Thousands gather for the 60th International Congress on Medieval Studies

Hosted by the Medieval Institute at Western Michigan University, the International Congress on Medieval Studies is an annual gathering of thousands of scholars interested in medieval studies. 

This year marks the 60th meeting of the International Congress on Medieval Studies, where more than 2,000 medieval scholars from around the world are expected to attend. 

"For the 60th Congress, the Medieval Institute will hold a reunion breakfast for the alumni of the Medieval Studies M.A. program in cooperation with the Goliardic Society, the medieval studies student social group,” says Robert F. Berkhofer III, director of the WMU Medieval Institute. Those attending will receive a commemorative pin, specially designed to celebrate the 60th Congress. “We are hoping to make this an annual event in future years,” he says. 

The first Conference on Medieval Studies at Western was held in 1962 and by 1966 the conference had grown to include nearly 200 participants from colleges and universities across the United States and Canada. It became an annual event in 1970, and its name was changed to the International Congress on Medieval Studies in 1979. Berkhofer says the ICMS is held at WMU because of the pioneering work of WMU medievalists such as John Sommerfeldt, the first director, who fostered an egalitarian and welcoming conference intended for early career scholars and those new to medieval studies. A tradition of international outreach was promoted by another early director, Otto Gründler and under the sponsorship of Cornelius Loew, an early champion of the Institute while dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Congress embraces the study of all aspects of the Middle Ages, extending into late antiquity and the early modern period, including—but not limited to—history, language, literature, linguistics, art, archaeology, religion, science, medicine, music, drama, philosophy, gender, sexuality, mysticism and tech nology, as well as medievalism. The 60th International Congress on Medieval Studies took place Thursday, May 8, through Saturday, May 10, 2025. A selection of recorded virtual and hybrid sessions will be posted on the Congress meeting site and available for viewing by registrants.

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