Renaissance Studies Annual Colloquium 2026

The Renaissance Studies Annual Colloquium 2026 serves as a premier gathering for scholars, researchers, and students dedicated to the study of the early modern period. Hosted at the historic King’s Manor in the heart of York, this event provides a vital platform for the exchange of innovative research, theoretical breakthroughs, and archival discoveries that continue to reshape our understanding of the Renaissance.

This year’s colloquium focuses on the theme "Cross-Pollinations: Intellectual and Material Exchanges in Early Modern Europe." As we navigate the complexities of 16th and 17th-century history, this event seeks to highlight the fluid boundaries between cultures, disciplines, and artistic mediums. Attendees will engage with a series of keynote lectures, panel discussions, and intimate seminar groups, all designed to foster rigorous debate and collaborative scholarship.

The programme features an interdisciplinary approach, inviting contributions from the fields of literature, art history, musicology, history, and political philosophy. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss recent monograph publications, engage with digital humanities methodologies, and explore how the study of the Renaissance remains relevant to contemporary academic discourse.

In addition to formal sessions, the colloquium offers ample time for networking, including a formal reception held in the medieval courtyard of King’s Manor. This setting, with its rich architectural heritage, provides a fitting backdrop for conversations that bridge the past and the present. Whether you are an established academic or a postgraduate researcher just beginning your journey, this event offers a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment to share your work, meet colleagues from across the globe, and contribute to the vibrant, ongoing conversation that defines the Society for Renaissance Studies.

We invite all those with an interest in the early modern world to join us for this day of inquiry and celebration. Advance registration is required, as space for the seminars is limited to ensure high-quality engagement and discussion among all participants.