European glass events 2026

In late July 2026 two distinct glass‑focused events were announced in Central Europe. On 28 July, the Slovak Archaeological Society’s Glass History Working Group publicised a two‑day colloquium to be held in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on 7–8 October. The scholarly meeting will bring together researchers from Slovakia, the Czech Republic and abroad to present papers and posters on archaeological glass finds, historic production techniques, archaeometric analysis, and conservation of historic glass in the Moravia‑Silesia region.

Three days later, on 31 July, the ninth edition of the Glasstress exhibition opened in Venice, Italy. Curated by Adriano Berengo and Joanna De Vose, Glasstress 2026 showcases more than sixty contemporary artists who use glass as a medium for experimental practice, craft knowledge and artistic research. Installations such as the reflective “mirror series” by Gelatincostella illustrate the exhibition’s emphasis on diverse techniques and concepts.

Together, these announcements illustrate a broader European focus on glass in 2026, spanning both academic study of historic material culture and cutting‑edge artistic exploration.