On May 15, 2026, the Baltic regional sociology conference “Baltic Readings 2026” was held in Vilnius. Organized by the Institute of Sociology at the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences (LCSS), the Lithuanian Sociological Association, and the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, with support from the International Sociological Association (ISA), the conference sought to revive a long-standing tradition of academic collaboration. It brought together sociologists from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and beyond to reflect on the current state of sociology and its future directions in the Baltic region.
The conference was honored by the presence of leaders of both international and national sociological associations. Among them was Kaja Gadowska, President of the European Sociological Association (ESA) and Professor of Sociology at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, who delivered a keynote address on the timely topic of academic freedom in Europe. The event also welcomed Elina Oinas, Vice-President of the International Sociological Association (ISA) and Professor of Sociology at the Swedish School of Social Science, University of Helsinki, who shared valuable insights with the participants. They were joined by Anu Masso, President of the Estonian Sociological Association, and Renārs Felcis, President of the Latvian Sociological Association.
The conference featured presentations by scientists from institutions across the Baltic region, including Halmstad University in Sweden; Tallinn University and the University of Tartu in Estonia; the University of Latvia and the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences in Latvia; and the Institute of Sociology at the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences (LCSS), Vilnius University, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas University of Technology, and Klaipėda University in Lithuania. In addition, roundtable discussions were held, providing an opportunity to exchange experiences related to research infrastructures and to discuss prospects for closer cooperation among sociologists in the Baltic region, as well as stronger representation within international sociological associations.
Notably, the first “Baltic Readings” conference was held in Palanga, Lithuania, in 1977. In the years that followed, Kääriku in Estonia, Jūrmala in Latvia, and Birštonas in Lithuania became established venues for gatherings of sociologists from across the region. Although academic ties weakened following the restoration of independence in the Baltic states, they were later revitalized through subsequent “Baltic Readings” conferences held in Riga, Tallinn, Kaunas, Vilnius, and Biržai.
Photos by Virginija Valuckienė.
