International Association for the History of Religions

IAHR promotes the scientific study of religion assisting the international collaboration of all scholars, member and affiliate societies contributing to the historical, social, and comparative study of religion.

The IAHR World Congresses constitute milestones in the history of the IAHR and the international study of religion. In addition, the IAHR Special and Regional Conferences help promote and support the scientific study of religions in various countries and regions around the world.

In 2025, the World Congress International Association for the History of Religions was organised against the backdrop of several major milestones: the 125th anniversary of the first World Congress of religious studies held in Paris in 1900, the 74th anniversary of the founding of the International Association for the History of Religions in Amsterdam, and the 25th anniversary of the European Association for the Study of Religions established in Kraków in 2000.

Held in Kraków under the theme “Out of Europe: Studying Religion(s) in Interconnected Worlds”, the Congress invited reflection on the historical origins and global scope of the academic study of religion. It highlighted Central and Eastern Europe’s complex, multi-religious history and encouraged scholars worldwide to explore the discipline’s past trajectories and future directions in an interconnected world.

The proceedings of the congresses and conferences arranged by the IAHR are published in various quarters, usually at the discretion of the hosting national associations.  Proceedings can be found here when they are published.