Dracula Returns A.D.2027 - A Conference and Celebration
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Date: 14 May 2027 - 16 May 2027
Description
Step into the world of Dracula as Derby celebrates the 103rd anniversary of the historic stage debut that helped create the modern Count.
In May 1924, Hamilton Deane’s stage adaptation of Dracula premiered in Derby, transforming Bram Stoker’s vampire from a creature of the page into the elegant, evening-dressed figure recognised around the world today. From Bela Lugosi’s iconic portrayal to countless adaptations across film, television, theatre and literature, the Dracula we know was shaped here.
Following the success of the inaugural Dracula Returns conference in 2025, which welcomed more than 100 delegates and international speakers from across Europe, Dracula Returns A.D.2027 brings together scholars, creatives, performers and the public for three days of talks, panels, performances and celebrations exploring the enduring legacy of Dracula.
The conference will explore the many meanings of Dracula and the vampire, from literature and folklore to identity, history, culture, tourism and popular imagination. Topics include the making of the modern Count, stage and screen adaptations, gothic traditions, women in the Dracula story, contested Dracula locations, dark tourism, vampire communities, music, performance and the future of the gothic.
Alongside the conference, visitors can experience Dracula’s Bazaar, a gothic market featuring alternative artists, makers and traders, as well as a programme of events celebrating Derby’s unique connection to one of the world’s most famous fictional figures.
Whether you are a Dracula enthusiast, gothic culture fan, academic, creative or simply curious about Derby’s dark history, Dracula Returns A.D.2027 invites you to discover the story of how the city helped shape a legend.
What to expect:
- Three days of talks, panels and discussions
- Performances, screenings and special events
- Contributions from scholars, creatives and gothic communities
- Dracula’s Bazaar featuring alternative makers and traders
- Celebrations across Derby inspired by the city’s Dracula heritage
Join Derby as it reclaims Dracula as a son of the city and celebrates more than a century of gothic history, creativity and imagination.
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