Andrew Hook Centre for American Studies

BAAS Annual Conference 2026

 

BAAS-Conference-2026-Handbook-and-Schedule.pdf

BAAS-Conference-2026-Full-Program-of-Abstracts.pdf

This will be the first BAAS conference in Glasgow since 1999, and the first in Scotland since 2008. The conference coincides with the 250-year anniversary of 1776 and thus offers opportunities for new scholarly appraisal; 2026 also marks the University of Glasgow’s 575th Anniversary. We are delighted to announce Professor Mia Bay (Cambridge), Professor Sinéad Moynihan (Exeter), and Professor Simon Newman (Institute for Research in the Humanities) as, respectively, the 2026 Journal of American Studies, Eccles Centre and Andrew Hook Centre keynote speakers.

The University has long been a hub for the study, understanding and teaching of American, Transatlantic, Canadian, and Caribbean Studies. The College of Arts & Humanities at Glasgow is strongly committed to interdisciplinary studies and we work in long-term partnership with the cultural sector (both locally, for example, we are home to the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery – and thus important Whistler and Charles Rennie Mackintosh collections) and internationally. We are renowned for our pioneering research on Glasgow's – and Scotland’s – Atlantic history, particularly in relation to slavery, and we are home to the Beniba Centre for Slavery Studies. We also host the Scottish Council on Global Affairs with its expertise in diplomacy, politics and intelligence studies, and the Scottish Graduate School for the Arts & Humanities, currently the only national DTP and a hub for PhD students from 17 institutions across Scotland. The Andrew Hook Centre is Scotland’s only centre for American Studies, and sponsors an extensive lecture and seminar series, which is open to academics, students and the general public.

The conference programme will draw on all of the above interests and will take the broader context of Scottish-American history, culture and exchange as a key theme. However, we will be open to proposals for panels and papers on any current or emerging area of American Studies, as broadly conceived. We hope to attract a range of papers across eras, geographies, and disciplines. We are delighted also to invite proposals taking a comparative approach, such as panels or papers on Canada and the Americas. Beyond research, we are interested in receiving session proposals that address American Studies pedagogy, impact and knowledge exchange, and the shape and future of the discipline. Along these lines, we welcome panels that include activists, teachers, artists, and other community practitioners alongside, and in dialogue with, academic colleagues.

The conference will take place on the University’s Gilmorehill campus; the opening evening will be marked by a Civic Reception at Glasgow’s City Chambers. Overnight accommodation is plentiful in Glasgow. The Glasgow visitor bureau provides useful links. Glasgow is easily accessible by rail or coach with direct services from across the UK. Public transport within the city (by subway - the famous Clockwork Orange - or by bus) is straightforward. For more information on travel and accommodation, conference rates (including subsidised rates for Postgraduate Research Students and Early Career Academics), details of keynote speakers, networking opportunities, and social events, please visit our website and booking page, which will be updated regularly.

Please note that by registering for the conference, you are agreeing to abide by BAAS’s Code of Conduct. This can be found here: https://baas.ac.uk/about/baas-code-of-conduct/

Please also note that due to fixed costs and arrangements with suppliers, ticket refunds for those attending are not normally available.

Please address further enquires to: UofGBAAS2026@gla.systa-s.com

View the Eventbrite for the Conference and register your place.

 

Joining Instructions are can be found here.

 

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First published: 2 October 2025