Insights from Day 1 of the BISA 2026 Annual Conference

The British International Studies Association (BISA) officially opened its 2026 annual conference in Brighton on June 3, 2026. Hosted at the Brighton Centre, the event serves as a central hub for the global International Studies community to gather, debate, and examine the future of the discipline as it looks toward the coming decades.

This year’s gathering emphasizes the need for new thinking, methods, and approaches to both research and pedagogy. By bringing together a diverse community of specialists, the conference aims to address how the field can effectively rise to meet the complex global challenges of the future.

A Collaborative Environment for Global Specialists

The BISA 2026 conference is designed to be an inclusive space for both seasoned experts and newcomers to the field. Throughout the three-day event, attendees are participating in a variety of panels and roundtables. These sessions provide a platform for academics and practitioners to share their latest research, solicit feedback, and engage in meaningful discussions about the current state and future trajectory of International Studies.

The program, which is updated in real time to reflect the latest scheduling, highlights the breadth of topics currently being explored by the community. Participants are also given the opportunity to connect with leading publishers and editors, fostering an environment of professional development and collaboration.

Engaging with the Future of International Studies

The conference program features a range of contributions from across the academic spectrum. Notably, the event includes a keynote lecture by Professor Kimberly Hutchings of Queen Mary University of London. Her participation underscores the conference’s commitment to high-level academic inquiry and intellectual exchange.

The “Thinking Global” team has begun documenting these highlights, recording insights directly from the conference floor in Brighton. Interviews conducted on the first day featured a range of participants, including:

• Maia Harrison (University of Sussex)
• Carmen Chas (Comillas Pontifical University)
• Simon Rushton (University of Sheffield and BISA Programme Chair)
• Archishman Ray Goswami (University of Oxford)
• David Wilcox (University of Birmingham)
• Gemma Bird (University of Liverpool)

Key Takeaways for Attendees

• Program Flexibility: The conference schedule is dynamic. Attendees are encouraged to consult the official draft programme regularly for real-time updates and to locate specific panels.
• Inclusive Participation: The event is open to all, regardless of whether a participant is presenting a paper. It is intended to be a friendly, accessible space for anyone interested in the development of the discipline.
• Strategic Vision: Following the association’s 50th-anniversary celebration in 2025, the 2026 conference is explicitly focused on the next 50 years of the field, inviting participants to question the current fitness of the discipline and propose necessary changes.

As the conference continues, the focus remains on fostering a community capable of navigating an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. With the first day of sessions providing a robust foundation for discourse, attendees look forward to the subsequent days of the program to further refine the pedagogical and research-based strategies required for the future.