Participation in the XXVI International Symposium on Pre-Ottoman and Ottoman Studies (CIEPO 26)

Between 23–27 June 2026, the XXVI International Symposium on Pre-Ottoman and Ottoman Studies (CIEPO 26) was held at the University of Economics – Varna. The forum was organized at the initiative of the Institute for Historical Studies – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, in partnership with Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and the hosts from the University of Economics – Varna.

The forum brought together over 200 researchers and specialists from Europe, Asia and North America in Varna, turning the city into an international center of academic dialogue on the history of the Ottoman Empire, the Balkans and the Black Sea region. The high scientific interest in the forum was confirmed by over 350 applications for participation, selected through double anonymous peer review.

The scientific program covered a wide range of topics: war, trade and diplomacy, demography and migrations, religious contacts, governance and law, medicine, infrastructures, archival sources, cultural identities, regional and transregional networks, as well as the application of digital humanities and artificial intelligence in Ottoman studies.

Dr. Aleksandar Zlatanov and Dr. Aneliya Stoyanova also presented papers at the Symposium.

The event program can be viewed here.