Call for Papers – The 3rd World Congress of Business History

Global Connections/Diverse Directions: Building Bridges Across Business Histories

DATE: Monday 27 July to Friday 31 July 2026 (main program Tuesday 28 July to Thursday July 29) – Toronto, Ontario

Proposal Deadline: 1 December 2025

A reflection of the ever-changing world of business, the discipline of Business History has been far from static. In recent decades, both research topics and methods have diversified dramatically, following on from the now classic works of Chandler et al. Encouraging trends include business scholars’ use of alternative historical approaches and organizational science, including quantitative methods and/or methodologies informed by the “cultural turn”; the institutionalization of Business History research with the establishment of academic societies and academic journals; and the increased internationalization of the field. The program committee thus welcomes papers/panels from postgraduate, early career and established scholars on a wide range of topics and various dimensions of “Global Connections/Diverse Directions: Building Bridges across Business Histories.”

The Conference Committee encourages panel and paper submissions from different Associational members and geographic perspectives that engage a diversity of themes, including the historiography of business history, methodological and theoretical innovations, business archives, corporate social responsibility, environmental social governance, nationalization and privatization in historical perspective, and more.

The Business History Society of Japan, the Canadian Business History Association, and the European Business History Association will be holding their Annual Meetings during the Congress and will hold Associational events, including the EBHA awarding its Best Dissertation prize; the CBHA/ACHA will also award its prizes during the Congress.

Typical Submission Formats
1. Single paper submissions from which the program committee arranges panels.
2. Session proposals submissions consisting of 3-5 papers on a specific theme suggested by the applicants themselves.
3. Tracks of more than one session on a single theme or approach (up to three sessions—to be held over the course of one afternoon)

Alternative formats
The organizers also welcome submissions with alternative and creative formats, such as workshops, roundtable debates/discussions, and poster presentations. In such cases, submissions should be sent directly to the organizers. Possible alternative formats include:
● Workshops, groups of scholars who want to use the opportunity of the congress to meet and discuss publications or specific themes. (Note: All materials to be discussed during individual workshops must be uploaded to the conference website at least three weeks before the congress.)
● Roundtable discussions on the state of the field and selected aspects of business history.
● Debates on new research agendas and new approaches to teaching “business history.”
● Poster presentations

The deadline for proposals is December 1, 2025

Please find the Call for Papers also in here.
Please use the World CBH Submissions link Paper Upload WCBH Toronto 2026 Papers, Sessions, Workshops, etc.

Feature Image: Business Office, British Acetones Toronto, Limited, Toronto, Ontario. 18 November 1918. Credit: Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-024412.