Queer History South (QHS) is a network and conference that connects people working to preserve, research, and make accessible the rich and diverse histories of the LGBTQ US South. The primary purpose of QHS is to provide networking, professional development, and best practices for those directly working (formally or informally, professionally or communally) in the fields of Southern LGBTQ Histories, Archives, Exhibits, Historical Research, and Historical Education. QHS meets for a conference every two years at a different location across the South. QHS also offers opportunities for collaboration, research, and educational professional development opportunities throughout the year.

QHS 2026 will be completely virtual so that more people are able to attend.

You can see the full schedule and learn more at https://invisiblehistory.org/qhs2026/

The registration pricing schedule is as follows:

Registration Opens: October 20, 2025

Oct 20 - Dec 31, 2025, early registration
1. $200 early full institutional support (for those with an institution or organization paying)
2. $125 early no support (for those without an institution or organization paying)
3. $50 early students (undergraduate and graduate level students only)
Jan 1 - February 8th, normal registration
1. $225 full institutional support (for those with an institution or organization paying)
2. $150 no support (for those without an institution or organization paying)
3. $60 students (undergraduate and graduate level students only)
February 9 - 18th, 2026 late registration
1. $250 late full institutional support (for those with an institution or organization paying)
2. $175 late no support (for those without an institution or organization paying)
3. $80 late students (undergraduate and graduate level students only)

Registration closes February 18, 2026

Invisible Histories focuses on four key elements related to advancing LGBTQ Southern History:

Community Engagement
Archiving, Preservation, Research & Scholarship
Education
Professional Development & Best Practices

Invisible Histories acts as an intermediary between institutions, organizations, and everyday folks. We strive to break barriers between organizations and their local communities to ensure that preservation and research exist in a co-productive and relationship centered way. In addition to direct collection and preservation, Invisible Histories is invested in providing scholars with direct access to materials as well as creating a network of people conducting LGBTQ Southern archiving, preservation, education and research to make scholarship more accessible. We focus on providing education around the Queer South to those within and outside the region through speaking, exhibiting, online materials, and publications. Finally, Invisible Histories seeks to help develop a new generation of scholars working in the Queer South as well as work alongside other professionals in the field to develop best practices for this work.

Queer History South Conference 2026

A Virtual Southern LGBTQ History and Archiving Conference