CIfA Conference 2027

Delegate registration will open in the autumn.

Exhibitor bookings will open soon.

A profession that delivers 

Professional archaeology needs to deliver for people, places and development, from high quality archaeological data and analysis to outcomes which benefit communities, clients, and government agendas. To do this successfully requires a mature, confident, and effective profession, one that is innovative, collaborative and resilient. It also requires structures that are sustainable and inspire trust within the profession and beyond, and expertise and leadership renewed by the next generation. Archaeologists embedded within multi-disciplinary teams are designing and delivering some of the most complex projects in the history of the discipline. At CIfA 2027 we will be discussing the increasing maturity of our sector and its role in delivering public benefit at individual, community and societal scale.

We invite session proposals which showcase the amazing archaeological work taking place and consider:

• Archaeology as a maturing profession
• Supporting the next generation of leaders and experts
• The challenges and opportunities of innovative techniques and AI
• Archaeology’s role in major infrastructure and in delivering government (and wider) agendas
• Advancing knowledge and sharing understanding

The call for sessions for the 2027 conference is now open!

Conference objectives: The objective of CIfA's annual conference is to showcase archaeological practice and innovation, providing a place for discussion and learning from each other's experiences to create a stronger, more resilient archaeological community.

Programme: The conference theme is not designed to restrict session proposals, and we welcome proposals on any topic, irrespective of their connection to the theme. The theme, however, is intended to reflect an overarching feeling for the discipline in the moment - whether that be an opportunity or challenge, a moment for introspection or innovation, or a vision for archaeology's value and significance. The opening and plenary sessions will reflect the theme, and some sessions relevant to the theme will be featured.

CIfA2027 will be hosted live in Liverpool, UK with livestreamed sessions; this is not a hybrid event. Speakers may present in person or provide recorded papers but we are unable to accept video-link presentations. Full details will be sent to accepted sessions.

You may submit a 1-hour session as a single speaker or organise a 3-hour session with several contributors, papers or speakers. We welcome a variety of session types and will aim to create a balanced programme. The conference programme as currently scheduled has space for 30 hours of content in total. As space is limited, you may be invited to shorten your session, collaborate with other organisers, or present it as part of another event programme.

NOTE: This year's call for sessions will not accept full-day session slots. This is in response to organiser and audience feedback. 

Submission: Please complete the Microsoft proposal form.

Deadline: The deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 30 September, 2026.

Selection: Sessions will be selected in October. Proposers will be informed in early November, and any calls for papers will take place in December.

Fees:  Two free places for session organisers are available per session. For additional speakers, a discounted speakers’ fee of £60 is payable to cover venue costs. There will be some bursaries between £50 and £200 to reduce the financial burden of attending.

Livestream and recordings: Sessions will be livestreamed and recorded, with recordings available to live conference attendees and those who pay for early access. Recordings will be released to the public 3–6 months after the event for free. Please indicate on the form if you do not wish your session to be recorded.

Questions? Just email the team at conference@archaeologists.net

The Hilton Liverpool City Centre is a modern, four-star hotel situated on the riverside.

For further information about the venue please refer to their website below.

Hilton Liverpool City Centre

We will provide further information about accommodation booking as it becomes available.

CIfA aims to be as accessible and inclusive as possible - see our event accessibility policy as well as our event harassment policy.

The Hilton Liverpool City Centre has worked with AccessAble to provide accessibility guides for their various venues. You can find the guides for our conferencing spaces linked below:

• Conferencing facilities overview
  • Grace suite lobby
  • Grace suite
• Hotel facilities overview

We will have access to quiet space at conference; please liaise directly with the events team for further information. If you have any requests or suggestions for how we can make the conference more accessible for you, please do get in touch at conference@archaeologists.net.