Conference Programme
The COVID Legacies: Long-Term Social and Cultural Effects conference will take place in Istanbul on 9–11 October 2026. The conference is organised by Koç University and Sabancı University and will bring together scholars working across literature, sociology, anthropology, history, public health, media studies, art history, political science, and related fields.
Programme Details
Keynote Speakers
Keynote talks will be given by:
• Claire Chambers (University of York)
• Önder Ergönül (Koç University)
The final conference programme is available here.
The opening programme will also include welcome remarks by Inge Uytterhoeven, Senem Aydın Düzgit, Şima İmşir, and Ayşecan Terzioğlu.
Attendance at the conference is free of charge.
About the Conference
COVID Legacies asks what remains of the pandemic after the apparent end of the emergency itself. Bringing together researchers from a wide range of disciplines, the conference considers the longer-term social, cultural, political, medical, and artistic consequences of COVID-19.
Panels address subjects including medical mistrust, embodiment and bodily practices, literature and the arts, intimacy, labour, more-than-human perspectives, temporality, digital cultures, identity, solidarity, and structural inequality.
On Sunday we will also continue with a round table by Chisomo Kalinga (University of Edinburgh), Deniz Mardin (Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon), and Nükhet Varlık (Rutgers University).
About the Programme
- The conference programme includes panels on:
• Power and Knowledge
• Embodiment and Bodily Practices
• Genres
• Intimacies
• Work and Labour
• More-than-human Perspectives
• Temporality and Life Stages
• Cultures of Pandemic
• Identities, Struggles and Solidarities
• Will There Be Songs About the Dark Times?
The programme also includes the announcement of the COVID Legacies Photography Contest Award on Saturday afternoon.
Venues
Friday, 9 October
ANAMED – Koç University Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations
Beyoğlu, Istanbul
Saturday, 10 October & Sunday, 11 October
Minerva Han – Sabancı University
Karaköy, Istanbul
The Welcome Cocktail will take place at Divan Brasserie Beyoğlu on Friday evening following the opening keynotes.
A conference dinner will also be held on Saturday evening at Fıccın, a Circassian restaurant in Beyoğlu.
Getting to the Conference
Both conference venues are located on the European side of central Istanbul.
ANAMED is located in Beyoğlu, close to Şişhane subway stop, while Minerva Han is located in Karaköy, near the Galata area and the Golden Horn. The two neighbourhoods are well connected by public transport via the historical subway system, Tünel or by walking (approximately 10–15 minutes).
You can find urther practical information about travelling between the venues and getting around Istanbul on our practical information page.
Staying in Istanbul
We recommend looking for accommodation in Beyoğlu, Galata, Karaköy, Şişhane, or nearby central neighbourhoods, especially accessible via the M2 subway line.
For a practical guide with suggestions for hotels, restaurants, cafés, transport, and other useful information please visit this link.
Social Events
The conference will include several opportunities to meet other participants outside the formal panel sessions.
On Friday, 9 October, the opening day will conclude with a Welcome Cocktail at Divan Brasserie Beyoğlu.
On Saturday, 10 October, participants will be invited to attend the conference dinner following the end of the day’s programme.
Contacts
For further information about the conference, practical arrangements, or the programme, please contact:
Email: covidlegacies@gmail.com