Durham University, UK, hosts the ninth instalment of the Analytical Approaches to World Musics (AAWM) international conference series. Building on the success of previous conferences, AAWM 2026 will continue to explore the rich and diverse musical heritages of the world through a broad array of theoretical, cultural, historical, psychological, empirical, informatics, and analytical perspectives. The conference provides a unique interdisciplinary and cross-cultural platform for scholars and musicians alike to engage with global musical traditions, both past and present.
Durham is a beautiful little city situated in England’s Northeast region, close to the thriving hub of Newcastle and to the border with Scotland. Durham’s central region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site centred on one of the UK’s most important Cathedrals, located right beside the Durham University’s Music Department. The Music Department is one of the UK’s leading universities for studying music. Currently rated no. 1 in the UK’s Complete University Guide, Ethnomusicology and music analysis have long been particular strengths. The Local Arrangements and Program Committee will be happy to welcome you.
Conference Themes and Format
AAWM 2026 will focus on fostering innovation in analytical methods and encouraging dialogue between disciplines and cultures. The event will highlight music that falls outside the traditional scope of European Art Music, drawing attention to the diversity and complexity of global musical practices.
As in previous years, AAWM 2026 will feature a dynamic schedule of special panel sessions, workshops, and discussion panels on a range of topics. Delegates are encouraged to explore whatever analytical themes or approaches they wish in their presentations.
We are happy to confirm two keynote speakers:
§ Susanne Furniss – National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paris
§ Andrew Killick – University of Sheffield
We are also happy to announce that there will be some invited sessions, including:
Organizing Committee session (Lara Pearson)
Organizing Committee session (Aaron Carter-Enyi)
British Forum for Ethnomusicology session
The conference will be held as a hybrid event, offering both onsite and remote participation options, ensuring accessibility for a global audience.
We encourage scholars from all relevant fields and musical traditions to submit proposals and participate in this exciting event.
Call for Papers
AAWM 2026 welcomes submissions that examine the world’s musical traditions from any analytical or theoretical angle, including (but not limited to) ethnographic, historical, formal, computational, and cognitive perspectives.
Submission formats include papers, special sessions, lecture-recitals, and workshops.
Submission Guidelines
Papers: Proposals for spoken papers should include a short abstract of no more than 350 words, including any footnotes but not counting the title and bibliography. Accepted papers will be allotted 30 minutes for presentation plus 15 minutes for discussion. Abstracts of the accepted papers and posters will be published online.
Panel Sessions: Authors of papers that share a common theme may propose to deliver them in a panel session. Each paper should be submitted separately and will be reviewed following the same process as that for spoken papers.
In addition, a separate submission should be entered for the session as a whole, including a 350-word abstract.
Workshops / Lecture Recitals / Alternative Formats: Proposals for workshops or other alternative formats should also be submitted as a 350-word abstract. They should give as much detail as possible about the precise format they will employ, how many participants can attend, and the size and type of space they will require. We welcome presentations that involve music performance as long as they include a substantial original analytical or theoretical component consistent with the call for papers.
Submission Process
All proposals should be submitted electronically as Word or pdf email attachments to: durhamaawm@gmail.com
Submissions should provide the following information: presenter’s full name, format (paper, panel session, workshop, lecture recital, alternative format), title, abstract (350 words), and a list of 3-5 keywords. Notification of acceptance will be sent via email by 1 March 2026.
Contributors who present a paper remotely will be required to submit a video of the full presentation before the conference. Instructions for submitting the video will be provided with the acceptance notification.
Submission deadline: 31 December 2025
Additional Information
For additional information regarding the conference, including venue, transportation, and accommodation, a conference website will soon be made available – updating you with all the necessary details.
Please direct any questions to durhamaawm@gmail.com