SOAS and Alumni Events
SOAS hosts many events throughout the year, both in person and online. These range from music concerts and art exhibitions, to public lectures, conversations and discussions with leading academics and world figures from the worlds of politics, finance and more.
We also hold many special events for SOAS alumni, and our worldwide alumni groups organise their own events and reunions.
This is a small selection of our upcoming events. For a full list, visit SOAS events and get involved.
April–June
11 April - 22 June
Painting Freedom: Indian modernism and its rebels
10:30am to 5pm
SOAS Gallery, SOAS Campus
Visit this vibrant exhibition, which presents the emergence of Indian modern art as a quest for cultural independence, exploring this through the work of the artists Jamini Roy, Rabindranath Tagore and Hemen Mazumdar, as well as a number of their contemporaries.
June
6 June
SOAS Alumni reception, Jeddah
7:30pm to 9:30pm
Jeddah Hilton, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Join Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Habib as he reflects on the strategic vision to reimagine SOAS for the 21st century, with specific reference to the continued drive to promote equitable partnerships with universities in the Global South.
These events will be an opportunity to network, connect with fellow SOAS alumni and find out more about how you can engage with SOAS both locally in Riyadh and Jeddah and in London.
12 June
The politics of protest and academic freedom in time of transition, crisis and war
SOAS Gallery Lecture Theatre,
SOAS campus
A panel discussion with Vice Chancellor Adam Habib (SOAS University of London), Professor Lisa Anderson (Columbia University), and Professor Rabab El-Mahdi (American University of Cairo), chaired by Professor Leslie Vinjamuri (SOAS University of London).
Student protests across universities in the US in response to the Israel-Hamas war have galvanized a wave of protests in Europe and the Middle East. This panel will look at the current protests in comparative perspective, drawing on experiences from Egypt and South Africa, as well as the US and UK. We look at vital questions surrounding the role of the university and the implications for academic freedom and freedom of speech, especially in time of war, conflict, and political transition.
12 June
Inaugural Lecture Series:
Professor Stacey Pierson
5:30pm
SOAS Gallery Lecture Theatre,
SOAS campus
Join us for our summer inaugural lecture where Professor Stacey Pierson from the School of Arts will investigate ways in which fragments of Chinese porcelain, whether formed by accident or intent, have been reused in global design and artistic contexts from the fifteenth century to the present day.
15 June
Undergraduate Open Day
10am–3pm
SOAS campus
If you know anyone who is interested in undergraduate studies at SOAS, here is their opportunity to explore the campus, meet staff and students, and discover the opportunities that await. During the event, prospective students have the chance to attend informative presentations, interactive workshops, and campus tours, and to learn about the wide range of undergraduate courses available.
23 June
Mardana’s Children – film screening and musical performance
11am–1pm
SOAS Gallery Lecture Theatre, SOAS campus
Join us for the world premiere of 'Mardana's Children', a captivating short film about the rababis of Lahore, a community of Muslim musicians with deep-rooted ties to the Sikhs by way of a centuries-old music tradition.
The event will also feature a special performance by Muslim Shaggan, a talented Hindustani vocalist belonging to the rababi community of Lahore.
July
11 July to 21 September
Hudood: Rethinking Boundaries
10:30am–5pm
SOAS Gallery, SOAS campus
Visit this collaborative exhibition led by SOAS students at the SOAS Gallery, which introduces contemporary art from the Barjeel Foundation, with a focus on the overarching theme of ‘Boundaries’ as both a subject and a tool for meaningfully accessing a diverse array of art from the SWANA region.
11 July to 21 September
Belonging Flexibly: the afterlives of urban Muslim Asia
10:30am–5pm
SOAS Gallery, SOAS campus
Visit an exhibition of photographer Moska Najib’s vivid images that explore the diverse diasporic experiences of multiple communities.
‘Belonging Flexibly' tells the story of non-Muslim communities from historically Muslim-majority cities in Asia, including (post) Soviet Central Asia, that migrated out of the region due to political instability, international intervention, and civil conflict.