Modern British Studies Conference 2026

Modern British Studies 2026

The three-day conference will bring together scholars to discuss the shape of modern British studies in an urgently unstable global context, termed a ‘polycrisis’ (Tooze, 2023). It offers historical depth to contemporary crisis debates and showcases research into longer histories of Britain’s political economy, sociocultural transformations and global environmental footprint. In addition, at a moment of disruption and change within the marketised, crisis-ridden UK higher education sector, the conference offers critical engagement with this formative backdrop to contemporary research and teaching in British studies.

Confirmed speakers

Confirmed speakers include Sarah Crook, Catherine Hall, Tom Hulme, Catherine Mills, Kevin O’Sullivan, Chris Otter, Tamson Pietsch, Erika Rappaport, Jonathan Saha, Tehila Sasson.

We are grateful to the British Academy Conference Scheme 2026-2027 and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) for funding the opening day and plenary lecture of MBS2026, which will speak to the topic of ‘The Polycrisis? Historical Roots and Critical Perspectives in Modern British Studies’. This conference will be the inaugural event of the Association of Modern British Studies.

• Conference programme

Registration

Please click on the ‘Register for this event’ button at the top right of this page to register.

Registration covers the cost of the conference and includes a 24-month membership to the Modern British Studies Association. By registering you are consenting to become a member of the Modern British Studies Association and for your data to be shared with the Modern British Studies Association. This data will only be used in relation to your membership.

Please see below for the different registration options available to you.

• (a) Waged Delegate, Full Conference (three days) £140.00
• (b) Waged Delegate, Two Day Conference (June 3rd and 4th) £85.00
• (c) Waged Delegate, Two Day Conference (June 4th and June 5th) £140.00
• (d) Waged Delegate, One Day June 3rd £0.00
• (e) Waged Delegate, One Day June 4th £90.00
• (f) Waged Delegate, One Day June 5th £90.00
• (g) Online access to conference June 3rd £0.00
• (h) Unwaged/PGR Delegate, Full Conference (three days) £90.00
• (i) Unwaged/PGR Delegate, Two Day Conference (June 3rd and 4th) £50.00
• (j) Unwaged/PGR Delegate, Two Day Conference (June 4th and June 5th) £90.00
• (k) Unwaged/PGR Delegate, One Day June 3rd £0.00
• (l) Unwaged/PGR Delegate, One Day June 4th £50.00
• (m) Unwaged/PGR Delegate, One Day June 5th £50.00
• (n) Supporter Fee (Any surplus from the supporter fee will contribute towards future MBSA activities) £200.00 

For any questions please contact Dr Sarah Kenny and Professor Lucy Delap at mbs2026@contacts.bham.ac.uk