Annual Meeting

Golden Gate Bridge tower with San Francisco’s skyline in background.

The 2026 AIA and SCS Annual Meeting will take place in San Francisco, California, from January 7–10, 2026, at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square, our official conference hotel. This vibrant and centrally located venue will host the exhibit hall, all academic sessions, the Opening Night Reception, and most affiliated events.

The meeting will officially begin on Wednesday, January 7, with the highly anticipated Opening Night Reception. Academic sessions will run from the morning of Thursday, January 8, through the afternoon of Saturday, January 10.

In keeping with our commitment to accessibility and flexibility, the 2026 meeting will once again offer in-person and remote presentation options, along with a selection of hybrid sessions designed to engage both onsite and virtual attendees.

Whether you’re joining us in person or online, we look forward to welcoming you to another engaging Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

2026 Annual Meeting Theme: Exploring Heritage in the Mediterranean and Beyond

The Program for the Annual Meeting Committee invites the submission of organized sessions, individual papers, and posters that engage with the theme of heritage in the Mediterranean and surrounding regions for the 2026 AIA and SCS Annual Meeting.

This year’s theme encourages scholars to explore how modern societies inherit, interpret, and utilize the ancient past, particularly in the Mediterranean—a region rich with cultural and archaeological significance. As interest continues to grow in the intersections of antiquity, memory, and cultural identity, we look forward to robust and interdisciplinary conversations that address the enduring legacy of the ancient world in today’s societies.

The submissions forms are now open

  • First DEADLINE (March 24/April 7 with $25 fee)
    • Any paper, field report, poster or undergraduate submissions needing an early decision to acquire a visa or obtain funding.
    • Colloquium session submissions
    • Workshop session submissions
    • Joint AIA-SCS Colloquium and Workshop sessions
  • Second DEADLINE (August 4/August 18 with $25 fee)
    • Paper, field report, poster or undergraduate submissions
    • Workshop session submissions
  • Wednesday, November 1, 2025
    • Lightning session submissions
    • Roundtable submissions.

2025 Annual Meeting

The 2025 Annual Meeting is now complete! Over 2000 people participated in the meeting from January 2-5 in Philadelphia, PA. There are still several ways to view the full program online:


Future Meeting Locations

  • 2026 (Jan 7-10) – San Francisco, CA
  • 2027 (Jan 7-10) – Boston, MA

support Us

The AIA is North America's largest and oldest nonprofit organization dedicated to archaeology. The Institute advances awareness, education, fieldwork, preservation, publication, and research of archaeological sites and cultural heritage throughout the world. Your contribution makes a difference.