Faith in Transit: Religion, Migration, and Integration in Europe
The organizers have the honor of inviting you to join the 12th Meeting of European Geographers of Religion: International Colloquia on the Changing Religious Landscape of Europe that is held in the heart of Europe, the historical city of Prague, Czechia, on June 25–26, 2026.
The conference is organized by members of the Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Science, Charles University, supported by the project of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic “The Role of Religion in the Integration of Ukrainian Migrants in Czechia and Related Changes in the Religious Landscape,” under the auspices of the president of the Czech Geographical Society.
Conference Abstract
Faith in Transit: Religion, Migration, and Integration in Europe. Broader Contexts for the Ukrainian Experience.The organisers have the honour of inviting you to join the international conference exploring the intersection of religion and migration in contemporary Europe. The conference will focus particularly on spatial practices, lived religion and processes of integration. Grounded in the geography of religion, the conference’s aim is to bring together scholars from related disciplines, including social anthropology, sociology, and religious studies, to examine how religious beliefs, institutions, and everyday practices shape migrants’ experiences of mobility, settlement, and belonging, and vice versa, how migrants influence the church and religious institutions.
Special attention is given to Ukrainian migration as a new and transformative phenomenon in the European context from 2022. The conference seeks to situate the religious experiences of Ukrainian migrants within the broader landscape of migration in Europe, drawing on insights from other migrant groups and religious traditions. While acknowledging challenges and tensions, particular emphasis will be placed on positive and constructive experiences of church-based integration, solidarity, and community building.
The conference also opens space for discussion on religious change in migratory contexts, including questions of conversion, reaffiliation, and the transformation of religious identities under conditions of displacement and resettlement. More broadly, it aims to move beyond descriptive case studies and engage in theoretical and methodological debates on religion, space, and migration. Contributions addressing empirical research, comparative perspectives, and conceptual innovation are warmly welcomed, as well as contributions from students.
Organizational Information
Date: June 25–26, 2026Location: Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague 2, Czechia
Format: In-person
Program
Will be announced in May.Types of Contributions
Standard Paper: 15-minute presentation + discussionInstructions for Authors
Language of contributions: EnglishAbstract length for submission: 250 words
Registration: Participants may register for the conference with or without a contribution via the online registration form
Submission deadline: extended to April 30, 2026
Conference fee: 2000 CZK (approx. 80 EUR). Payment is required in advance by invoice or cash in CZK upon arrival. The fee includes refreshments and an excursion.
Keynote Speaker
Prof. Simon Runkel, Professor of Social Geography, Friedrich Schiller University JenaAbstract of keynote speech “Camps, Churches and Ships. Infrastructures of Empathy and Edith Stein’s Relational Phenomenology in Migration Studies” read here.
Excursion
The excursion, which is part of the conference program and free of charge, will take place on Friday 26 June in the afternoon. It will be a walking tour of Orthodox religious sites near the venue and will last about 3 hours.Boarding
During the two-day conference program, the organisers will provide refreshments during the coffee breaks and a light lunch. If you have any dietary requirements, please indicate these on the registration form (in the Additional Comments section).Organizers
Grant project of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic: “The Role of Religion in the Integration of Ukrainian Migrants in Czechia and Related Changes in the Religious Landscape”, Czech Geographical Society & Faculty of Science, Charles UniversityContact information
Tomáš Havlíček (tomas.havlicek@natur.cuni.cz), Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Science, Charles UniversityKamila Klingorová (kamila.klingorova@natur.cuni.cz), Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Science, Charles University
Venue & How to Get There
The conference will take place in the main building of the Faculty of Science, Charles University. The address of the conference location is Charles University, Faculty of Science, Albertov 6, 128 00, Praha 2, Czechia (see map).
There are many options on how to reach the conference venue from the Václav Havel Airport Prague by public transport. The journey takes approx. 40 minutes. For further information check the Prague public transport system: http://www.dpp.cz/en. Here you can also find the information on schedules and fares: http://www.dpp.cz/en/fares-in-prague/.