Global community of medieval scholars converges on WMU for annual international congress
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—For three days in May, Western Michigan University will become a hub for medieval scholarship, welcoming experts from around the world to campus. More than 1,700 international medieval scholars will convene on Main Campus Thursday through Saturday, May 14-16, for the 61st meeting of the International Congress on Medieval Studies.
Congress activities will be held at several campus locations, including the WMU Student Center, Sangren Hall, Waldo Library, Kanley Chapel and Gilmore Theatre Complex.
Across these locations, participants will engage in a wide range of scholarly offerings: paper and poster sessions, roundtables, workshops, demonstrations and performances. The 2026 meeting continues in a hybrid format, with in-person, virtual and hybrid sessions designed to encourage meaningful interaction among scholars participating both on campus and online.
“We are very much looking forward to continuing the spirit of friendship and international cooperation among scholars,” says Dr. Robert F. Berkhofer III, director of the WMU Medieval Institute. “We welcome all scholars of the Middle Ages and anyone interested in learning more about the societies and cultures of the Middle Ages.”
Browse, network and be inspired between sessions
The Exhibits Hall, located in the WMU Student Center, will be back for the 61st Congress and will feature academic presses, artisans, used booksellers, scholarly organizations and purveyors of medieval-themed goods from around the world. The hall remains a central gathering space for networking and discovery between sessions.
The congress will offer a robust slate of special events as well, including concerts, theatrical performances, library exhibits, hands-on workshops and the traditional Saturday evening dance, all designed to foster community and creativity alongside research and teaching.
Hear from leading voices in medieval studies
The 2026 congress program includes plenary lectures and special speakers scheduled throughout the meeting and hosted in central campus venues. Speaker details, lecture titles and locations are published in the official congress program, which provides the most up-to-date schedule information for attendees. All lectures will be held in Room 1910 of Sangren Hall and broadcast live on the congress meeting site for virtual attendees, and recordings for these talks will be available to all registrants May 18-31.
Plenary lectures
Alison Perchuk
Perchuk of California State University, Channel Islands, will speak on “Apocalypse and Community in Medieval Italian Art” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 14.
Michelle M. Sauer
Sauer of the University of North Dakota will speak on “The Queerness of Solitude” at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 15.
Special speakers
Timothy C. Graham
Graham of The University of New Mexico will speak on “The Elstobs in London, 1702-1715: A Legacy of Lost and Found Manuscripts” at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 14.
David Gura
Gura of the University of Notre Dame will speak on “Classical Poetry and Medieval Commentary: The Textual Archaeology of a Genre” at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 15.
See medieval stories come to life
Join visiting artist Ronnie Malley, who will offer a concert featuring Arab music, poetry and songs about the life of Ziryab, a former slave from Baghdad, whose musical abilities brought him fame throughout the medieval world. General admission tickets for the 7 p.m.
event Saturday, May 16, at Kanley Chapel are $25.
Join interactive workshops, demonstrations and performances
Other highlights include participatory workshops on medieval wood carving, wool spinning and dancing.
For those interested in medieval culture and everyday life, there will be daily displays of medieval objects, including pottery, textiles and metal tools, in the lobby of Sangren Hall during the congress.
Learn digital tools
On Wednesday, May 13, the day before the congress begins, WMU will host the Digital Medieval Studies Institute, which will offer workshops on digital scholarly methods tailored specifically to medievalists. This cross-disciplinary, international collaboration is being hosted at WMU for the first time in 2026 and will return in future years with new workshops each year.
Secure your place at the 61st Congress
WMU affiliates may register at no cost using a WMU email address. City of Kalamazoo residents are eligible for a discounted $25 registration rate. Other registration rates are based on annual income. Find more information and register online.
Advance registration closes Wednesday, April 29. Continuing registration is available during the congress, with a late fee applied for in-person attendees; online attendees may continue registration through May 31, when recorded content is removed from the meeting site.
The 62nd International Congress on Medieval Studies is scheduled for May 13-15, 2027, at WMU.
For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.