2026 Annual Conference
8–10 April 2026
University of Cambridge
The 2026 conference will be hosted in partnership with the History of Art department at the University of Cambridge in April.
The conference will be held across Churchill College, Murray Edwards College and the Møller Institute, with Churchill College being the main conference hub.
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.
Registration
The 2026 Annual Conference registration is open to all, members and non-members of the Association for Art History. Members of the Association get reduced conference rates, and concessionary tickets are also available.
Please register here
Please keep an eye out here for regular updates and information on trips and events surrounding the conference. More details coming soon.
Travel & Accommodation
Please ensure you plan your journey to Cambridge and book accommodation as soon as possible, especially as the conference falls in the Easter holidays and Cambridge is a tourist destination. We have provided details here of some accommodation options together with information on transport and parking.
Bookfair
Our Bookfair is a key part of the Annual Conference and a perfect occasion for exhibitors to engage directly with delegates at the forefront of today’s art history and visual culture. No other annual event in art history in the UK offers the breadth and quality of research in one place at one time.
The Bookfair takes place in the Conference’s central hub, near the Registration and Information desk at Churchill College, and is one of the designated spaces where delegates can meet and mingle between sessions.
Please see our full Programme below for details on our exhibitors.
Programme
We’ve curated three days of activity designed to inspire and connect our community, including.
- 100+ Academic Sessions: Showcasing current research and new perspectives.
- Workshops & Tours: Hands-on learning and behind-the-scenes access.
- Social Receptions: Networking and drinks in the heart of Cambridge
View the full Programme here and plan your visit, ensuring you book in advance for any bookable workshops and tours.
For details on our sessions, convenors and speakers, please see our Programme at a Glance.
We look forward to welcoming you to Cambridge.
KEYNOTES
We are delighted to announce our three keynote speakers for 2026:
Wednesday 8 April: Craft Matters: An autobiographical journey
Tanya Harrod, Independent Design Historian
Sponsored by: The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art
Thursday 9 April: Objects in Motion: Capturing the Libretto of Louis of Anjou and its Siblings
Susie Nash, Courtauld
Sponsored by: International Center of Medieval Art
Friday 10 April: Art History and the (postcolonial) Museum
Chika Okeke-Agulu, Princeton University
For all Conference queries, please contact Conference2026@forarthistory.org.uk
Image: Photo by Meet Cambridge.