Date: The 25th International Congress of Byzantine Studies will be held from 24th to 29th August 2026 in Vienna, Austria.
Main Theme: “Byzantium beyond Byzantium”, “Byzance au-delà de Byzance”, “Το Βυζάντιο πέρα από το Βυζάντιο”.
General Rule: Scholars can participate in no more than two sessions throughout the Congress. (i.e. as speaker in two sessions, or as speaker in one session plus as convener, or as convener in two sessions).
Plenary Sessions: There will be six Plenary Sessions. The list of Plenary Session themes and speakers will be approved at the Inter-Congress meeting in Athens on 12th April 2024. National Committees will be informed about the details shortly before the meeting. The themes for Plenary Sessions are:
Byzantium lost and found
Romanitas beyond Byzantium. Diffusion and impact of ideas of Rome in a „post-Roman”world
The beasts, the crops and the bones. Biological perspectives on the Byzantine world
Byzantine Diversities
Reading Byzantine literature across the centuries
Byzantium in Central Europe
Round Tables:
General rules:
Round Tables must be proposed through the National Committee of the proposer. There is also the option of joint proposals by more than one National Committee. Round Tables are allocated 90 minutes. They should consist of no fewer than four and no more than six speakers, plus the convener(s), in order to ensure adequate time for discussion. The professional affiliation of the speakers should represent at least two countries. We particularly encourage the inclusion of young researchers.
We strongly encourage those who propose Round Tables to follow the Congress main theme.
The most important criterion for accepting a Round Table proposal will be its innovative scholarly contribution.
The number of proposals, including joint proposals by each National Committee is limited to ten.
Proposals should include a title, an abstract of 250 words, 5 key words, the names of the convener(s) and speakers as well as the name of the person sending the proposal, his/her affiliated institution and his/her mail address. Proposals should be written in English or French.
Timetable:
The deadline for submission of Round Table proposals by National Committees to the Organizing Committee is 31 December 2023. Any Round Table proposal sent after the deadline will not be accepted. The proposals should be sent to program.ICBS2026@univie.ac.at
Conveners of Round Tables will be informed about the decision of the Program Committee (in accordance with the Bureau of the AIEB) in mid-February 2024. Proposed Round Tables will either be accepted or rejected or the option of an Organized Session will be offered.
Conveners of accepted Round Tables will be asked to confirm their participation and the organization of their Round Tables by 31 March 2024. The list of Round Tables will be presented at the Inter-Congress meeting in Athens on 12 April 2024.
The Man From MENSA 