Date: 21‒24 May 2026
Main venue: Aarhus University
Organisers: Olympia Bobou, Ilaria Bucci, Vinnie Nørskov, and Rubina Raja (Aarhus University)

The Roman Archaeology Conference (RAC) is the leading international forum for Roman archaeology, organised biennially by the Roman Society in partnership with a host venue. Since its first edition in Reading in 1995, RAC has grown into a major event that draws a diverse, global audience of scholars, researchers, and students. The conference serves as a key platform for presenting cutting-edge research, fostering discussions on all aspects of Roman archaeology, and encouraging interdisciplinary dialogue. The Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference (TRAC), which takes place annually, typically partners with the Roman Society to organise a joint RAC/TRAC event every two years. To broaden its impact, the joint event alternates between locations in Britain and continental Europe, ensuring wider accessibility and engagement.

The RAC/TRAC 2026 is organised by Aarhus University under the leadership of Professor Rubina Raja, Chair of Classical Archaeology and Art and Director of UrbNet. The event is co-organised by Dr Olympia Bobou (Assistant Professor at UrbNet, Aarhus University), Dr Ilaria Bucci (Postdoctoral Fellow at UrbNet, Aarhus University), and Dr Vinnie Nørskov (Assistant Professor at Aarhus University and Director of the Museum of Ancient Art), following a successful bid made by UrbNet. For more than a decade, UrbNet has played a central role in Roman archaeology world-wide, conducting groundbreaking and high impact research that bridges archaeology, classical studies, and cultural heritage. As such, UrbNet and Aarhus University are the perfect partners with the Roman Society for organising the next RAC/TRAC. The conference is set to be a great opportunity to showcase and develop innovative archaeological research, featuring keynote lectures and thematic sessions that will tackle contemporary debates and challenges in Roman archaeology. Key themes will include the latest approaches to urbanism, the role of networks in cultural and economic exchange, archive archaeology, and theoretical frameworks aimed at decolonising the discipline. The programme will also include two engaging excursions, one before and one after the main event.