Call for Abstracts: 22nd ICOMOS General Assembly and Scientific Symposium

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) invites heritage professionals, researchers, practitioners, and emerging scholars to submit abstracts for the 22nd General Assembly and Scientific Symposium, taking place in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Under the theme “Living Heritage: Respect – Enhance – Accept – Partnership,” the 2026 Symposium calls for critical reflections and innovative approaches that foreground heritage as dynamic, community-embedded, and responsive to contemporary challenges. Contributors are encouraged to explore how heritage can be safeguarded through inclusive governance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and partnerships that bridge local knowledge with global frameworks.

Submissions may address topics including, but not limited to:
• Community-centred heritage conservation and co-creation
• Heritage in the face of climate change, conflict, and disaster
• Cultural landscapes and living traditions
• Indigenous knowledge systems and heritage practice
• Heritage impact assessments and sustainable development
• Digital tools and innovation in conservation
• Youth engagement and intergenerational transmission

The Symposium offers a global platform for dialogue, bringing together experts from over 130 countries to exchange ideas, research, and practice-based insights that shape the future of conservation.

We encourage members of our network, academic institutions, and partner organisations to participate actively in this important international forum. Abstract submission guidelines, deadlines, and registration details are available on the official Conference website.

Join the conversation. Share your research. Contribute to a future where heritage is not only protected, but lived, shared, and strengthened through partnership.

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