Every July, medievalists from across the globe descend upon the University of Leeds for the International Medieval Congress (IMC), and this year’s conference was no exception. With the 2026 theme of Temporalities, the week was filled with fascinating discussions about time, memory, history, and the ways in which the past continues to shape our understanding of the medieval world. It was also a particularly memorable week for the Bodies and Being team, who organised three interdisciplinary panels exploring premodern bodies across cultures, localities, and periods.
For me, the conference began by stepping behind the lectern rather than sitting in the audience. I had the pleasure of chairing ‘Mind and Memory in Old Norse Literature III: Sociohistorical Memory’, a panel featuring a series of excellent papers that sparked thoughtful discussion amongst a wonderfully engaged audience. I must admit I was feeling more than a little nervous beforehand—it had been almost a year since I had last attended a conference—but there was no need. The speakers delivered exceptional papers, the audience asked insightful questions, and it was a fantastic way to begin the week.
The following day, it was my turn to present. My paper, ‘Devouring the Past: Monstrous Cattle and Christian Temporalities in Legendary Saga Landscapes’, explored my doctoral research on monstrous cattle and anthropophagous aurochs in the Old Norse legendary sagas. It was incredibly encouraging to see such a full room, and even more rewarding to continue conversations with audience members throughout the rest of the conference. One of the greatest joys of the IMC is that discussions rarely end when the session does; they continue over coffee, lunch, evening receptions, and chance encounters around campus, often developing into new perspectives and future collaborations.
That afternoon marked the first of the three Bodies and Being panels: ‘Temporal Bodies in Global Contexts: Medicine, Materiality, and Myth’, expertly chaired by Autumn. The breadth of research on display was remarkable. Papers ranged across different regions and historical periods, yet each explored how bodies were understood, represented, and experienced in the pre-modern world. It was inspiring to see scholars working in such diverse geographical and chronological contexts united by shared questions surrounding embodiment and temporality.
The evening brought one of the highlights of the conference calendar: the NECRON gathering at the Terrace Bar. It was wonderful to catch up with friends whom I had not seen in person for many months. Academic life moves quickly, and so much had changed in the past year. Many had reached exciting milestones in their research, while others had embarked on entirely new adventures after completing their PhDs—some even relocating to the other side of the world. Many had also seen the rather exciting personal news of my recent engagement, making for many happy conversations. After a few (very reasonably priced) two-for-one cocktails, I made my way back to Lyddon Hall to prepare for another busy day.
Wednesday began by supporting friends from the University of Nottingham as they presented their research in the first session on the Viking Diaspora. Later that evening, I attended the second Viking Society wine reception to be held at the IMC. Thankfully, a much larger venue had been booked this year after the inaugural reception in 2025 proved so popular that attendees overflowed into the corridors. It was a pleasure to spend time with fellow Council members and reconnect with Viking scholars from across the UK and beyond.
Of course, no IMC would be complete without the legendary disco. There is something wonderfully surreal about spending the day discussing medieval manuscripts and archaeological evidence before ending the evening dancing with fellow medievalists to ABBA, Oasis, and The Killers. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt over the years, it’s that nobody throws a conference party quite like medievalists.
Despite a slightly slower start the following morning, Thursday brought the second Bodies and Being panel. Once again, we enjoyed thought-provoking papers, lively discussion, and—perhaps just as importantly during one of Leeds’ hotter weeks—a blissfully air-conditioned room.
The final Bodies and Being panel later that afternoon was one I had the privilege of chairing. The discussion following the papers was so extensive that audience members and panellists found themselves debating ideas together long after the presentations had finished. It was exactly the kind of collaborative and interdisciplinary conversation we hope to foster through Bodies and Being, and a fitting conclusion to our panel series.
Outside the conference sessions themselves, quieter moments became just as valuable. Between papers, I could often be found escaping the heat beneath the shady trees outside the Students’ Union, purple pen and sparkly pink highlighter in hand, working through a printed copy of my doctoral thesis one final time before submission. It was oddly satisfying to combine the excitement of new research with the equally exciting prospect of finally bringing my own project to completion.
One of the best parts of the week was spending time with Autumn. Having not seen each other in person for almost a year, it was wonderful to catch up properly while also discussing the future of Bodies and Being. Naturally, we couldn’t resist browsing the conference craft stalls, where we both came away with embroidery kits—I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to acquire an Emma of Normandy design. Alongside these lighter moments, we also had several productive conversations about where we hope to take Bodies and Being over the coming year. We even met with publishers to discuss potential future collaborations, opening the door to some exciting possibilities for new scholarly projects and publications.
As always, the IMC reminded me why conferences remain such an important part of academic life: they provide a space not only to share research but to reconnect with old friends, forge new collaborations, challenge ideas, and celebrate the extraordinary breadth of medieval studies. Above all, I left Leeds feeling inspired by the curiosity, enthusiasm, and passion of the people who continue to keep medieval scholarship thriving.
Bodies and Being 