IKUWA8: the 8th International Congress for Underwater Archaeology
IKUWA8, the 8th International Congress for Underwater Archaeology, takes place in Oostende (Belgium) from 13 to 17 October 2025. The congress is organised by the IKUWA Steering Committee, Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Flanders Heritage Agency, Agence Wallonne du Patrimoine, and the City of Ostend.
The theme of IKUWA8 is Telling the Exciting Tales of Our Past. In line with the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), the conference offers an opportunity to take stock of achievements so far and to explore how underwater and coastal cultural heritage enriches humanity’s collective memory, provides insights into sea level fluctuations and climate change, and supports a sustainable future by deepening our understanding of the oceans’ socio-cultural significance.
More information about the confererence, including the full conference programme, is available on the IKUWA8 website.
Important dates
- Early bird registration deadline: 31 July 2025
- Deadline to apply for a promotional booth: 29 August 2025
- Registration deadline: 28 September 2025
- IKUWA8 Conference: 13–17 October 2025
Additional Details
Event image -
Link To Event Page - https://www.vliz.be/ikuwa8/en
Organizer
Ostend is a coastal city located in the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium.
The official convention bureau of the city of Ostend is Meet in Oostende. Tourist information on the city’s many activities and attractions can be found at Visit Oostende.
The Agence wallonne du Patrimoine (AWaP) manages the cultural heritage in Wallonia.
The Flanders Heritage Agency is a governmental agency and a scientific institute of the Flemish Government.
The Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) is the coordination and information platform for marine and coastal research in Flanders. VLIZ is housed in the InnovOcean Campus on the East Bank of Ostend. More information can be found on the Flanders Marine Institute website.
IKUWA – Internationaler Kongreß für Unterwasserarchäologie – is a global network of cooperating bodies that organises congresses focused on underwater archaeology to raise awareness of the importance of underwater cultural heritage and to create an international regulatory framework for its protection.
The congresses are organised under the patronage of UNESCO and the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.
For a list of members of the IKUWA Steering Committee, see Nautical Archaeology Society – IKUWA.
Venue
Event venue in Oostende, Belgium.
A gem of post-war modernist architecture, De Grote Post was transformed in 2012 from a postal building into a cultural centre and venue. A place where organiser, audience, enthusiast, and artist meet within walking distance of the sea and beach.
More information on the venue is available on the Meet in Oostende website.