APCONF-MUCH 2026
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Dates
October 26–31, 2026
Location
Bali, Indonesia
Area
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Traditions and Trajectories: Maritime Heritage and Blue Economies in Asia-Pacific
For centuries, the Asia-Pacific region has been shaped by dynamic seafaring traditions, vast trade networks, and deep cultural connections to the ocean. As the world faces mounting environmental and economic challenges, preserving maritime and underwater cultural heritage presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the future. In addition to the list of traditional panels on maritime and underwater archaeology, in 2026 we want to highlight the social and economic impact of cultural heritage management in all its forms. Hence, this conference will explore how innovative, sustainable strategies—from digital documentation and community-driven conservation to adaptive policies and blue finance—can ensure that maritime heritage contributes meaningfully to a thriving Blue Economy.Participants
Asia Pacific Conference on Maritime & Underwater Cultural Heritage (APConf-Much)
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The Asia Pacific Conference on Maritime & Underwater Cultural Heritage (APConf-Much) — formerly known as the Asia Pacific Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage (APConf) — has been the leading regional conference dedicated to the study, preservation, and management of maritime and underwater cultural heritage in the Asia-Pacific region. The rebranding reflects our conscious effort to broaden the conference’s focus by integrating a wider range of disciplines and perspectives to address the complexities of underwater and maritime cultural heritage.
Since its first conference in November 2011, APConf-Much has been functioning as a vital platform for scholars and professionals committed to advancing research, conservation, and sustainable management of underwater and maritime cultural heritage. For over 14 years, it has primarily brought together archaeologists, conservators, and historians to discuss and share knowledge about underwater archaeological sites, shipwrecks, and maritime practices.