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We are delighted to announce that the theme for the Society’s 2026 Annual International Conference is geographies of inequalities: towards just places. The call for sessions, papers and posters is also now open!

Chosen by the conference Chair, Professor Peter Hopkins (Newcastle University), the theme will explore different forms of inequality that arise in many contexts across broader global, geopolitical, health, and environmental concerns.

Geographers bring a diversity of approaches to understanding these issues and the conference seeks to explore how spaces of inequalities and unjust places are conceptualised and theorised as well as how different forms of inequality and injustice intersect.

We spoke to Peter to find out more about his career and chosen conference theme...

1. Can you tell us about your background and career today?

"As a social geographer, I have always focused on issues of inequality, particularly those relating to the intersections of race, religion, gender, and youth.

"I’ve recently been working on projects about refugee youth and about primary school children’s experiences of racism. I also have a new book on Everyday Islamophobia (published by Bristol University Press)."

2. What inspired you to choose your theme?

"Different forms of inequality – whether associated with the environment, housing, health, or community, and so on – are all around us.

"Geographers bring a diverse conceptual and methodological skillset to these issues and so are ideally placed to explore different spatial inequalities, understand how, why, and where they exist, and offer possible solutions."

3. How do you hope delegates respond?

"Challenges around researching and understanding inequalities are many and include conceptual and theoretical approaches; the methodological technicalities of charting, mapping, measuring and monitoring injustices, and the ethical, political, and activist sensibilities involved in doing such work."

4. Are there any stand out moments for you from previous conferences? Moments of connection, inspiration?

"There are so many it feels impossible to select only one or two moments. I often find that connections at conferences or moments of inspiration take a while to settle and come to fruition, whether this be through a new contact who you develop an email conversation with after the conference, or through people you re-connect with at the conference having not been in touch for a while."

5. What do you hope to give/take from your role as chair?

"As conference chair, I hope to give the geographical community an important and engaging theme around which to organise sessions, alongside thought-provoking keynote sessions on important topics and issues.

"As with all conferences, I hope to return home feeling energised by the new connections made, and the interesting ideas and important research I’ve learnt about."

6. Who/what inspires you in the discipline today?

"I am inspired by research that is theoretically engaged, empirically rich, and rigorously conducted. I’m also inspired by work that is hard-hitting, politically engaged, critical and focused on real-world issues.

"There are many people involved in doing such work and this is the research that I find most inspiring in the discipline."

More details

The conference will take place at the Society and Imperial College London, and online, from Tuesday 1 September to Friday 4 September 2026.

The deadline for submissions for the conference programme (organised sessions, papers and posters) is Friday 6 March 2026.

Guidance is available for prospective session organisers and presenters and we encourage you to consider the kinds of spaces and conversations you want to curate and how best to engage attendees in-person and online.

If you have any questions, please email ac2026@rgs.org

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