In-person November Annual Meeting 2026 Program Book

The 2026 November Annual Meeting in Denver, CO: Friday, November 20 - Tuesday, November 24. All times are listed in Mountain Time Zone. For more information about the November Annual Meeting, co-hosted with the Society of Biblical Literature, click here.

Please note that this is the preliminary schedule and is subject to change. We anticipate a mostly final schedule in mid-August. If you have any questions, please contact annualmeeting@aarweb.org. For Other Events, your event is not confirmed until you received notification from AAR staff.

Sunday, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Colorado Conference Center, Bluebird… Session ID: M22-524
Other Event

The Catholic Biblical Association of America and the Catholic Theological Society of America warmly invite members, colleagues, and friends to a joint reception during the 2026 SBL Annual Meeting. Join us for an evening of collegial conversation, light refreshments, and networking as we celebrate shared commitments to scholarship and teaching. A brief program will highlight upcoming CBA and CTSA initiatives, events, and opportunities for scholarly engagement in the year ahead.

Sunday, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Hyatt Regency Denver, Mineral A (Third… Session ID: A22-501
Roundtable Session
Hosted by: Films

Oliver Laxe’s much-acclaimed feature film Sirāt (2025) takes place in an indeterminate but all-too-familiar future, where the outbreak of what might be World War III comes to disrupt an international community of ravers who have gathered in the Moroccan desert to dance. The film asks and leaves unanswered critical questions as to what it means to rave as a religious practice in a world destabilized by political violence, the legacies of colonialism, and the accelerating crisis of stateless refugees. Following a screening of the film, panelists will offer short roundtable reflections from their own areas of expertise, reflecting on three interrelated thematics the film consistently addresses: 1) the discourse of raving as a religious practice; 2) the presence of Islam, and its theologies of spiritual transformation, pilgrimage, and prayer; and 3) the medicinal turn to psychedelics as psychospiritual tools for healing various forms of trauma.

Sunday, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Hyatt Regency Denver, Mineral A (Third… Session ID: A22-501
Roundtable Session
Hosted by: Films

Oliver Laxe’s much-acclaimed feature film Sirāt (2025) takes place in an indeterminate but all-too-familiar future, where the outbreak of what might be World War III comes to disrupt an international community of ravers who have gathered in the Moroccan desert to dance. The film asks and leaves unanswered critical questions as to what it means to rave as a religious practice in a world destabilized by political violence, the legacies of colonialism, and the accelerating crisis of stateless refugees. Following a screening of the film, panelists will offer short roundtable reflections from their own areas of expertise, reflecting on three interrelated thematics the film consistently addresses: 1) the discourse of raving as a religious practice; 2) the presence of Islam, and its theologies of spiritual transformation, pilgrimage, and prayer; and 3) the medicinal turn to psychedelics as psychospiritual tools for healing various forms of trauma.

Sunday, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Hyatt Regency Denver, Centennial E … Session ID: M22-510
Other Event

Join the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture for our annual reception at AAR/SBL 2026. Our reception is a prime opportunity to learn more about the Center's programs, connect with new and familiar peers, further conversations from conference sessions, and enjoy a delightful assortment of refreshments. Whether you are a long-time collaborator of the Center or are just getting acquainted, we invite you to attend this year's reception. Pre-registration is encouraged to reduce wait times at the event and ensure we have ample room for all of our guests.

Contact: raac@iu.edu
RSVP: https://raac.indianapolis.iu.edu/aar-2026/

Sunday, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Offsite Session ID: M22-522
Other Event

The Department for the Study of Religion at the University of Toronto is pleased to invite you to our reception event at the 2026 meeting of the American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature in Denver. We are welcoming alumni, faculty, postdocs, and current and future students to join us at Henry's Tavern (500 16th Street, Suite 184B, Denver) from 8-10pm on Sunday November 22, 2026. Please RSVP to religion.grad@utoronto.ca