#BISA2026 conference to be held in Brighton

We are excited to announce that in 2026 our flagship annual conference will be held in Brighton.

Brighton is an inclusive, free-thinking city in the heart of Sussex, UK, and within an hour of London. With a blend of modern culture and exotic architecture, sea and countryside. There’s no shortage of iconic landmarks in Brighton. The Royal Pavilion and the famous Brighton Palace Pier are familiar sights, and there are a huge range of live music, theatre and comedy events to choose from on any given night.

Brighton sits between eight miles of beach on one side and the scenic Sussex countryside on the other, so it has the best of all worlds – city life, fresh sea air and green open spaces – all in close proximity to one another.

BISA Director/CEO, Juliet Dryden, said:

“It will be fantastic to bring the BISA conference back to the south of England, and to a destination known for its diversity and inclusivity. We will be working closely with colleagues from both Brighton and Sussex universities to present a thought-provoking selection of panels, roundtables, and fringe events from the International Studies community, offering insight and clarity into the increasingly troubled and turbulent world we face today.”

We are also pleased to announce our next conference programme chair, Professor Simon Rushton (Sheffield), who will take over from Dr Nick Caddick.

The call for papers for #BISA2026 in Brighton will be released early in September 2025, alongside further announcements about what will be taking place.

In the meantime, we are almost ready to begin our 50th anniversary conference in Belfast, taking place from 18-20 June. There are almost 400 events taking place during the conference, and you can still register as an observer. Visit the conference website for more information.

Top image: Courtesy of Visit Brighton. Photographer: David Matthews