Association for Art History Annual Conference 2026, Call for Sessions and Workshops.

We are delighted that the Association for Art History’s 53rd Annual Conference will be hosted in partnership with the Department of Art History and Visual Culture at the University of Exeter.

Last year’s Annual Conference attracted almost 1000 attendees. It is popular with academics, curators, practitioners, PhD students, early-career researchers, and anyone engaged in art history research. Members of the Association get reduced conference rates, but non-members are welcome to attend and propose sessions and papers. Convenors are limited to convening one session.
The Association for Art History’s Annual Conference brings together international research and critical debate about art history and visual culture. A key annual event, the conference is an opportunity to keep up to date with new research, hear leading keynotes, broaden networks and exchange ideas.

Scope/Provocation:
The Annual Conference reflects the Association for Art History’s commitment to a broad and inclusive art history. We strive for sessions across all areas of research and practice, from the ancient to the contemporary, and across all forms of artistic media, including those that focus on practice outside of Europe and North America. In a 21st century facing multiple global challenges, the recognition and support of intersectional arts histories are of critical importance, and we welcome sessions that engage with race and gender, the environment, AI, and social activism among other themes.

Session Proposals:
The 2027 Annual Conference is open to all members and non-members of the Association for Art History. Anyone can submit a session proposal.
We actively encourage applications from candidates who are Black, Asian, and minority ethnic, as well as from other groups traditionally underrepresented in art-historical roles in the UK, and we are also seeking new partnerships with organisations representing these communities.
We welcome session proposals from affiliated scholars, independent researchers, associations, societies and networks. A Call for Papers follows, once sessions have been selected.

Please include this key information in your session proposal response:
- Title of your session proposals
- Brief abstract (max 250 words)
- Description of proposed format (session structure) – see session proposal form for more information
- Name of session convenor(s)
- Affiliations (or if independent/freelance)
- Contact details of session convenors

First, please read our guidelines for writing an AAH conference session abstract: https://forarthistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Guidelines-for-writing-an-AAH-conference-session-abstract.pdf
Then submit your session proposal via the 2027 Session Proposal Google Form here: https://forms.gle/mAuLaRu71THNbsyp9

Call for Sessions:
We are now accepting session and workshop proposals. The deadline for submissions is 1 July 2026. (Please do not submit individual paper proposals at this stage). See https://forarthistory.org.uk/conference/2027-exeter/ for more information and to submit your proposal.

More information:
https://forarthistory.org.uk/conference/2027-exeter/