Religions 360°Society for the History of ReligionsInstitute for the History of ReligionsRomanian Academy

Religions 360°

Bucharest / 20–25 September 2026

Twenty years ago, the EASR community gathered in Bucharest with a memorable conference. This year, we are back in the city with an extraordinary programme, showing all the diversity and the complexity of the academic study of religion today. Many things have happened in the world since the previous conference in 2006, and we certainly cannot say that we face smaller challenges today, both within and without academia. What has not changed is the relevance of religion as an object of study. However we choose to define it, religion remains a key factor in contemporary societies around the world, as has been the case throughout history. This beautiful event will show once again how we, as scholars of religion, can contribute to the understanding of human interactions in an ever-changing world. In doing that, we will be drawing, as in our best tradition, on the 360°, open perspective that makes the study of religion the exciting enterprise it has always been.

Marco Pasi

President of EASR

Jenny Butler

General Secretary of EASR

At a time when societies are becoming increasingly interconnected while also experiencing growing polarization, the academic study of religions has an essential role to play. It provides empirically grounded, theoretically informed, and globally comparative perspectives on religion as a significant aspect of human societies and cultures. The EASR and IAHR are particularly valuable because they bring together scholars from diverse linguistic, cultural, and disciplinary traditions, creating a space where knowledge is not merely exchanged but also critically examined and enriched through dialogue. This Congress reminds us that the study of religions advances most effectively when it embraces intellectual diversity, methodological rigor, and genuine international collaboration.

Satoko Fujiwara

President of IAHR

Andrea Rota

General Secretary of IAHR

National Broadcasting Corporation TVR
EASR Letter of Support

The 22nd Conference of the European Association for the Study of Religions

European Association for the Study of Religions

Regional Conference of the International Association for the History of Religions

International Association for the History of Religions
The keynote speakers of Religions 360° — Gregory D. Alles, Carole M. Cusack, Almut-Barbara Renger, Jens Schlieter and Michael Stausberg

Keynote speakers →

The most indicative world event in the academic study of religions in 2026

In their unique and vibrant ways, international congresses and conferences across a wide research landscape illustrate endeavours similar to those of encyclopaedias and general reference works: circumscribing knowledge. Since the emergence of its earliest institutions up to the present day, the academic study of religions has consistently been part and parcel of such extensive processes of organising, defining, and publicly disseminating knowledge.

For more than 150 years, international conferences and global congresses on the religious history of the oikumene have continuously represented the scope and results of the academic study of religions. World congresses have been held since 1900, and annual European congresses since 2000, under the auspices of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR, since 1950) and the European Association for the Study of Religions (EASR, since 2000).

Chairperson

Eugen Ciurtin

Organizing and Administrative Committee

  • Cătălin Buciumeanu

    Vice-President of the Society for the History of Religions (SHR), Bucharest. A graduate of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, with an MA in Medieval Studies, his academic interests include philosophy of religion, Platonism, Neoplatonism and medieval thought. He served as Adviser for Culture and Religious Affairs at the Romanian Presidential Administration (2005–2011). He is the founder of the Center for Advanced Strategies and coordinates the postgraduate programme International Economic Intelligence at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies.

  • Eugen Ciurtin

    Research Professor, founding member of the Romanian Association (1996) and of the Institute for the History of Religions of the Romanian Academy (2008, secretary of the Scientific Council 2008-2018, past director 2022-2026), initiator of the first ever EASR & IAHR Congress in Eastern Europe (Bucharest, 20-23 September 2006), past Publications Officer of EASR (2008-2013), president of the Romanian Society for the History of Religions.

  • Daniela Dumbravă

    Senior Researcher, Institute for the History of Religions, Romanian Academy; member the Romanian Association for the History of Religions since 2001.

  • Vlad Șovărel

    Institute for the History of Religions, Romanian Academy and Secretary of the Romanian Society for the History of Religions.

Scientific & Selection Committee (April 2022 – June 2026) of the Society for the History of Religions and the Institute for the History of Religions

  • Ionuț Daniel Băncilă
  • Eugen Ciurtin
  • Gabriela Cursaru
  • Daniela Dumbravă
  • Vlad Șovărel
  • Bogdan Tătaru-Cazaban

Supporting Team 2026

  • Cristina Baciu
  • Ionuț Daniel Băncilă
  • Teodor Decuseară
  • Ștefan Lungu

PR & Communication

Headsome Communication

Contact

Contact us

Organisers

Partners

  • Centrul Național de Artă Tinerimea Română

Sponsors

Media partners

Communication & PR

With special thanks to

  • Silviu Rogobete
  • Teodor Decuseară

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