Registration is now open for the Image and Research Conference 2026 (19th Antoni Varés Conference), which will take place in Girona from 18 to 21 November 2026. The event, held biennially, provides a key platform for reflection and knowledge exchange on the management of photographic and audiovisual heritage.
The central conference sessions will be held on 19 and 20 November at the Girona Conference Centre, bringing together professionals from archives, heritage institutions, photography, research and technology. Workshops will take place on 18 and 21 November at the Girona Municipal Archive.
The programme combines keynote lectures, contributed papers and debates addressing current challenges in the field, including technological innovation, access to collections, heritage assessment and conservation.
Call for papers now open
A call for papers is currently open. Up to 20 contributions will be selected and distributed across the four thematic blocks of the conference. Researchers and professionals are invited to submit proposals addressing the central themes and to engage with ongoing discussions in the sector.
- Deadline: 1 June
Thematic structure
The 2026 edition is organised into four thematic blocks:
- Innovation: exploring emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, metadata, digital preservation and 3D applications in image management.
- Access and Creativity: focusing on new forms of access, interpretation, participation and ethical challenges such as AI bias.
- Heritage: addressing the assessment and management of photographic heritage, including rights management and sustainability.
- Conservation: Ángel Fuentes Memorial – dedicated to preservation, restoration, digitisation and the impact of climate change on collections.
The conference offers a valuable opportunity for professionals to share methodologies, present research and strengthen international networks in the field of photographic and audiovisual archives.
Further information, registration and submission guidelines are now available through the conference website.
