Welcome

Join us in the vibrant university town of Maynooth for HNS 2026 to explore fact and fiction in the historical novel, focusing a modern eye on a fading world through historical research and creative storytelling. Be a part of the HNS community as you engage with historical novelists. Book a one-on-one session with an agent or a publisher. Enjoy excursions to historic sites, a welcome reception in Pugin Hall and a gala dinner where we will celebrate the winners of our writing competitions.

"When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."

Finding, defining, and authoring the legend

Our keynote speakers and parallel sessions will explore the 'Print the Legend' theme. How do we find the legend, mining archives and other sources for stories that are entertaining yet authentic? How do we define the legend, reviving people and places while avoiding cultural misappropriation? Should we 'equalise' historical fiction by using female or under-represented protagonists? Should we develop the legends that exist in our readers' minds, or invent new ones? Who owns the legend: the historian? The descendants? The reader? Or the novelist?

HNS 2026

Join us in Maynooth for an inspiring exploration of historical storytelling and creative writing.

Keynote Speakers

Engage with bestselling authors and gain fresh insights into historical fiction writing.

Novel Competition

The First Chapters Competition has now closed to entries. Thank you for your submissions. The category shortlists will be announced on 1 March 2026.

The call for parallel session speakers is now closed. The full conference programme will be available shortly.

Call for parallel session speakers

Meet our podcasters

Join Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill as they capture the buzz and atmosphere of HNS 2026 with behind-the-scenes chats, candid interviews with attendees, reports on the sessions and interviews with the fabulous speakers.

Excursions

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One-on-One Session

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Become a HNS member

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Programme

Print the Legend

Overview of the HNS 2026 programme

Thursday 20 August: arrival and registration from 15:00, informal evening gathering at local pub/ restaurant.

Friday 21 August: Registration 08:30-09:30 and 15:00-17:00. Excursions during the day. Agent & publisher one-to-ones. Evening Welcome Buffet in Pugin Hall, South Campus.

Saturday 22 August: Registration 08:30-09:00. From 09:00 onwards, Plenary and parallel sessions, refreshments provided. Agent and publisher one-to-ones. Evening Gala Dinner, Glenroyal Hotel.

Note: if you do not pre-book for the Friday evening buffet or the Saturday evening Gala Dinner, please make your own evening meal arrangements. There are a number of restaurants within walking distance of Maynooth Campus but advance reservation may be required; North Campus accommodation offers shared self-catering facilities.

Sunday 23 August: 09:00 onwards, Plenary and parallel sessions, refreshments provided. Agent and publisher one-to-ones. Close of conference at 16:30.

The conference team have checked the accommodation information on this website with the accommodation providers. We will keep it updated as much as we can.

It is the responsibility of conference delegates to verify the information with the providers and make their own arrangements.

The conference team are unable to deal with individual accommodation queries. These should be directed to the accommodation providers.