Call for Papers: CHAT Hope 2026
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29. January 2026
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Call for papers
CHAT Hope
Annual Conference of the Contemporary und Historical Archaeology in Theory group (CHAT)
Innsbruck, 29-31 October 2026
Deadline for submissions: 28 February 2026
In times of permanent crisis – political, ecological, social, economic and existential – it is urgent to talk seriously about the idea of hope. Whether we believe the “doomsday clock” is at 89 seconds to midnight or already five minutes past, the monumental path of destruction ahead appears overwhelming. It is easy to feel lost – yet, hope persists, rooted in past and current successes that envision genuine alternatives, both in defiance and care.
We seek archaeological case studies, theoretical reflections, and creative formats that trace the material and emotional geographies of hope in sites such as: peace, disarmament and anti-nuclear protests, anti-deportation and abolition activisms, environmental action, utopian and communal settlements, workers’ and unemployed movements, queer and crip activism, indigenous empowerment, resistance in contexts of mass violence, youth camps, or countless other contexts where people envisioned alternative worlds. We invite submissions that explore these themes and current approaches to the contemporary past, from both known and new CHAT participants.
Submissions
Please send us an email with your name / affiliation / country / Email and a title and abstract with max 300 words (or images, video, urls) that explore HOPE through presentations, panels, discussions, films, performances, or collaborative sessions and more.
Please email chat2026.innsbruck@gmail.com
Conference Committee
Attila Dézsi Schlingmann
Barbara Hausmair
Stefanie Heim
Contact
chat2026.innsbruck@gmail.com
Hosted by
CHAT (Contemporary and Historical Archaeology in Theory)
and the DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGIES at University of Innsbruck
The complete Call for Papers can be found at the conference website.
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