Every four years, leading scholars of the Viking Age gather for the Viking Congress, an invitation-only conference bringing together specialists from across the field. This year, I had the opportunity to attend the 20th Viking Congress in Norway, where researchers discussed everything from Viking Age landscapes and identities to ship burials, Thor’s hammers and the future of Viking Studies.
The 20th Viking Congress was held from August 8 to 14, 2026, with the first three days taking place in Rauland in Telemark and the second half in Oslo. There was also a post-Congress tour in Lom.
The Congress brings together scholars working in Archaeology, History, Philology, Numismatics, Runology and other disciplines important for studying the Viking Age. Attendance is by invitation only and includes delegates from universities and research institutions in Denmark, England, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Scotland, Sweden and Wales.
I was privileged to be an invited delegate representing the institution where I am conducting my PhD research, the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland. This was my first time attending, and I found it extremely interesting and informative. It was also a pleasure to finally meet many scholars with whom I have corresponded, whose work I have cited, or who have been guests on my Vikingology Podcast.
Exploring the Viking world
Photo courtesy Terri Barnes
The conference papers centred on four broad themes: landscapes and resources; interactions, collaborations and a sense of belonging; the long Viking Age; and the future of the Viking Age.
The first theme examined how Viking Age communities used landscapes and natural resources. Recent research has demonstrated the importance of cross-disciplinary studies of surplus production and resource exploitation in providing a fuller understanding of the interconnected Viking world. Papers explored how the use of landscapes and resources could have economic and social implications stretching well beyond individual communities.
Another theme focused on interactions and belonging. The diverse landscapes of the Viking world supported different identities and economies, while recent scholarship has increasingly examined hybrid identities, gender roles, militarised groups and local cultural adaptations. These papers looked beyond grand narratives to explore how smaller-scale interactions, adaptations and shared experiences helped create the Viking world.
Photo courtesy Terri Barnes
The Congress also examined the idea of a “Long Viking Age.” Rather than viewing the period in isolation, researchers considered how practices, technologies and socio-political developments associated with the Viking Age were connected to changes taking place over much longer periods. Institutions, identities and economies developed differently from region to region, complicating the traditional chronological boundaries of the Viking Age.
The fourth theme looked towards the future of Viking Studies and its relationship with the public. Researchers considered which Viking Age narratives are highlighted and why, how the period is taught and presented to the public, and the role of museums as authoritative producers of knowledge. These discussions also raised a broader question: where is Viking research headed, and why should the Viking Age continue to matter to the public?
The papers were brief at only 14 minutes each but were very interesting. Some scholars spoke at 1.5x speed to get everything in! The audience questions were also thought-provoking and helpful. People seemed generally engaged and supportive of each other’s work rather than critical, which was nice to observe.
Poster presentation at the 20th Viking Congress – Photo courtesy Terri Barnes
Given the four broad themes, it was exciting to see the range of ‘deep dives’ into topics such as Viking Age warning beacon sites, Pict and Norse interactions, Thor’s hammers, ship burials, and how Vikings are depicted in modern popular culture and venues.
Those who were not selected to give a paper generally were invited to submit a poster briefly explaining their work. All of the posters were hung in a central gathering place before and after the paper sessions, so they were well attended as well.
Behind the scenes at the Museum of the Viking Age
A look inside the new Museum of the Viking Age during its construction – Photo: Bård Gudim / AF Gruppen
On the last day, several delegates, including me, received a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Museum of the Viking Age, formerly the Viking Ship Museum, which has been closed for remodelling for several years.
The museum houses the world-famous Oseberg, Gokstad and Tune ships, all discovered near the Oslo fjord around the turn of the 20th century. While the museum is still very much a work in progress, the new facility will be considerably larger and offer many more ways for visitors to engage with the Viking Age.
Where the old museum had just a few hundred objects on display, the new museum will have more than 5,000.
Our tour guide was archaeologist Ellen Marie Næss, another scholar I was very happy to finally meet in person after her appearance on my podcast back in 2023. Her passion for the ships and the museum is contagious.
The new museum is slated to open in 2027. We were allowed to take photos and pictures during our visit but were barred from sharing them on social media or online. However, I recommend checking out the museum’s Instagram account, @vikingtidsmuseet, or its website, where there are some very cool videos showing the painstaking process of getting the ships into their new positions.
The 21st Viking Congress will be held in Ireland in 2030. By tradition, the Congress alternates between Scandinavia and the UK, Ireland and Wales.
Terri Barnes is a historian, podcaster, and PhD researcher at the Institute for Northern Studies, University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland. Her work focuses on Scandinavia’s cultural and institutional development in the period AD 500 to 900. Check out her shieldmaidenpdx Substack.
That’s us! Great conference. Nice to be back in Oslo.
#vikingcongress
By Terri Barnes
Every four years, leading scholars of the Viking Age gather for the Viking Congress, an invitation-only conference bringing together specialists from across the field. This year, I had the opportunity to attend the 20th Viking Congress in Norway, where researchers discussed everything from Viking Age landscapes and identities to ship burials, Thor’s hammers and the future of Viking Studies.
The 20th Viking Congress was held from August 8 to 14, 2026, with the first three days taking place in Rauland in Telemark and the second half in Oslo. There was also a post-Congress tour in Lom.
The Congress brings together scholars working in Archaeology, History, Philology, Numismatics, Runology and other disciplines important for studying the Viking Age. Attendance is by invitation only and includes delegates from universities and research institutions in Denmark, England, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Scotland, Sweden and Wales.
I was privileged to be an invited delegate representing the institution where I am conducting my PhD research, the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland. This was my first time attending, and I found it extremely interesting and informative. It was also a pleasure to finally meet many scholars with whom I have corresponded, whose work I have cited, or who have been guests on my Vikingology Podcast.
Exploring the Viking world
The conference papers centred on four broad themes: landscapes and resources; interactions, collaborations and a sense of belonging; the long Viking Age; and the future of the Viking Age.
The first theme examined how Viking Age communities used landscapes and natural resources. Recent research has demonstrated the importance of cross-disciplinary studies of surplus production and resource exploitation in providing a fuller understanding of the interconnected Viking world. Papers explored how the use of landscapes and resources could have economic and social implications stretching well beyond individual communities.
Another theme focused on interactions and belonging. The diverse landscapes of the Viking world supported different identities and economies, while recent scholarship has increasingly examined hybrid identities, gender roles, militarised groups and local cultural adaptations. These papers looked beyond grand narratives to explore how smaller-scale interactions, adaptations and shared experiences helped create the Viking world.
The Congress also examined the idea of a “Long Viking Age.” Rather than viewing the period in isolation, researchers considered how practices, technologies and socio-political developments associated with the Viking Age were connected to changes taking place over much longer periods. Institutions, identities and economies developed differently from region to region, complicating the traditional chronological boundaries of the Viking Age.
The fourth theme looked towards the future of Viking Studies and its relationship with the public. Researchers considered which Viking Age narratives are highlighted and why, how the period is taught and presented to the public, and the role of museums as authoritative producers of knowledge. These discussions also raised a broader question: where is Viking research headed, and why should the Viking Age continue to matter to the public?
The papers were brief at only 14 minutes each but were very interesting. Some scholars spoke at 1.5x speed to get everything in! The audience questions were also thought-provoking and helpful. People seemed generally engaged and supportive of each other’s work rather than critical, which was nice to observe.
Given the four broad themes, it was exciting to see the range of ‘deep dives’ into topics such as Viking Age warning beacon sites, Pict and Norse interactions, Thor’s hammers, ship burials, and how Vikings are depicted in modern popular culture and venues.
Those who were not selected to give a paper generally were invited to submit a poster briefly explaining their work. All of the posters were hung in a central gathering place before and after the paper sessions, so they were well attended as well.
Behind the scenes at the Museum of the Viking Age
On the last day, several delegates, including me, received a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Museum of the Viking Age, formerly the Viking Ship Museum, which has been closed for remodelling for several years.
The museum houses the world-famous Oseberg, Gokstad and Tune ships, all discovered near the Oslo fjord around the turn of the 20th century. While the museum is still very much a work in progress, the new facility will be considerably larger and offer many more ways for visitors to engage with the Viking Age.
Where the old museum had just a few hundred objects on display, the new museum will have more than 5,000.
Our tour guide was archaeologist Ellen Marie Næss, another scholar I was very happy to finally meet in person after her appearance on my podcast back in 2023. Her passion for the ships and the museum is contagious.
The new museum is slated to open in 2027. We were allowed to take photos and pictures during our visit but were barred from sharing them on social media or online. However, I recommend checking out the museum’s Instagram account, @vikingtidsmuseet, or its website, where there are some very cool videos showing the painstaking process of getting the ships into their new positions.
The 21st Viking Congress will be held in Ireland in 2030. By tradition, the Congress alternates between Scandinavia and the UK, Ireland and Wales.
Terri Barnes is a historian, podcaster, and PhD researcher at the Institute for Northern Studies, University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland. Her work focuses on Scandinavia’s cultural and institutional development in the period AD 500 to 900. Check out her shieldmaidenpdx Substack.
Top Image: Pendant, Thor’s hammer. Silver, filigree ornamentation. Unknown find spot, Scania, Sweden. SHM 9822:810 / Wikimedia Commons
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