Harry Potter Academic Conference Returns to Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia This October

Submissions and registration are open for the Harry Potter Academic Conference’s 13th annual gathering at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 18 and 19, 2024. Scholars of all levels, and fans with scholarly interests, are welcome to submit proposals by September 6.

The non-profit, interdisciplinary conference invites papers about the books, films, franchise, and fandom from any field, including literary studies, psychology, religious studies, history, politics, science, and education. Papers are 20 minutes long, followed by a five-minute Q&A, but alternative proposals are also welcome, such as panels or workshops. 

Past presenters have included MuggleNet staff and Potterversity podcast hosts, and multiple papers have gone on to be published in scholarly journals or academic anthologies. Need to do some research to prepare your proposal? Check out the resources in our Muggle Studies section, like an academic bibliography of Potter scholarship organized by subject.

If you just want to attend the conference and hear all of the fascinating presentations, plus connect with your fellow fans and scholars, tickets are only $15. The Hogwarts-esque campus in the charming Chestnut Hill area is the perfect place for a bit of pre-Halloween Potter fun, and the conference offers an excellent opportunity to hear many different perspectives on the series, engage with current academic and fan discourse, and learn something new.

To submit a proposal, register for the conference, and find more information, including programs from past conferences, visit the Harry Potter Academic Conference website.