Dear members of the Association for Spanish and Portuguese Historical Studies,

It is with great pleasure, that would like to announce that the website and call for papers for the next International Society for the 18th Century Studies (ISECS) 2027 Congress.

During the week of 12–16 July 2027, the University of Zaragoza will host the 17th Congress of the International Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies (ISECS; SIEDS in French). This is the largest scholarly gathering devoted to the study of the “long” eighteenth century in all its academic dimensions. Since 1963, sixteen congresses have been held, the most recent taking place in Graz (2011), Rotterdam (2015), Edinburgh (2019), and Rome (2023).
This will be the first time that the quadrennial ISECS/SIEDS Congress—an event of outstanding international prestige within the Humanities and Social Sciences—has been organized in Spain. Each edition typically attracts around one thousand participants from across the world.
Although the customary working languages of ISECS/SIEDS are English and French, Spanish has been accepted as an official congress language for all scientific, cultural, and social activities taking place during the event.

The general theme of the Zaragoza 2027 Congress is “Enlightenment and (In)equality.” In accordance with established practice, however, the Congress also welcomes research on any aspect of the “long” eighteenth century (1670–1830) across all academic disciplines. These naturally include all posible areas, such as history, politics, law, philosophy, literature, economics, art, linguistics, musicology, and related fields. Scholars are therefore invited to submit proposals in English, French, or Spanish for thematic sessions, round tables, individual papers, and, in the case of early-career scholars, poster presentations. All of these forms of participation may incorporate approaches drawn from the Digital Humanities.

The call for proposals for thematic sessions and round tables is currently open and will remain so until 30 September 2026. Proposals for individual contributions may be submitted between 30 October 2026 and 31 January 2027.

Prior to the general Congress, an International Research Seminar for Early-Career Eighteenth-Century Scholars will be held in Teruel from 7 to 10 July 2027. This multidisciplinary seminar will focus on the theme “Books, Letters, and Empires in the Age of Enlightenment.”

Further information regarding both the Zaragoza Congress and the Teruel Seminar can be found on the official website, which is now available: http://www.isecs-zaragoza2027.net

The organizing committee has also set up these social media channels, which we invite you to follow:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590040244210
Instagram (available soon): https://www.instagram.com/isecszaragoza2027/

We warmly encourage you to disseminate information about this important academic event and to participate actively in its activities.
Jesús Astigarraga

President, 17th ISECS/SIEDS Congress 2027