Details:

The Oxford Dharma Centre for Research and Policy invites abstracts for the Oxford Dharma Conference 2026, scheduled to be held on October 26–27, 2026 at All Souls College, University of Oxford. The conference welcomes scholars, policymakers, jurists, researchers, and institutional leaders from across disciplines to engage with contemporary issues through the lens of Dharma. Abstract submissions are open until July 10, 2026.

About the Conference

The Oxford Dharma Conference is the annual flagship conference of the Oxford Dharma Centre for Research and Policy. Hosted at All Souls College, University of Oxford, the conference serves as an international platform for interdisciplinary dialogue on law, governance, ethics, institutional design, culture, and public policy. The 2026 edition aims to deepen discussions on the role of Dharma as a framework for understanding ethical responsibility, social order, institutional legitimacy, and sustainable governance in a rapidly changing world.

The inaugural 2025 conference attracted more than 400 submissions from scholars representing over 330 institutions worldwide, reflecting the growing global interest in Dharma-centered scholarship and policy research.

Theme

Reimagining Order, Ethics, and Governance through Dharma

The conference approaches Dharma as a framework for examining how societies, institutions, and systems maintain legitimacy, continuity, and normative order amidst social, political, technological, and ecological transformation.

Conference Themes

• Dharma and Law

• Dharma and Applied Ethics

• Dharma, Systems and Order

• Dharma and Community Action

• Dharma, Aesthetics and Cultural Memory

• Dharma and Intellectual Traditions

Eligibility

Submissions are invited from:

• Faculty Members

• Academicians and Researchers

• PhD Scholars and Students

• Policymakers and Policy Practitioners

• Jurists and Legal Professionals

• Independent Researchers and Think Tank Scholars

Categories of Submission

The conference accepts submissions under the following categories:

• Research Papers

• Analytical Articles

• Scholarly Essays

• Textual or Manuscript-Based Studies

• Critical Editions and Translations of Original Manuscripts

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Each submission must include:

• Title of the Paper or Presentation

• Abstract (350–500 words)

• 4–6 Keywords

• Author Affiliation and Designation

• Contact Information

Co-authorship is permitted. In the case of co-authored papers, only the first author is required to submit the abstract.

AI Usage Policy

Authors using generative AI tools in the preparation of submissions must declare such usage. Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, citations, arguments, and intellectual integrity of their work.

Publication Opportunity

Selected participants will be invited to submit full-length papers for presentation at the conference. Outstanding papers may subsequently be considered for inclusion in conference proceedings and related academic publications.

Important Dates

• Last Date for Abstract Submission: July 10, 2026

• Full Paper Submission Deadline: September 30, 2026

• Conference Dates: October 26–27, 2026

Venue

All Souls College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

Submission Procedure

All submissions must be made through the official conference submission portal. Email submissions or alternative modes of submission will not be accepted.

Contact Information

Email: conference@oxforddharma.org

Organizer

Oxford Dharma Centre for Research and Policy, University of Oxford.