SECOND CIRCULAR
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Dear Colleagues,
We are delighted to congratulate you on the selection of your proposals for participation in the 26th Symposium of Comité International des Études Pré-Ottomanes et Ottomanes (CIÉPO).
The call for papers for the Symposium has generated significant interest, and more than 200 papers—exceeding the number originally planned—have been accepted following a highly competitive selection process. In view of the large number and high quality of the accepted proposals, we hope that the 26th CIÉPO Symposium in Varna will provide a productive and inspiring forum for both established and emerging scholars in the fields of Pre-Ottoman and Ottoman Studies.
We are delighted to congratulate you on the selection of your proposals for participation in the 26th Symposium of Comité International des Études Pré-Ottomanes et Ottomanes (CIÉPO).
The call for papers for the Symposium has generated significant interest, and more than 200 papers—exceeding the number originally planned—have been accepted following a highly competitive selection process. In view of the large number and high quality of the accepted proposals, we hope that the 26th CIÉPO Symposium in Varna will provide a productive and inspiring forum for both established and emerging scholars in the fields of Pre-Ottoman and Ottoman Studies.
We kindly ask that you inform the organisers at your earliest convenience if you are unable to attend the Symposium. This will enable us to offer any vacated places in a timely manner to scholars currently on a runner-up list.
You will find some practical information about the Symposium below, including details about the registration fee, the programme, visa application process, accommodation, excursion, and other information related to your stay in Varna.
You will find some practical information about the Symposium below, including details about the registration fee, the programme, visa application process, accommodation, excursion, and other information related to your stay in Varna.
Registration Fee and Procedure
The registration fee for the Symposium is €130 for both speakers and attendees. This fee includes lunch and coffee breaks during the Symposium sessions, a welcome cocktail reception, and a farewell dinner, as well as access to the Symposium facilities and materials. Please note that the registration fee is non-refundable.
The registration fee must be paid exclusively by bank transfer to the account indicated below, no later than 20 April 2026.
The registration fee must be paid exclusively by bank transfer to the account indicated below, no later than 20 April 2026.
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Name of the Bank: UniCredit Bulbank Address: 7 Sveta Nedelya Sq., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria IBAN: BG30UNCR76303100117275 (in Euro) Swift code/BIC: UNCRBGSF Beneficiary: Institute for Historical Studies - BAS (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)/ Институт за Исторически изследвания - БАН Beneficiary's Address: 52 Shipchenski prohod Blvd., Block 17, 1113 Sofia Bulgaria |
- Payment Details
- It is essential that your full name, followed by “CIEPO 26 Varna registration fee”, is clearly indicated in the payment reference when making the bank transfer.
- Please note that the registration fee does not include bank transfer charges. You are kindly requested to ensure that all transfer fees are covered on your side.
- Inclusion in the Symposium programme is contingent upon payment of the registration fee.
- The deadline for payment is 20 April 2026. Participants who have not paid the registration fee by this date will automatically be considered as not attending the Symposium, and their places will be offered to scholars on the runner-up list. Exceptions will be granted only to participants who experience delays due to administrative issues related to visa applications; such participants must inform the Organisers in a timely manner.
Second-Step Registration
After transferring the registration fee, participants should contact the Organisers at [email protected] to notify us of the payment and attach a copy of the bank transfer order, which will allow us to verify and confirm it. Once your payment has been confirmed, you will receive a registration form that must be completed in order to finalise your registration. Registration is considered complete only after the form has been submitted.
Panels and individual presentations will be included in the printed final programme only once the registration fee has been paid and the registration form has been completed by the participants.
After transferring the registration fee, participants should contact the Organisers at [email protected] to notify us of the payment and attach a copy of the bank transfer order, which will allow us to verify and confirm it. Once your payment has been confirmed, you will receive a registration form that must be completed in order to finalise your registration. Registration is considered complete only after the form has been submitted.
Panels and individual presentations will be included in the printed final programme only once the registration fee has been paid and the registration form has been completed by the participants.
Membership Fee
The CIÉPO membership fee is €20, and €10 for students. It will be collected only in cash by the Organisers upon registration.
Invitation Letters for Visas
Participants who require a visa to enter Bulgaria are strongly advised to begin the visa application process three months before their intended travel date. If you need an invitation letter to support your visa application, please contact the Organisers at [email protected] at your earliest convenience. Further information regarding the visa application procedure can be found here.
Symposium Programmee
The programme of the symposium will be announced in late May. Panels and individual presentations will be included in the printed final programme by the Organisers only once the registration fee has been paid and the registration form has been completed by the participants.
The Symposium will begin in the early afternoon of Tuesday, 23 June 2026, with two keynote lectures by Prof. Rossitsa Gradeva and Prof. Nicolas Vatin. The academic sessions will commence later that afternoon and will continue until the afternoon of Friday, 26 June 2026.
A cultural programme and a series of accompanying events are being arranged by the Organisers for the duration of the Symposium. The opening of an exhibition on Ottoman Varna will take place on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. The exhibition will draw on a wide range of documents and sources from the Bulgarian Archives.
Participants, attendees, and companions will also have the opportunity to join a guided tour of Varna, which will be offered free of charge. Further details regarding registration for the tour will be communicated by the Organisers in advance of the event. Additional cultural events available to Symposium participants will be announced soon.
A one-day excursion to Ottoman-era sites in north-eastern Bulgaria will take place on Saturday, 27 June. |
Accomodation
Participants are expected to cover the costs of their travel and accommodation from their own funds. Although the Organising Committee is not able to arrange accommodation directly, we can provide information on several suitable options in Varna, offering discounted rates for the period 22–28 June 2026. Early booking is strongly recommended, as Varna is in its peak tourist season at that time of year.
A list with hotels offering discounted prices can be found here. This list is intended as a general guide, and participants are also encouraged to explore alternative options such as other hotels, Airbnb, guesthouses, and bed and breakfasts.
A list with hotels offering discounted prices can be found here. This list is intended as a general guide, and participants are also encouraged to explore alternative options such as other hotels, Airbnb, guesthouses, and bed and breakfasts.
Other Practical Information
For additional practical information on the symposium venue and the city of Varna, including travel to and within the city, currency, and other useful details, see here.
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For further queries or assistance, please contact us at: [email protected]
The Organising Committee
