Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester will host the Classical Association Conference on 10-12 April 2026. Academic events will take place at the Business School of Manchester Metropolitan University, with other events taking place across the venues of the two Universities. Delegates will be supported to make their own arrangements for off-campus accommodation in the local area. More detailed information about practical issues will be distributed when the programme is finalised.
The programme will feature keynote addresses, one of which will be delivered by the CA’s Honorary President, the historian and broadcaster Michael Wood, Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester. You can also look forward to a variety of classically-themed entertainment, receptions, the CA Prizegivings, and much more to still be revealed!
We’re inviting academics, postgraduates, teachers, early-stage researchers, and anyone with an interest alike to submit your ideas for individual papers, panels, lightning talks, workshops, posters, and digital stories. See further below for details on the various formats designed to encourage participation from a wide range of speakers.
Conference themes
We propose the following themes as likely to inspire interdisciplinary and comparativist approaches but encourage other suggestions too. We welcome proposals on all topics across ancient literature and philosophy, ancient history, classical art, archaeology, epigraphy and numismatics, linguistics, critical approaches, popular culture and the reception of the classical tradition. We aim to foster a friendly and inclusive environment, in the hope that panels will juxtapose speakers from different backgrounds, so that postgraduates, academics, and teachers can all share ideas, challenges, and enthusiasms.
The Conference will have a range of delegates: if you would like to target your material specifically at school-age or undergraduate students, please make this clear in your proposal.
-Africa (including, but not restricted to, Egypt) and the Classical World;
-Ancient Political Philosophy;
-Classical Heritage and Global Conflict;
-Classics in North West England;
-Commemorating the Dead;
-Environment, Resources and the Ancient World;
-Inscriptions and their Audiences;
-Papyrology;
-Pedagogy (particularly justice- and access-centred pedagogies);
-Queer Classics;
-The Near East and the Classical World
Types of Session
Anyone can submit a proposal. Please consider which of the following you would like to do:
-present an individual paper
-give a lightning talk
-share a printed poster
-share a digital story
-form a panel of papers
-organise or contribute to a workshop
Please see website linked above for our descriptions of each of these types of sessions.
Please also see website linked above for Speaker Information and details of in-person and online participation.
What to do next
Please submit your proposals to [email protected] by 23:59 BST on 15 September 2025. No late submissions will be accepted.
To assist with scheduling, when submitting your email, please let us know if you will NOT be able to attend a particular day of the Conference (e.g. Friday, Saturday or Sunday) and/or if you are expecting to only be able to participate remotely.
Your email must include an attachment in MS Word or PDF format containing the following details, depending upon the type of session you are proposing. The attached document filename must be clearly labelled with your surname and an abstract title (not just ‘CA 2026 Proposal’!). Please make absolutely clear which format you are proposing.
Please see website linked above for details of what to include in your proposal for each of the types of session, including word-limits, abstracts, and presenter details.
We look forward to receiving your ideas at [email protected]
To assist with scheduling, when submitting your email, please let us know if you will NOT be able to attend a particular day of the Conference (e.g. Friday, Saturday or Sunday).
