The Development Geographies Research Group (DevGRG) of the Royal Geographical Society (with Institute of British Geographers) (RGS-IBG) invites expressions of interest for sponsored sessions at the RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 2026.
The conference will be held in London, hosted across the RGS and Imperial College London, with provisions for online participation. It is scheduled to run from Tuesday, 1 September, to Friday, 4 September 2026. Further details can be found on the RGS‑IBG website.
This year, the conference will be chaired by Professor Peter Hopkins (Newcastle University, UK), who has selected the theme of “Geographies of inequalities: towards just places”.
We are keen to sponsor sessions that directly relate to the conference theme but also those sessions that engage with broader issues of contemporary concern to development geographers. Proposed sessions may adopt diverse formats, including traditional paper presentations, panel discussions, or more experimental and creative approaches. Specific guidelines for session organisers are available via the RGS-IBG website.
Sponsored sessions benefit from:
- DevGRG branding in the conference programme and promotion through our social media channels in advance of the conference
- The opportunity to apply for guest registration for eligible session participants
- Guaranteed non-concurrent scheduling in the programme.
How to apply
Email full session details to Colin Colman (ccoleman5@lancashire.ac.uk) by Friday 13 February 2026.
Submissions should include:
- Session title and abstract (max 300 words)
- Session convenors (names, affiliations)
- Anticipated format of the session (e.g. paper, panel)
- Indication of number of planned sessions (maximum two programme slots)
- Details of any co-sponsorship by other Research Groups (confirmed or pending).
Details of the individual papers in the session are not required at this stage.
Applicants will be notified on or before Friday 27 February 2026. Those that have been successful will be required to submit full session details to the RGS-IBG (via the Ex Ordo platform) by Friday 6 March 2026.