Arrangements and Registration for the 57th Annual Meeting
Kingston, Jamaica, May 24-29, 2026

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The ACH Executive Committee is pleased to announce that the 57th Annual Meeting of the Association of Caribbean Historians will be held in Kingston, Jamaica, from Sunday, May 24 to Thursday, May 28, 2026. On-site registration opens Sunday afternoon. The conference fête, our annual dinner and dance, will be held on Thursday evening, May 28. A field trip is scheduled for Friday, May 29.

Conference Venue & Accomodations

The conference will be held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, located in Downtown Kingston. The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) has secured a discounted ACH rate for participants at ROK Hotel Kingston, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, which adjoins the conference venue as well as a more budget-friendly option at the Four Seasons Hotel in New Kingston. In addition, special accommodation for graduate students is available at the Halls of Residence at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus. Participants staying at the ROK Hotel will benefit from being about five to seven minutes by foot away from the conference room. A covered footbridge connects the hotel and the conference venue. For those staying at the UWI Mona or New Kingston locations, daily transportation will be provided to and from the conference venue. Please note that such persons must inform the LOC ahead of the conference to facilitate these transportation arrangements. The opening ceremony and the closing fête will be held on The UWI Mona campus and transportation will be provided to and from the main accommodation locations. There are several other accommodation options located in the New Kingston area that will allow you to benefit from daily transportation from the Four Seasons Hotel in New Kingston. Note that if you choose to stay outside of these areas, you will need to arrange your own transportation to and from the conference venue.

      1. Main Hotel-ROK Hotel Kingston, Tapestry Collection by Hilton (Downtown Kingston):

        Located in the downtown art district, this hotel overlooks the Kingston Waterfront and Harbor. The National Gallery of Jamaica, Institute of Jamaica and the National Library of Jamaica are all within walking distance, and our conference venue is right next door. The hotel has offered the ACH the special rates of US$221.80/night (single) or US$234/night (double). Rates are inclusive of all taxes and daily buffet breakfast for all registered guests. All guests, including children 6-12, must be registered at time of booking. To book, visit here or you may call the hotel’s reservation team at +1876-619-7651 or at 1-800-HILTONS and let them know that you would like to be booked under The University of the West Indies group rate.

      2. Secondary Hotel–The Four Seasons (New Kingston)

    This hotel, located in Kingston’s business district, offers elegant rooms, personalized service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Ideal for both business and leisure travelers, it combines Caribbean charm with modern comfort. The hotel has offered the ACH the rates of US$120/night (single) or $130/night (double). Rates are inclusive of taxes and daily buffet breakfast for all registered guests. To book, call +1876-926-8805 or +1876-926-0682 or email reservations@hfsjm.com and asked to be booked under the University of the West Indies 2026 ACH Conference group rate.

      1. Halls of Residence, The UWI Mona

    Accommodation will be available at several halls of residence. Please note that this option is only for graduate students. Breakfast is not included but there will be available food options on campus. Single occupancy rates range from US$35-45. The double occupancy rate is US$50 per room. To book, email mona-lodgings.ossd@uwi.edu and cc shanickwiou.senior@uwi.edu and kevar.halstead@uwi.edu.

Travel To & Within Jamaica

The conference venue and accommodation options will most conveniently be accessed via the Norman Manley Airport, which is about 20-30 mins away by car. Taxis and Uber are available at the airport. If arriving at the Montego Bay Airport it remains possible to book a reliable and comfortable passenger bus service like the Knutsford Express (www.knutsfordexpress.com), into New Kingston. Please note that this option is at least a 3-hour journey by road as that airport is in the western parish of St. James.

Visa Requirements

If you are travelling to Jamaica from any of the Caribbean islands (except British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Haiti), Surinam and Guyana you do not need a visa. You also do not need a visa if you are visiting from the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Europe.

Refreshments & Lunch

The LOC is planning to arrange with a caterer to provide daily lunch at the conference venue at an additional cost. Further details about this arrangement will be shared. There are also several outlets near the conference venue providing meals. More information on these outlets will be provided in the conference bags.

Optional Field Trip

The LOC is planning to arrange with a caterer to provide daily lunch at the conference venue at an additional cost. Further details about this arrangement will be shared. There are also several outlets near the conference venue providing meals. More information on these outlets will be provided in the conference bags.

Membership & Conference Registration Fees

All conference attendees and presenters must be current members of the ACH and must register for the conference. Those who joined at or before the last conference in June 2025 will need to renew at or before this year’s meeting; those who joined since the 2025 meeting have a valid membership until just after the conference in Jamaica. If you have questions about your membership status, please email Secretary-Treasurer Rebecca Goetz at achsecretary@gmail.com.

For those who still need to join, visit the Membership page by clicking here.

There are six categories of membership (all amounts below appear in U.S. dollars):

  • Non-tenured faculty, Caribbean-based lecturers ($50 a year): for faculty, public history, or governmental positions.
  • Tenured professors and other established researchers ($75 a year): for tenured faculty, public history, or governmental positions.
  • Teachers (primary/secondary), students, and retirees ($25 a year): a special rate for primary/ secondary teachers; graduate and undergraduate students, and retirees.
  • Institutional Members ($100 a year): for colleges, universities, libraries, museums, and other cultural and educational organizations.
  • Benefactor ($150 a year): a higher category of giving to support the organization’s activities.
  • Life Membership ($500): the best membership bargain—equivalent to 10 years of regular annual membership, but valid for life.  

In addition to annual membership, there is a registration fee for the conference itself to defray local expenses.  Registration fees for the 2026 conference appear below.  While participants can register at the conference, speakers and chairs must do so in advance, and pre-registration online is encouraged for everyone—presenting or not—to gain access to all pre-circulated conference papers.  All those presenting or chairing sessions at the conference MUST renew their membership and register for the conference by the time their pre-circulated papers are due on March 15, 2026.

  • ACH members: $185
  • Caribbean-based students: $65
  • Non-Caribbean-based students: $95
  • Guests: $100

See below to join/update your membership, and to register online. When registering, please be sure you select the appropriate category and corresponding fee. If you choose to register on site, fees are still payable via PayPal (credit card) only. We cannot accept cash or other forms of payment.

Pay Conference Registration Fee


Please select the correct category below


If you choose to register on site, fees are payable via credit card only. We cannot accept cash or other forms of payment.

Accessing Pre-Circulated Papers

ACH presentations include both a pre-circulated 25-page paper and a brief (10 minutes or less) conference presentation. The ACH is making pre-circulated papers available online for those who pre-register. Once the ACH receives your completed registration, you will receive a password to access the portion of the website where papers are housed. Please be aware that papers are not due until March 15; they will not, as a result, be available online until late April. You can pre-register for the conference online by clicking here.