VI International Congress of the John Gower Society 2026

email VI International Congress of the John Gower Society
29 June – 2 July 2026

“GOWER SEA TO SEA: ATLANTIC TO MEDITERRANEAN”

 

The VI International Congress of the John Gower Society will take place 29 June – 2 July 2026 and will be hosted by the University of Alicante, on Spain’s beautiful Mediterranean coast.

– Preliminary (Draft) Program – 

REGISTRATION

NOTE: Registration is a 2-step process

STEP 1: SUBMIT PAYMENT
Attendees must first submit payment for registration and any supplementals (Gala Dinner and/or Excursions). Save the electronic copy of payment receipt once payment has been submitted.

STEP 2: REGISTER FOR CONGRESS
Attendees must them register for the congress and submit the payment receipt as part of that registration process.

Registration Information 

Step 1: Payment

The University of Alicante requires payment before completing the registration form. The Payment Link grants access to a university-based platform where you are required to provide all necessary information to generate an invoice (e.g. personal information, tax or ID number of the institution responsible for the reimbursement, etc.).

The registration fee includes coffee breaks, lunches at a restaurant (on 29 June, 30 June, 1 July, and 2 July), and an opening reception. Any dietary restrictions (e.g. vegetarian, gluten-free, and/or food allergies) must be specified in the registration form (step 2).

Please note that if you plan to attend the conference dinner and/or excursion, the full amount should include all fees, e.g. 300€ = early bird (€250) + conference dinner (€50). Check the table below for the total amount with/without dinner and/or with/without the excursion to Novelda (€97.50)—with a minimum of 25 participants and a maximum of 50 participants for the excursion.

	Conference fee	Conference + gala dinner	Conference + gala dinner + excursion to Novelda
Early bird (until 15 May)	€250	€300	€397.5
Late registration (until 15 June)	€300	€350	€447.5

At the time of payment, you may be offered two ways to pay. The first, via UA’s system, allows you to pay via Credit Card directly to UA in Euros or (for an exchange rate and fee) in USD. That method requires you to approve the payment via your Credit Card App or through your online Credit Card account. The second method links to a third-party payment processor.

Once paid, please save the payment receipt. You will need to upload that file to complete step 2.

STEP 1: PAYMENT LINK

Step 2: Formal Registration

Complete the registration form at the following link. You will be required to attach a payment receipt (see step 1).

RSTEP 2: REGISTRATION LINK

 CONGRESS INFORMATION

Venue 

The University of Alicante is outside of the city, but there is public transportation in the form of a tram which runs from campus into the city center. (A good stopping-off point is the central market–Mercado Central de Alicante–which in addition to vendors of wonderful fruit, vegetables, cheeses and wines has a variety of bars and restaurants, and is within easy walking distance of the beach, monuments and museums.)

A single tram trip from the University of Alicante to downtown is €1.45, or you can buy a €2.30 round-trip ticket for the same day. Alternatively, you can purchase a multi-trip card for €8.70 for 10 trips, plus a €2 fee for the card itself. This card can be used for both the tram and public buses in the city.  Or one can take a cab or Uber. Cab fare one-way from the University to downtown is @€10 (roughly $8.50, depending on traffic conditions, point of pick-up and deposit, etc.).

Gala Dinner 1 JULY 2026 (€50)

Non-Vegetarian Menu	Vegetarian Menu
Starters (to share) Green salad with grilled octopus and pepper vinaigrette Flatbread with escalivada [grilled vegetables] and marinated tuna Seafood croquette Baby potatoes with onion, Iberian pork and Padrón [small green] peppers Individual starter Rice with vegetables from local garden Main course (choice of one of these) Pork cheeks in red wine OR Turbot with garlic and pine nut sauce	Starters Tomato salad with pickled vegetables Grilled vegetables on flatbread Persimmon stuffed with almonds Fried eggplant in honey Main course Rice with vegetables from local garden Dessert Seasonal fruit sorbet
All Meals Dessert (Seasonal fruit sorbet); Coffee / Tea; Drinks (Local white and red wine, Mineral water, beer, soft drinks)

Novelda Excursion 3 July 2026 (€97.5)

Departure at 9:00 a.m. from the University.

The optional excursion on Thursday (2 July) will be to Novelda, approximately 30 kilometers from Alicante, where there is a Gaudí inspired church, Sanatorio Santa María Magdalena, designed by José Sala Sala, and the Castillo de la Mola,  originally a Moorish fortress, followed by lunch at a bodega—an underground winery where grapes were pressed and stored, now often converted into restaurants.

Novelda is the quintessential town of the Middle Vinalopó region. It is known for its production of marble and spices, including saffron. It is the most important modernist town in the Valencian Community. We will visit the Sanctuary of Santa María Magdalena, highly influenced by Gaudí. In fact, it bears remarkable similarities to the Sacred Family (Barcelona). The exterior is particularly striking. There will be a guided tour of the exterior. Also noteworthy are the Castle de la Mola, of Arab origin, and the Triangular Tower, unique in European architecture.

Next, we will have a tasting and lunch at the Casa Sicilia winery, and at around 5:00 p.m.  we will return to the University.

Menu:

• • Starters (to share): Iberian ham platter; Salad with roasted capellà (cod); Cod fritters; Zucchini millefeuille with cream cheese and salmon
  • Individual starter: Scrambled eggs with ham
  • Main course (choice of): Pork with sun-dried tomatoes and spring garlic OR Hake with tarragon and clams
  • Dessert: Cream mille-feuille
  • Coffee or herbal teas
  • Drinks: Wine (White, rosé, red), beer, soft drinks, and water

Travel

Attendees may find the following materials, prepared by the University of Alicante for international students, useful at this time:

• https://dfis.ua.es/es/documentos/transport-information.pdf
• https://sri.ua.es/en/movilidad/documentos/exchanges/international-guide.pdf (pp. 12-15)

More specific detail regarding travel to and from the Congress will be available shortly here on the Gower Society web site and in the spring eJGN.

Accommodations

Housing accommodation has been arranged at discounted rates in the Villa Universitaria and at the Hotel Universa, directly across the street. It is recommended to get a bed-and-breakfast (“alojamiento y desayuno”); dinners at the Villa Universitaria are optional (“media pension”), and cafeteria-style. There are also several restaurants in the area within walking distance, and/or one can travel to the city center.

Accommodations Discount Code: GOWER

Room prices using the GOWER discount code must be paid for at time of registration and are nonrefundable. Prices range (depending upon size and type of room and single or double occupancy) approximately:

• 75 € – 120 € a night for room only
• 90 € – 130 € a night for room with breakfast included
  (B&B | Alojamiento Y Desayuno)
• 100 € – 165 € a night for room with breakfast and dinner included
  (half board | Media Pension)

Both accommodations offer the option of free cancellation, but the GOWER discount code does not apply to that option, and the rates are therefore higher, ranging from approximately 90 € – 150 € a night for room only.

• • Universa Hotel (formerly Hotel Villa Universitaria) Reservations https://www.universahoteles.com/EN/home.html

 Note: When finalizing your accommodations reservation, you may be offered the option to have a service automatically exchange the cost from Euros to USD, for a fee. Prior to reserving, attendees may wish to verify the international transaction fee applied by their credit card, if any, in order to see if that option is more preferable than having the offered service exchange the reservation amount prior charging  it to the credit card.

• • RESIDENCE HALL
    NOTE: the Residence Hall originally available for the Congress (Villa Universitaria) is now fully occupied with no further rooms availale. The Congress has secured further residence hall accomodations at a nearby residence hall, Mi Campus:
    • MI CAMPUS  RESIDENCE HALL
      • Attendees may book directly through the following website: micampus website – Book
      • Discount code: GOWER-MICAMPUS (in uppercase and without spaces) 15% discount on the daily rate.
      • Room type: Single room, equipped with microwave, refrigerator, and private bathroom.
      • Some important points to keep in mind:
        • Reservations can be made using the code until July 2, 2026.
        • The code will be valid for stays between June 26 and July 6, in case attendees wish to arrive the weekend before or extend their stay after the event.
        • You will find single room rates with or without a kitchen, each with its corresponding price.
        • The discount code must be entered during the search process so that it is applied correctly.
        • Regarding breakfast: the My Campus residence recommends requesting it directly at reception upon arrival. The price is €4 per person per breakfast. We believe this option is more flexible and convenient, as some guests may need it on certain days but not others.
        • Cleaning service is offered biweekly. If needed, additional cleanings can be arranged at an extra cost.
        • All rooms include bed linen and towels.
        • Check-in is from 4:00 p.m. and check-out is before 12:00 p.m.
        • Parking is available on their premises for €8 per day.

        • For any questions or further details, email Guiomar Desantes (in English or Spanish).

• • • Villa Universitaria Reservations https://www.villaalojamiento.es/EN/home.html

–

CALL FOR PAPERS

The Congress theme, “Gower Sea to Sea: Atlantic to Mediterranean,” is intended to encompass both Gower’s homeland and the Mediterranean world, with geographies in between. Proposals (<150 words) for papers of 20 minutes in length are solicited by 15 August 31 August, 2025, with acceptances by 15 September. All scholarship related to Gower is welcome, but subjects prompted by the Congress theme are especially encouraged. Proposals should be sent to R. F. Yeager, Society President (rfyeager@hotmail.com).

 Deadline for proposal submission has been extended to
31 August.