2026 Theme: Unholy Creations

“It is true, we shall be monsters, cut off from all the world; but on that account we shall be more attached to one another.” 
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, 1818

We take our inspiration for this year’s theme from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein—a foundational text for the horror and science fiction genres, a feminist exploration of patriarchal hubris and violence, and a critical commentary on our technocratic present. We also seek to engage with the broader questions inherent within Shelley’s text, from the profound to the playful: What makes a monster? What are the risks (and rewards) in claiming monstrosity? What does it mean to be an unholy creation–and what does it mean to be someone who creates something "unholy"? Where are the limits of technological progress, and what are the consequences for those who overstep? How does horror continue to engage with and inspire works of self-creation and transformation? Where are the linkages between horror, DIY practices, crafting communities, and other forms of reinvention? 

Guided by these questions and our  commitment to building a collegial and supportive network of scholars, teachers, and horror enthusiasts, we are delighted to announce the second virtual Queer Horror Conference. We welcome both individual abstracts and organized panels that deal with any aspect of the intersection of queerness and horror, interpreted in as broad, interdisciplinary, and intersectional a manner as possible. While we encourage work that fits within our general theme of “Unholy Creations,” it is not a criteria for submission or acceptance. We also welcome and encourage non-traditional forms of conference presentations, including art talks, readings, or works-in-progress. 

In the interest of encouraging collaboration and support discussions, presentations should be no more than 15 minutes. Likewise, we sincerely hope that conference participants will take part in as much of the conference as possible, including the opening events. 

Scholars and practitioners from all career stages, including independent scholars, undergraduate and graduate students are welcomed and encouraged to reach out. We also welcome expressions of interest from those who are interested in attending the conference without participating. Full registration details will be available on our website in due time. 

As with last year, this event is co-sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh’s Horror Studies Center and the University of Pittsburgh Library System, who will be hosting our virtual opening event on Thursday, February 5. This year, we are honored to welcome the Horror Writers Association as a conference sponsor. With the 2026 StokerCon and Ann Radcliffe Academic Conference taking place in Pittsburgh in June 2026, the potential for building on the energy and insights from this conference are significant. 

Proposals should be submitted via our website,QueerHorrorConference.com, no later than Friday, December 20, 2025. Notice of acceptance will be sent by January 2, 2026.
Please reach out with any questions or accessibility requests to QueerHorrorConference@gmail.com.