We’re already getting excited for DSA2026 – and we hope you are too! Next year’s conference will bring our community together in a new city, a new setting, and at a slightly new time of year. Here are five things you need to know as you start planning.

Yes, you read that right – DSA is crossing the Irish Sea – which means it’s worth planning your travel early, even before you think of convening a panel, presenting a paper or getting your visa. Of course, flights will be plentiful, but don’t forget there are also ferries and close regional airports that might suit your route (and your budget) better. Paired airport-ferry routes can be a real win for both affordability and experience. Whether you’re coming via Cork, Shannon, or Knock, linking through Rosslare or even Belfast could be a useful way to travel. Start thinking now about the best way to get yourself to the Emerald Isle and we will start pulling together travel advice. 

Dublin runs on euros, so this will be one of those conferences where your wallet (and maybe your expense claim form) looks a little different. And while English is spoken, there’s something special about seeing and hearing Irish in signage, greetings, and everyday life – it’s part of the cultural richness that makes Dublin such a lively place to host an academic gathering. One word you’ll soon get to know is fáilte – it means welcome, and you’ll feel plenty of it in Dublin.

This year we’re slightly later than usual – DSA2026 runs from 8 to 10 July. That’s a couple of weeks after our traditional end-of-June slot, so it’s worth blocking out the dates in your diary now before summer gets busy. Think of it as a perfect time to combine scholarship with a touch of summer exploration.

This will be the first DSA conference held outside the UK for forty four years  – which is bound to make those who attended back then feel very old! For some, that may mean checking visa requirements in advance, even if you have a UK or Schengen visa or permit. For all of us, it’s a chance to experience a vibrant European capital brimming with history, music, and culture. From Trinity College’s Book of Kells to the buzz of Temple Bar, there’s plenty to discover before and after sessions.

Our venue is the beautiful University College Dublin – one of Europe’s leading research universities, set in a spacious campus just south of the city centre. UCD combines modern facilities with leafy green spaces, making it a fantastic place to bring our global community together for three days of panels, networking, and inspiration.

DSA2026 promises to be an unforgettable gathering in a new setting. By planning your travel, visas, and diaries early, you’ll be ready to make the most of the conference – and perhaps even sneak in some time to enjoy all that Dublin has to offer.