52nd Annual National Symposium

Watershed Moments in Dress:
The Influence of Technological, Cultural, and Political Revolutions
Costume Society of America’s 53rd Annual National Meeting and Symposium

June 6 through 10, 2026

Hosted by CSA’s Northeastern Region

A watershed is a point where direction changes—where water, ideas, and movements break away from the familiar and flow toward something new. The term describes moments of significant, often momentous, change.

 

In 2027, the National Symposium will be held in Burlington, Vermont. This vibrant city overlooks the shores of Lake Champlain and sits at the base of the Green Mountains, a major watershed and part of the backbone of the Appalachian Mountain Range.

 

Historically, remote locales such as Burlington were considered backwaters where the fashions of society took years to root and grow. Today we navigate an increasingly interconnected and cosmopolitan world filled with rapidly accelerating watershed moments that reshape how we create, wear, and understand dress. In 2027, let us gather to examine work which touches on the deep cultural currents percolating through the lives of those inhabiting the smaller as well as larger communities in North America and around the world.

 

Themes may include: technological accelerations in production; digital design and emerging technologies; production techniques that encapsulate a moment of cultural shift; global trade and supply‑chain shifts; sustainability and circular practices; accessibility; case studies in war‑time rationing; dress as identity in mass migration and displacement; gender and race movements; countercultural revolutions; practice‑based research from costume designers, makers, and reenactors; case studies of historical garments; community‑centered, curatorial, and museum‑based approaches.

 

Vermont is a state of firsts, from banning slavery in 1777 to being the first to legalize same-sex marriages through legislation in 2009. The state continues to be known to the Abenaki people as N’dakinna, with a reputation for being independent and progressive, and for nurturing many notable people. The city of Burlington, and state of Vermont, offer many opportunities to explore the past, present, and future of clothing. Come and enjoy!

  • Location and Lodging

    The Hilton Charlotte University Place 

    8629 JM Keynes Drive

    Charlotte, NC 28262

    704.547.7444


    The symposium will take place in the meeting rooms of The Hilton Charlotte University Place, a lakefront hotel located near the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. It offers comfortable guest rooms with amenities such as free parking, complimentary WiFi, an outdoor swimming pool, and a fitness center. Guests can enjoy dining at the Edgewater Bar and Grille, which specializes in seafood and steaks, or grab a Starbucks coffee from the lobby café. Conveniently located, the hotel is 15 miles from Charlotte Douglas Airport. It also provides a complimentary local shuttle service within a five-mile radius on weekdays.


    Group rates are available for the nights of Sunday, May 31 through Wednesday, June 3 based on availability. CSA’s group room rate is $159 per night, and guests have the choice of either 1 King Bed or 2 Double Beds. This rate is subject to applicable taxes in effect at the time of check out. 


    Looking to stay for longer? The group rate is offered the nights of May 28 through June 5, although availability on the shoulder nights is limited.  After clicking “Book a Room” you can select your preferred dates at the top of the next page.


    Reservations must be made by May 13, 2026 (subject to availability) by calling 1 800 HILTONS, anytime of day, or 704-547-7444, Monday thru Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and ask to speak with the in-house reservations department. You will need to give them the booking code “AMS,” to the operator. You can also book online by clicking here. Please note: any reservations made after May 13, 2026, are subject to availability and at prevailing room rates. 


    WHY WE ASK YOU TO STAY AT THE CONFERENCE HOTEL

    In order to secure meeting rooms for the conference, our agreement with the hotel includes contracted room nights. If the minimum is not met, CSA must pay for unused room nights. Please help us make the conference financially viable by staying at the conference hotel. If you are looking for a roommate, please visit the National Symposia discussion forum located on the CSA Community Forums (log in to you profile to reach it here). 


  • Call for Submissions

    The Call for Submissions will be available August 1, 2026.

  • Registration

    Registration will open in early March 2027. Projected early bird full registration rates are below; please note that these are subject to change.


    Member: $500

    Emerging Professional Member: $465

    Student Member: $425

    Non-Member: $635

  • Schedule

    The schedule will be available when registration opens in early March 2027. Projected daily activiities are below and are subject to change.


    • Saturday, June 5, 2027 or Sunday, June 6, 2027 (TBD):  Angels Project
    • Sunday, June 6, 2027: Pre-Symposium Tours and Board Meeting
    • Monday, June 7, 2027: Opening Reception
    • Monday, June 7, 2027 through Wednesday, June 9, 2027: Concurrent Sessions (Research Presentations, Panels, Professional Development Workshops, Cerative Works Presentations), Plenary Sessions, Awards Ceremony, Annual Meeting and Town Hall
    • Wednesday, June 9, 2027: Board Meeting
    • Thursday, June 10, 2027: Post-Symposium Tours

    You can check out the highlights of the 2026 Symposium in Charlotte, North Carolina by clicking here!

    Questions?

    Send an email to Vice President for Symposia, Ann Wass

    symposium@costumesocietyamerica.com

    Thanks to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Annual Meeting and Symposium in Los Angeles!

    To read a full account of the festivities, click here.