/Bibliography and Author/Date style are both acceptable
Word Doc or Google Doc submission
All submissions must have a cover page (not to be counted towards the page requirement) with the following information centered on the page:
name (first and last)
preferred pronouns
title of paper
name of home institution
name of department author belongs to
author’s area of study
graduate or undergraduate
Creative works ONLY:
Creative works should include a 1-page, double-spaced creative bio/description of the piece which includes any other info the artist would like an audience to know.

About NEXT Journal
NEXT is a peer-reviewed journal of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder featuring insightful work from the next generation of religious studies scholars.

(https://relcfp.com/2026/02/11/cfp-next-journal-religious-studies/)