Call for Papers

Conference:    Culture, Identity, and Social Justice: Anti-Racist Perspectives in Romani Studies and Beyond

Date:               May 29–30, 2026

Deadline         15 February 2026

Venue:            Prague & Online

Organized by the Romani Studies Program at Central European University and Slovo 21, in partnership with the Roma Program at the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University, the Critical Romani Studies Department, Södertörn University, and the Prague Center for Romani Histories at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University.

Conference Overview

This international, hybrid academic conference convenes leading scholars, educators, and practitioners for critical dialogue on anti-racist, justice-centered approaches in Romani Studies and intersecting fields. The event foregrounds the role of culture, identity, and justice in challenging structural racism, while amplifying emancipatory scholarship and advocacy for Romani communities and other racialized groups.

By gathering perspectives across disciplines—education, social sciences, human rights, and cultural studies—the conference aims to promote inclusive, participatory knowledge production and jointly rethink the future of anti-racist research and policy in Europe and globally.

The conference is organized as part of Khamoro, the world’s largest Roma cultural festival, enabling participants to engage in academic discussions alongside rich cultural programming, performances, and community events.

Key Themes

We invite papers addressing (but not limited to) the following topics:

• Structural and epistemic injustice facing Roma and other marginalized groups
• The role of cultural identity in resistance to racism and social exclusion
• Culture as a site to challenge antigypsyism: Romani artistic expression, heritage, and community practices
• Critical approaches to justice and anti-racist allyship in research, policy, and activism
• Comparative and intersectional analysis of anti-racist movements and initiatives
• Promoting Romani voices in knowledge production, leadership, and advocacy
• Collaborative methods for tackling structural discrimination in education and society

Format & Participation

The conference will be hosted in Prague and online, ensuring hybrid participation for scholars and practitioners worldwide. Contributions are welcome from researchers at all career stages, especially Romani scholars and alumni of access programs.

Selected submissions may be considered for publication in Critical Romani Studies journal.

Organizers will strive to facilitate participation for those facing financial barriers.

Submission Guidelines

Please submit proposals including:

• Author’s name and title
• 500-word abstract
• 100-word biography

Deadline: February 15, 2026
Notification of acceptance: March 1, 2026
Draft papers due: April 30, 2026

Submission link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/hSmbDFK5cq

Inquiries: romaconference@ceu.edu

 About the Organizers

• Romani Studies Program (Central European University): Interdisciplinary academic unit advancing critical approaches to Romani identity, history, and justice through teaching, research, and public engagement. It offers the Roma Graduate Preparation Program and the Advanced Certificate in Romani Studies, and publishes the international peer‑reviewed journal Critical Romani Studies.
• Slovo 21: Leading Czech non-profit organization supporting Roma and minority communities through cultural, social, and educational initiatives.
• Roma Program (FXB Center, Harvard University): Centers Romani rights and leadership in academic and policy agendas through participatory research and exchange.
• Critical Romani Studies Department (Södertörn University): Advances emancipatory research and courses on Romani history, antigypsyism and human rights, including an online PhD colloquium in Critical Romani Studies.
• Prague Center for Romani Histories (Faculty of Arts, Charles University): Promotes academic research on Romani histories worldwide, emphasizing the importance of understanding Romani historical experiences to achieve a fuller understanding of European and transatlantic history