About the IMC
The International Medieval Congress (IMC) provides an interdisciplinary forum for sharing ideas relating to all aspects of the Middle Ages.
Since its inception in 1994 the IMC has brought researchers from different countries, backgrounds, and disciplines together, providing opportunities for networking and professional development in an open and inclusive environment.
It is organised and administered by the Institute for Medieval Studies at the University of Leeds and takes place here on the main University campus. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, IMC 2020 and IMC 2021 were hosted online, with the latter ranking as one of the largest virtual conferences in medieval studies to date.
As the largest academic conference of its kind in Europe, the IMC regularly attracts more than 2,700 medievalists from all over the world. By providing spaces for networking and socialising, it seeks to foster a scholarly community. It also hosts a wide variety of concerts, exhibitions, and excursions, which are open to delegates and the public alike.
The next IMC will take place between Monday 3 – Thursday 6 July 2023.
Structure & Organisation
Programming Committee
An international Programming Committee provides academic support for the IMC. Individual members of the Committee act as specialists for one of nearly 40 separate programming strands. Committee members are responsible for assessing proposals, collating individual paper proposals into coherent sessions, and proposing special keynote speakers.

Standing Committee
The IMC is also supported by its Standing Committee, comprising a group of medievalists from the Institute for Medieval Studies.
They focus on academic matters such as selecting new Programming Committee members and each year’s special thematic strand, as well as advising the IMC administration team on strategic, operational, and developmental issues. The current members of the Standing Committee are:
- Julia Barrow (School of History / Institute for Medieval Studies)
- Catherine Batt (School of English / Institute for Medieval Studies)
- Emma Cayley (School of Languages, Cultures and Societies – French / Institute for Medieval Studies)
- Alaric Hall (School of English / Institute for Medieval Studies)
- Emilia Jamroziak (School of History / Institute for Medieval Studies)
- Catherine Karkov (School of Fine Art, History of Art, and Cultural Studies / Institute for Medieval Studies)
Future IMC Dates
Make a note in your diary for the next few Congresses:
- 3-6 July 2023 (Special Thematic Focus: Networks & Entanglements)
- 1-4 July 2024
- 7-10 July 2025
- 6-9 July 2026*
* These dates are not yet confirmed.