AAS-in-Asia 2026 concluded on Sunday at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, bringing to a close a three day international academic gathering that drew more than 1,000 scholars and participants from over 37 countries to Pakistan. Held under the theme Centering Asia: Refiguring Connections, Recharting Futures, the conference brought together scholars, students, university leaders and academics from 517 institutions, including Peking University, Tsinghua University, the University of Tokyo, the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Harvard University, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford and Yale University. The conference has previously been hosted in countries including South Korea, Indonesia, Nepal, Japan, India and Thailand, and this edition marked its arrival in Pakistan.
The programme featured hundreds of panel sessions, pre conference workshops, roundtables, open houses, exhibitions and cultural events across different venues at LUMS. Discussions covered a wide range of themes, including Asia’s transformation and global perspectives, conflict and cooperation, democratic change, technology and society, artificial intelligence, Asian ecologies, cities and infrastructure, gender and marginality, cultural and artistic expression, and old and new approaches to knowledge. Sessions examined how Asia’s economic, political and cultural transformations are reshaping global debates, while also addressing border disputes, contested sovereignties, civic spaces, climate disruption, displacement, inequality and social justice. Participants also explored the role of literature, art, performance, heritage and everyday cultural practices in shaping Asian identities and creating space for connection and dialogue.
The opening ceremony featured welcome addresses by LUMS Vice Chancellor Dr Ali Cheema and Prof Elora Shehabuddin, President of the Association for Asian Studies. Dr Cheema said Pakistan must be an active part of the conversation about Asia and the world, adding that hosting the conference allowed international scholars to engage with the country’s academic and cultural landscape and to explore Lahore’s history as a centre of literature, art and intellectual exchange. Prof Shehabuddin said around 1,500 people had registered, with over 900 present, which she described as impressive given the turmoil in the world, and she thanked LUMS faculty, staff, students, volunteers, committees, sponsors and partner organisations for bringing the conference to Pakistan. Dr Adil Najam delivered the keynote address on climate change, stressing that the issue can no longer be viewed solely as an environmental concern. Drawing on experiences from Asia and South Asia, including Pakistan, he discussed what he called the Age of Adaptation and its implications for water, food, security, development, governance and social justice.
Beyond the academic sessions, the conference created opportunities for early career scholars, students and academics from different disciplines to develop new research and professional collaborations. A special calligraphy workshop titled The Contemplative Arts: A Studio Series gave participants a chance to engage with the region’s artistic traditions, while a cultural village on campus offered international delegates an informal space to experience Lahore’s heritage, crafts, cuisine and music and to meet local communities and creative practitioners. The closing ceremony opened with a cultural programme that took audiences through South Asia’s expressive dance traditions, with Bhangra, Gidda, Kathak and Sufi devotional folk dance coming together in one continuous medley. The performance brought the three day event to a close after an extensive exchange of ideas, research and cultural perspectives among scholars from Pakistan and around the world.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
