IMS Matera Conference 2026

An international conference dedicated to Mediterranean studies, hosted in Matera in the year of Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2026.

30 October–2 November 2026

University of Basilicata, Matera, Italy 

Download Call for paper

Conferenc IMS Matera 2026

Matera: Crossroads of Mediterranean Cultures

The conference brings together scholars to explore music, cultures and Mediterranean dialogue, celebrating Matera’s 2026 designation as Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue.

A bright, contemporary conference hall interior in Matera, with large floor-to-ceiling windows framing the stone facades and terraces of the Sassi outside. In the center stands a minimalist podium of brushed metal and light wood, with rows of empty upholstered chairs facing it in a gentle arc. On the side walls hang four abstract, color-coded panels suggesting different Mediterranean research themes, rendered as geometric patterns rather than text. Soft morning sunlight floods the room, creating crisp reflections on polished stone flooring and subtle shadows beneath chairs. The atmosphere is formal yet welcoming, evoking a prestigious academic gathering. Photographed at eye level with a wide-angle lens, capturing the full breadth of the space in clear, professional photographic realism.
A large oval conference table crafted from pale oak sits in a historic vaulted stone room in Matera, its rough-hewn walls and arches revealing centuries-old textures. On the table, four distinct clusters of neatly stacked, unmarked documents are separated by slim, colored glass paperweights, symbolizing four Mediterranean-focused study groups. Slim laptops, blank name cards, and a central arrangement of olive branches and small ceramic amphorae add Mediterranean character without clutter. Soft, diffused daylight filters through a high arched window, gently grazing the stone and creating a calm, contemplative mood. Shot from above at a three-quarter angle, with moderate depth of field to keep the table and architectural details in crisp focus, the style is clean, balanced, and professionally photographic.
A close-up, photographic scene of a polished wooden desk in a quiet study room in Matera, where an academic call for papers is being prepared. At the center lies a thick stack of pristine white paper secured by a metal clip, next to a sleek silver laptop with a glowing screen showing only abstract blocks of light and color. Around it are Mediterranean details: a small bowl of sea pebbles, a sprig of fresh rosemary, and an open notebook with blank pages. Warm afternoon light from a nearby window casts soft, directional shadows and highlights the paper’s fine texture. The mood is focused and scholarly, with a hint of Mediterranean warmth. Captured at a slightly elevated angle with shallow depth of field, emphasizing the documents and work surface in realistic, professional detail.

Confirmed

15.Jan.2026

Online Portal

Web, Global

Submit Abstract

15.May.2026

University of Basilicata

Matera, Italy

Online Registration

24.Sep.2026

Main Auditorium

Matera, Sassi

Daily Programme

31.Mar.2026

EasyChair System

Matera, Italy

Download Call for Papers

31.May.2026

Matera Campus

Matera, Basilicata, IT

Registration Fees

25.Sep.2026

Plenary Hall

Matera, Duomo

Study Sessions

30.Apr.2026

IMS Secretariat

Matera, Basilicata

Guidelines

15.Jun.2026

Conference Centre

Matera, Centre

Local Services

26.Sep.2026

Historic Venues

Matera, Italy

Social Events

Registration

Complete the form to submit your abstract or request information about the call for papers.

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Thank you for your response.

Attending?(obbligatorio)

An evening rooftop terrace setup in Matera configured for an academic reception, overlooking the illuminated Sassi and surrounding ravine. Low, rectangular tables of dark wood are arranged in a loose square, each displaying neatly aligned name badges replaced by elegant blank cards, alongside minimalist glass vases with olive branches and citrus slices floating in water. Discreet portable screens at the edges show abstract, colorful maps symbolizing Mediterranean networks. Ambient string lights cast a warm glow over the stone flooring, while cool blue twilight lingers on the horizon. The mood is sophisticated and collegial, suggesting intercultural dialogue. Photographed from a corner at eye level, with a balanced composition that keeps both the terrace details and the iconic Matera skyline in clear, photographic realism.
A symbolic, photographic still life representing Mediterranean music and cultural dialogue for an academic conference. On a smooth limestone slab reminiscent of Matera’s stone, rest four different traditional Mediterranean instruments reduced to abstract, non-functional forms: a simplified lute shape, a small drum cylinder, a curved wind instrument, and a stringed frame, all crafted from pale wood and bronze accents. Surrounding them are scattered olive leaves, fragments of sheet music reduced to blank staves, and a shallow ceramic bowl filled with sea water. Soft studio lighting from the left creates gentle highlights on metal edges and smooth shadows across the stone surface. The mood is reflective and intellectual, with a neutral background slightly blurred, composed centrally with shallow depth of field to emphasize the objects in crisp, realistic detail.

Contact

Write to the organising committee with questions about the programme, logistics or international participation.

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Newsletter

Updates on the call for papers, programme and IMS Study Groups initiatives.