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¡Qué arte! Designing the #TESOLSPAINSevilla2026 Convention Poster

Read on to find out how Ryan approached the creation of the poster for our 2026 annual convention.

When I started to create the poster for the 49th Annual TESOL-SPAIN Convention, set to take place in Sevilla from March 13th–15th, 2026, I knew I wanted to capture the warmth, vibrancy, and creativity that the city is famous for — and that we celebrate in the world of English Language Teaching.

Starting Point: Student Artwork with Heart

The design began with a burst of inspiration: a set of colorful and joyful artwork pieces created by Moira Allen and her students. Their playful take on traditional Sevillano motifs — from flamenco fans and polka dots to faceless portraits dressed in traje corto and flamenca — gave the poster a wonderfully human and heartfelt base. I knew this had to be the visual centerpiece.

A City With Its Own Colour

Next came the background — and this is where Sevilla itself added its signature touch. I discovered that Sevilla has an officially recognized Pantone colour, affectionately named "Sevilla tiene un color especial". You can read more about it here: Sevilla Secreta article. This warm, soft orange tone evokes Andalusian sunsets, historic tiles, and a city steeped in colour and character — it became the perfect backdrop.

Typography Inspired by the Streets

To stay rooted in local flavour, I took inspiration from the typography used on Sevilla’s iconic road signs — particularly the decorative serif fonts seen around the historic centre. These fonts echo both tradition and elegance, tying the visual identity of the poster to the streets that will host our 2026 convention. A great overview of this can be found here: Justa y Rufina blog.

Bringing It All Together

The tagline, “Warmth, Colour and Wonder in our World of ELT,” reflects both the emotional and educational richness we share as teachers. And the Spanish expression “¡Qué arte!”, often said to celebrate flair, talent or creativity, seemed like the perfect way to honour both the city and the student artists behind this poster.

We hope this poster sparks excitement for our next gathering in Sevilla — and reminds us that there’s true “arte” in everything we do as educators.

See you in Sevilla!