AAS-in-Asia Lahore 2026
Welcome to AAS-in-Asia Lahore 2026!
In 2026, Lahore prepares to host the Association for Asian Studies’ flagship AAS-in-Asia Conference, bringing together scholars, students, and practitioners from across Asia, West Asia, Africa, Middle East, and beyond.
With the theme Centering Asia: Refiguring Connections, Recharting Futures, this conference highlights Asia’s significance as a region of both continuity and reinvention. Home to more than 4.8 billion people, Asia contains some of the world’s largest economies, vibrant cultural and knowledge traditions, and dynamic histories of exchange. It is also shaped by persistent conflicts, climate disruption, and displacement.
By convening in Lahore, a historic crossroads of empires, faiths, trade, and creativity, this gathering underscores the urgency and opportunity of engaging Asia as a vital focus for rethinking global challenges and imagining just and livable futures.
We look forward to welcoming you to an inspiring and enriching experience!
Accepting Late-Breaking Proposals from April 1st, 2026
Meet the Keynote
Dr. Adil Najam is a globally recognized scholar of climate policy, sustainable development, and international cooperation. He currently serves as the Dean Emeritus and Professor of International Relations and Earth & Environment at Boston University and has previously led major international institutions focused on development and environment.
Originally from Pakistan, Dr. Najam’s work bridges academia, policy, and global diplomacy. He has advised governments, multilateral institutions, and civil society organizations on issues of climate change governance, sustainable development, and global negotiations. His research explores how developing countries engage with global environmental regimes and how equity and justice shape international climate policy.
Dr. Najam has held senior leadership roles including serving as the Vice Chancellor of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), where he strengthened research and global engagement. He has also worked with international bodies such as the United Nations and the World Bank, contributing to high-level discussions on climate action and sustainable development.
A prolific author and public intellectual, Dr. Najam is widely known for making complex global issues accessible and relevant to diverse audiences. His commentary frequently appears in international media, and he remains an influential voice on climate diplomacy and South Asian development.
As Keynote Speaker for AAS-in-Asia Lahore 2026, Dr. Najam brings a uniquely interdisciplinary perspective that connects Asian Studies to urgent global questions of environmental change, governance, and social transformation. His address is expected to engage scholars across fields and spark critical conversations about Asia’s evolving role in shaping the global future.
Lahore, where histories meet the future!
Lahore has long been a city of history, creativity, and connection. As a vibrant crossroads of cultures, Lahore offers the perfect setting for dialogue, discovery, and shared futures
Centering Asia: Refiguring Connections, Recharting Futures
At AAS-in-Asia 2026 in Lahore, we invite scholars to engage with Asia's significance as a site of continuity and reinvention in global history. With an estimated population of more than 4.8 billion, Asia is home to some of the world's largest economies and vibrant cultural traditions and knowledge systems. Like other continents, Asia also faces dilemmas as well as acute vulnerabilities to environmental stressors, displacement, and precarity—challenges that defy conventional borders and demand collaborative responses. We call upon researchers to join us in exploring multi-layered pasts by following local connections wherever they may lead, revealing transnational geographies that center Asia beyond both nation-state and conventional area studies boundaries.
Welcome to Pakistan, welcome to Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
LUMS is Pakistan's leading research intensive university, excelling in teaching and driven by a philosophy of 'Learning Without Borders'.
For over three decades, LUMS has nurtured visionary leaders and change makers who are equipped to anticipate and tackle the challenges of society. Our beautiful 100 acre campus is a place where extraordinary things happen: the brightest and most talented minds come together to engage in meaningful dialogue, question the ordinary and explore innovative solutions to real-life problems.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT HYBRID/VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION
In-person attendance remains the primary format of the conference. However, to accommodate applicants who face significant barriers to travel including visa scrutiny, political constraints, funding limitations or others, the following policy applies:
Eligibility for Virtual Participation: Virtual participation is available to applicants who cannot travel due to verifiable constraints.
Two Levels of Virtual Participation:
a. Session-only Access: Participants may present their work virtually in their assigned session. Access will be limited to their own panel/roundtable. This option maintains the integrity of the in-person conference while offering flexibility to the speakers.
b. Full Virtual Conference Access: This option provides access to all virtual sessions, including panels, roundtables, and interactive components.
3. Visa Support for Those able to Travel: For applicants who wish to attend in person, organizers will be informing embassies to facilitate the visa process once applications are submitted. In addition, organizers will provide the necessary documentation (invitation letter, affiliation confirmation, and any additional documentation that may be required). Should you have any specific enquiries about the visa application process, please contact:visaAAS2026@lums.edu.pk
4. Flexibility to Change Registration Type: Participants may switch between in-person, session-only virtual, or full virtual access up to 4 months before the conference. Changes after that point may not be feasible due to scheduling and technical arrangements.
5. Maintaining the In-Person Priority: Virtual modes are made available to ensure participation from scholars otherwise excluded. They do not replace the core in-person nature of the event.
Location
Hybrid event:
Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
Lahore
Pakistan, 54792
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact aasinasia2026@lums.edu.pk