The Social History Society’s 2026 Annual Conference brought almost 200 historians to Lancaster University from 1-3 July, marking a particularly special occasion as the Society celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. Returning to Lancaster – where the Society was founded in 1976 and where its first conference was held – provided a fitting opportunity to reflect on five decades of social history while looking ahead to the future of the discipline.
The conference welcomed 195 delegates from across the UK and around the world for three days of lively discussion, new research and conversation. The programme featured seven parallel sessions across a wide range of themes, showcasing the remarkable breadth of the current field. Papers explored subjects ranging from emotions, family and community, work and leisure, disability, heritage, migration, empire, politics and social justice to histories of gender, race and religion. Alongside these panels, delegates enjoyed a stimulating opening roundtable on ‘Social History: Its Pasts and Futures’ and an excellent, thought-provoking keynote lecture by Emma Griffin on ‘Workers, Elites and the Making of the Modern World’.
A particular highlight of the conference was Disruptive Histories: 50 Years of the Social History Society, an exhibition celebrating the Society’s history and development. Drawing on materials from the Society’s own archives, Lancaster University and the Institute of Historical Research, the exhibition explored the evolution of social history as both an academic discipline and a scholarly community, inviting delegates to reflect on the past, present and future of the field.
The anniversary celebrations continued beyond the lecture theatres, with a gala dinner, 1970s-themed disco, publishers’ stalls, postgraduate events and plenty of opportunities for colleagues old and new to reconnect. Another highlight was the medieval re-enactments from Historia Normannis, who opened the conference with fascinating demonstrations of living history, from sword combat to a medieval fashion show! Together, these events captured the welcoming and collaborative spirit that has long been at the heart of the Society.
The Social History Society would like to thank everyone who contributed to making the conference such a success, including the conference organising committee, Lancaster University, our strand convenors, panel chairs, speakers, exhibitors and all those who attended. We look forward to welcoming members to our next Annual Conference at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, from 30 June to 2 July 2027.