2026 International Congress on Medieval Studies: Program
February 1, 2026 in Announcements, Bāḥra ḥassāb: Knowledge Transmission in Ethiopia and Eritrea From Antiquity to Modern Times, Business Meeting, Conference, Conference Announcement, Event Registration, Events, ICMS, International Congress on Medieval Studies, Manuscript Studies, POMONA, Postal History at Kalamazoo, Rossell Hope Robbins Library at the University of Waterloo, Societas Magica
Program
Activities Sponsored and Co-Sponsored by the RGME
at the
61st International Congress on Medieval Studies
May 14–16, 2026
(Sessions variously online, in-person, and hybrid)
Sequence of RGME Activities at the 2026 Congress
[Posted on 15 January 2026, with updates]
View from Fetzer Lounge at the 2017 Congress. Photography © Mildred Budny.
Here we list the Program of Activities of the Research Group on Manuscript Evidence (RGME) at the 2026 International Congress on Medieval Studies (ICMS).
First we collaboratively designed a suite of Sessions (Panels of Papers) to sponsor or co-sponsor at this year’s Congress. When these proposals were accepted for the Congress, we could issue the Call for Papers:
With the completion of the Call for Papers, the next stages followed:
- examining the proposals received
- selecting among the proposals
- designing each session (assigning the presider, sequence of papers, etc.)
- submitting the session programs to the ICMS
With the acceptance of the sessions as programmed, and (when the time came) the assignment of dates, times, and locations for our activities, we could, in stages, move to the next steps. Those steps advance in various order (as applicable):
- drawing up the webpost to announce the sessions (You Are Here)
- publishing the Abstracts (for the sessions, papers, and some responses)
- adding updates as applicable
- selecting images (feature or larger) to illustrate the sessions and related activities
- circulating the announcement and updates by various means (such as social media or listservs)
- designing Posters for printed and digital circulation
- preparing for the activities themselves and accomplishing them on the day
- creating a Report to celebrate the accomplishment, show some photographs, and express thanks to our organizers, speakers, respondents, presiders, advisers, participants, co-sponsors, Congress staff, and others
- considering the aims for the next year’s Congress, seeking suggestions for collaboration (sessions, co-sponsorships), and drawing up proposals
Upon the formation of the full Congress Program (see link below), we now announce the RGME Program of activities at the 2026 Congress—including the Sessions and our annual Open Business Meeting. We describe the activities one by one in the assigned sequence in which they will occur. In addition, as is our custom, we publish the Abstracts for the Papers as a foretaste and record of the intentions.
Congress Program
The Program and information for the 2026 Congress appears on the Congress website.
There, to find the RGME Business Meeting and Sessions, search under Sponsoring (or Co-Sponsoring) Organization
The participation by the RGME at the Annual ICMS over the years is chronicled in our blog:
The traditions and evolving track-record for our sessions, sponsored and co-sponsored, are recorded in two categories:
- Sponsored Sessions at the International Congress on Medieval Studies (from 1993)
- Co-Sponsored Sessions at the International Congress on Medieval Studies (from 2006)
We invite you to join our activities (in-person or hybrid) for the 2026 Congress. We invite you also to explore the Abstracts and visit the Pop-Up Exhibition of Posters (set in RGME Bembino) announcing and celebrating them.
Now we describe the goals.