Annual Conference
The HOTCUS annual conference is the centrepiece of the organisation’s calendar. It traditionally takes place over three days in the summer, and plays host to a range of research presentations, state of the field round tables, and plenary lectures.
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The 2026 HOTCUS annual conference will be held at the University of Manchester, between 1-3 July. Professor Beth Bailey, Pitt Professor of American History and Institutions, 2025-26, Cambridge University, will be the keynote speaker for the conference.
We welcome proposals for sessions on any and all topics concerning the history of the United States – broadly conceived – from 1890 to the present. Proposals are encouraged from all HOTCUS members and anyone working on US history, but we are especially keen to showcase underrepresented scholars and topics. In addition, we particularly welcome proposals that adopt a broader perspective, such as innovative use of different sources, specific texts, themes, events and anniversaries, pedagogy, or other issues relating to academic culture and careers.
Proposals should include an overall abstract outlining the panel’s theme and relevance; short, 200-word abstracts and titles for each proposed presentation; and 1-2 page CVs for each speaker listing relevant publications and experience. Please place these in a single document. Panel slots will be approximately 90 minutes. Traditional panels of three/four speakers and a chair should ensure all speakers take a maximum of 50 minutes in total to allow plenty of time for wider discussion. We also encourage proposals that suggest a different format and that aim to rethink the approaches taken to conference presentations. This should be clearly outlined in your panel proposal. Chairs can be included in the proposal or added later by the conference committee.
Anybody seeking fellow panellists can use our online Panel Finder document to make connections and share ideas. Postgraduate students unable to find other panel members are welcome to ask for assistance from the program committee.
Submission Note: We strongly encourage panels that include a mix of participants from across the career spectrum (i.e., from postgraduate to professor). Historically, women have been underrepresented at HOTCUS events. As positive action under the Equality Act 2010, we seek to encourage the increased participation of women by asking conference participants not to submit all-male panels.
Please email all submissions to events.hotcus@gmail.com by midnight, UK time on 25 March , 2026.
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On the afternoon of Wednesday 1st July, 2026, a PG/ECR workshop will be held with Professor Beth Bailey on the cultural, religious, or political history of the modern United States (broadly defined).
The workshop, which will be the first event of the HOTCUS 2026 Annual Conference, will provide a supportive space for PhD students and early career scholars to present and receive feedback on chapters, articles, or detailed research proposals.
Up to 4 participants will be selected to share a piece of writing of up to 8,000 words for intensive discussion and feedback from Professor Bailey and other workshop participants. This piece of work can be a dissertation chapter or an article. This year we are particularly looking for more article submissions to have a range of types of work represented in the workshop. As well as discussing their own work, which will be pre-circulated to all attendees, selected participants must commit to reading and participating in discussion of other participants’ work. Though participants do not need to register for the full HOTCUS conference, they are strongly encouraged to do so. Attendees of the HOTCUS conference will have the opportunity to apply for modest travel and/or childcare bursaries, subject to funds secured, with priority given to those without access to departmental funds from their home institutions.
The Workshop:
- Applications for the workshop must be received by midnight UK time on Monday 22 April 2026 (see detailed instructions below).
- Those selected to participate will be notified in early May 2026. Work for pre-circulation will be due by Monday 8 June 2026.
The workshop will take place in-person, on campus at the University of Manchester. Following the confirmation of the workshop presenters, registration for the workshop will also be open to participants who do not submit papers but commit to reading all the submitted work in advance.
Eligibility:
The workshop is open to PhD students and ECRs in relevant fields from any university. Priority may be given to those presenting at or planning to attend the HOTCUS conference. Our definition of ECR encompasses all without permanent academic employment OR within five years of their PhD award.
Deadline for proposal submissions:
Midnight (UK), 22 April 2026
Instructions for applicants:
To apply, please email events.hotcus@gmail.com by midnight on 22 April 2026 using the subject line ‘Workshop with Beth Bailey’ and including the following information:
- Your Name:
- Your email address:
- Title of your proposed workshop submission:
- Abstract of your proposed submission (max 200 words):
- Statement of support (200 words): How will this workshop help you and your research?
- University at which you are studying/studied or currently working
- Year of PhD study or date of PhD submission:
- If not selected to present your work, would you still like to participate in the workshop? Y/N
- Are you planning to attend the main HOTCUS conference? Y/N
Please direct any questions about the workshop or the applications process to the HOTCUS Conference Secretary, Dr Bevan Sewell: events.hotcus@gmail.com
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Previous conferences:
2025: Lancaster University, 18-20 June 2025 (Plenary Speaker: Andrew Preston) – Programme
2024: Southampton University, 19-21 June 2024 (plenary speaker: Randall J. Stephens) – Programme
2023: Northumbria University, 21-23 June 2023 (plenary speaker: Bruce J. Schulman) – Programme
2022: Edinburgh University, 22-24 June 2022 (plenary speaker: Melani McAlister) – Programme
2021: Digital Conference, 7-10 June 2021 (plenary speaker: Connie Y Chiang) – Programme
2019: Liverpool John Moores University, 12-14 June 2019 (plenary speaker: Donna Murch) – Programme
2018: Madingley Conference Centre, Cambridge, 13-15 June 2018 (plenary speaker: Brooke Blower) – Programme
2017: University College Dublin, 16-18 June 2017 (plenary speaker: Penny Von Eschen) – Programme
2016: Roosevelt Study Center, Middelburg, 6-8 July 2016 (plenary speaker: Margot Canaday) – Programme
2015: University of East Anglia, 26-28 June 2015 (plenary speakers: Gary Gerstle and Andrew Hartman)
2014: University of Reading, 5-7 September 2014 (joint conference with BrANCH, HOTCUS plenary speaker: Sarah T. Phillips)
2013: Northumbria University, 5-7 July 2013 (plenary speaker: Wesley Hogan)
2012: Roosevelt Study Center, Middelburg, 20-22 June 2012 (plenary speaker: Charles Postel)
2011: University of Oxford, 7-9 July 2011 (plenary speaker: Jeremi Suri)
2010: University of Sussex, 1-3 July 2010 (plenary speaker: Nancy MacLean)
2009: University of Cambridge, 26-28 June 2009 (plenary speaker: Lisa McGirr)
2008: Institute for the Study of the Americas, University of London, 26-28 June 2008 (plenary speaker: Tony Badger)