Following recent news that a high-level international conference on Tibetan studies, originally scheduled to be held later this month in Kathmandu, was canceled at short notice by Nepal’s government,* the International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS) announced that its board has voted unanimously to take over as conference convener and to hold the conference online.
“On 7 August 2026, the IATS Board held an emergency online meeting to determine how to proceed,” the association has said in a public statement. “It voted to take over as conference convener and to now hold the 17th Seminar of the IATS as an online event. The program will remain the same, and participants will be able to attend and present online from wherever they are at the time.”
In planning for four years, the much-anticipated 17th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS) was scheduled to be hosted in Nepal’s capital from 23–29 August. With delegates due to attend from around the world, it was set to be one of the largest academic gatherings Nepal has hosted in recent years.
“The core of the program will remain unchanged, and you will be able to attend and present online from wherever you are at the time,” the IATS said in a separate announcement sent to conference participants.
“Unfortunately, it will be impossible to adjust to different time zones. To ensure a smooth running of the event, we want to make sure that the online updated program reflects as accurately as possible the actual participation of IATS speakers. . . . Panel conveners are encouraged in the meantime to contact their panel participants to enquire whether they will be presenting at the online conference as planned or not. Panel conveners or chairs who are not participating themselves are requested to nominate an alternate chair for the respective panel.”
The IATS seminar serves as a gathering for international scholars of Tibetan studies, a field encompassing Tibetan Buddhism, language, history, art, medicine, and culture. This would have been the first time Nepal has hosted the conference, which is held roughly once every three years. News of the cancellation of the much-anticipated conference in Kathmandu drew expressions of dismay from scholars and the IATS, which published a detailed announcement on 8 August voicing its concern over political interference in an academic event.
“Despite repeated requests, [the IATS] has not received any formal written information from the government and has not yet been given any explanation for this last-minute decision,” the organization emphasized. “Hosting the event at Kathmandu University was agreed with all relevant parties in 2023 and no concerns were raised at any point during the planning process. The conveners have invested three years of their time in preparing this event, and have incurred considerable expenses on behalf on the conference. More than 700 participants have already bought their air tickets and booked hotel rooms in Kathmandu. The effective cancellation of this conference by the authorities will raise questions about holding future academic events in the country, and is likely to result in economical and reputational damage.”
* Nepal Cancels International Tibetan Studies Conference Amid Diplomatic Pressure (BDG)
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Announcement from the Board concerning the17th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies, 23-29 August 2026 (International Association for Tibetan Studies)
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