Ladies and Gentlemen, dearest Colleagues and Friends,

It is with great pleasure that we present to you the sole bid for the Congress of the International Council of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS) to be held from August 16 to August 20, 2027, in the beautiful city of Vienna, Austria.

Venue and Theme

The Congress will take place at the prestigious Austrian Academy of Sciences, situated in the heart of Vienna’s historical center. This renowned venue boasts a festive hall with a capacity of 300 persons, alongside five additional conference rooms that can accommodate six parallel sessions and a total of 500 participants.

The theme for ICOS 2027 is “Names as Condensed Narratives.” This theme underscores the profound significance of names and naming while providing ample scope for a diverse array of onomastic topics and scientific approaches. We hope this focus will inspire many paper submissions that explore names as encapsulated stories, rich with cultural and historical significance.

Background

The decision to host the Congress in Vienna was made after an extensive search for potential venues. Ultimately, the option of holding it in Vienna was activated with the enthusiastic support of Heinz Fassmann, President of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and the dedicated event management team of the Academy. This ensures that the Congress will be held in a location that is not only logistically ideal but also steeped in scientific heritage, being the home of two ICOS Board members.

Call for Submissions

We invite submissions that align with the Congress theme, though adherence to the theme is not mandatory. The workshops and individual papers may address a broad spectrum of topics, including but not limited to:

• Names between heritage preservation and cultural change
• Names in the focus of various sciences
• The universal phenomena of names and naming
• Names and naming in different parts of the world
• Names as identity markers
• Name changes
• The endonym/exonym divide not only with place names
• Nicknames
• Commercial naming
• Minority and indigenous names
• Naming in the Global South
• Names in literature
• Urban toponymy
• The juridical framework of naming
• Place name standardization
• Toponomastics as a field of science
• Toponymy in education

Motivation

Hosting the ICOS Congress in Vienna promises mutual benefits. The gathering of the global onomastic community in Vienna will undoubtedly invigorate onomastic research locally, providing Viennese and Austrian researchers with unique opportunities to engage with leading experts. Conversely, the rich tradition of onomastic studies in Vienna and Austria will offer valuable insights and inspiration to international attendees.

Responsible Bidder

The bid is led by Peter Jordan, Ph.D., Honorary and Associate Professor, whose dedication and expertise ensure a successful and memorable Congress.

We are excited about the prospect of welcoming you all to Vienna in 2027 for a stimulating and enriching ICOS Congress.

Thank you.