IAMCR 2026 will feature an opening ceremony and plenary, two thematic plenaries, and the closing ceremony. Bringing together leading scholars, practitioners and public intellectuals, the plenaries will explore key issues connected to the conference theme, "Peripheries and Connections: Media, Communication, and Transformation".

The 2026 central theme, Peripheries and Connections: Media, Communication, and Transformation, addresses the complexities of contemporary media systems in a polarised and interconnected world. By emphasising intersections between the global and the local, IAMCR 2026 will provide a platform for reimagining media’s role in addressing critical challenges such as climate change, migration, representation, and digital inequalities.