Conference: Unsettling Heritage and Memory Futures

Date: 17-19 June, 2026
Location: University of Amsterdam
Organisation: Amsterdam School for Heritage, Memory and Material Culture, University of Asterdam, Dutch Research Council (NWO)
Language: English

The Amsterdam School for Heritage, Memory and Material Culture, which is part of the University of Amterdam, is organizing its 12th annual conference titled Unsettling Heritage and Memory Futures: Decolonial Trajectories Between Crisis and Possibility. This three-day conference takes place at the University of Amsterdam between 17 and 19 June 2026, and intends to foster dialogue through individual papers, themed panels and roundtable discussions across diverse geographical contexts. The program includes panels about the return of objects collected from colonial contexts, diasporic memories and colonial museums.

The conference departs from the idea that decoloniality is not merely an academic lens but a profound reorientation of knowledge and power. While rooted in twentieth-century South American scholarship, decoloniality now inspires a generation of scholarship and social movements. After years of vibrant scholarship and activism, we stand at a pivotal juncture. This conference brings together scholars, practitioners, artists, and activists to reflect on what decolonial approaches have disrupted, dismantled, and dreamt anew—and to critically assess their strengths, limitations, and futures. As resurgent nationalisms and neocolonial forces challenge gains made in diversifying heritage institutions, democratising memory practices, and centring marginalised voices, how do we sustain decolonial futures that remain precarious? This international conference examines decoloniality as a transformative praxis that reshapes our engagement with heritage, memory, and material culture. You can find the full program below.

This conference is free of charge. You can register your attendance here.