The HA Annual Conference, Newcastle, May 2026

Like the light and the swallows, we headed northwards this year to Gateshead and Newcastle and as they would say up there ‘it was a belter’.

For those with a taste for the medieval, or even just a desire to spread their wings in the North-east region, we had organised an extra trip this year to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne on the Thursday before conference started properly. Despite hail and rain throughout the day on the Thursday, the clouds parted and the sun shone as we arrived on the mysterious Island, accessible only twice a day by a causeway. Accompanying us was Professor Richard Gameson, an expert on the Lindisfarne Gospels, who provided a riveting talk on the coach and explanations and orientation on the ground once we were there. Evidently the Northern spirits were on our side and our foray this far North was not going to end with a pitched battle and recriminations like many a southern-based conqueror’s endeavours before.

Of course, that is because the HA has a membership across the UK and, due to digital developments, an international reach as well. Our head office is in London but the branches, members and partners that we work with are everywhere!

A global programme

That international reach is often reflected though the wide topics and themes that are covered at conference and this year was no exception. In the secondary and primary workshops there was a wide variety of sessions, some reflecting the HA’s and history’s wide brief – with scholars talking about Japan and Russia as well as the UK, and the education workshops covering pedagogy and thematics, it was possible to circle the globe. Some titles were a clear reminder of the breadth of history such as ‘making history matter: linking local history to national and international stories’ in the secondary workshops.

The keynote lectures all surpassed everyone’s high expectations. Two of the talks on very different areas and themes crossed over on their discussion about the importance of sources and their misuse or misrepresentation. Why the verification of sources is important and how the impact of not checking sources can create false narratives was all explored, investigating where the ‘silences’ in the sources was crucial to understanding how notions of the past can be assumed rather than validated.

In one keynote there was an insight into American politics of the past as well as the present, providing much food for thought in a year of American anniversaries and political changes. Two of the keynote talks – the Dawson lecture and the closing keynote by Ofsted’s Tim Jenner – focused on education and the current changes and proposed changes to history as well as the development of history and its importance in a person’s education.

• Book the conference recordings package – available to purchase until 1 June
• See the full 2026 conference programme here (PDF)

A community of history-lovers

Of course, conference is not just about the nearly 80 lectures and the walking tours and visits (we went to the Baltic Art Centre to look out over the Tyne River – amazing). It is about coming together as a community and sharing ideas, thoughts, interests, frustrations and inspiration. Whether you are a regular or a newbie to conference it is an opportunity to discuss the talks and the wider state of history and historical study. This year we had a handful of attendees who had been awarded bursaries, all of whom were already discussing how they couldn’t imagine not attending in future years.

The exhibitors from heritage organisations, exam boards and history stakeholders added to the atmosphere with their enthusiasm, organisational expertise and some very useful stationery. From our location in Gateshead, we were able to look out across Newcastle with its bridges acting as metaphors for change, continuity and innovation – just like historians and history practitioners themselves.

Conference 2027 

It takes months of work at HA HQ to create a successful conference, ironing out issues right up to the end, but at the end of it the feedback we get makes it all worthwhile. That is why next year we are doing it all again – not in the North East but back to the Midlands. We are heading to Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of Shakespeare, where we will once more hubble and bubble to create the magic spell that is an HA conference. Do expect many more Shakespeare references over the next year; don’t expect us not to deliver another incredible educational event.

See you 14-15 May 2027 at the Crowne Plaza in Stratford-upon-Avon.

• The call for papers for education sessions will open later this summer. Register your interest in presenting 
• To register your interest in attending or exhibiting in 2027, please email conference@history.org.uk