The Zoroastrian World – Jun 2026 – SOAS

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The Zoroastrian World – June 2026
The Zoroastrian World is a monthly newsletter that shares key news, events, opportunities and publications from across the study of Zoroastrianism.

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From the Institute
On 29 May, audiences at Kings Place in London embarked on a remarkable musical journey through heritage, memory, faith and belonging with Manashni, Gavashni, Kunashni: A Musical Journey into Zoroastrian Identity.

The concert marked the culmination of Jonathan Galton‘s tenure as Shapoorji Pallonji Artist-in-Residence 2025–26, exploring how music shapes, preserves and expresses Zoroastrian identity across generations and communities.

Bringing together newly commissioned works and cherished musical traditions, the evening featured performances by Frazan Kotwal, Fra Rustumji, Firoze Madon, Amir Massoumian and the Ava Choir, alongside original compositions by Kahan Taraporevala and Raiomond Mirza. Hosted by Nina Wadia OBE, the programme celebrated the richness and diversity of Zoroastrian cultural expression through sound.
You can watch the recording of the full musical performance on our YouTube playlist.
Following a successful premiere at SOAS, the second performance of Home, Elsewhere: Objects That Carry Us took place on 20 June 2026 at the Zoroastrian Centre, London, under the auspices of Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe. Developed in dialogue with members of the UK Zoroastrian community, this evocative theatre piece explores how devotional objects and domestic ritual spaces carry memory, belonging and identity across migration. Emerging from Karl Singporewala’s artist-in-residence project Cosmos, Memory, Scale, the performance invited audiences to reflect on the intimate ways religious objects connect homes left behind with homes remade, sustaining continuity across generations and geographies. The evening concluded with a lively discussion and reception, fostering meaningful community engagement around themes of memory, heritage, and belonging.
Zoroastrian Centre, London, 20 June 2026. Credit: Ghost Chan.
Applications open for the Zoroastrianism Winter School! 
This exciting programme offers participants the opportunity to engage with leading scholars in the field, explore the history, cultures, languages and religious traditions of Zoroastrianism, and connect with an international community of students and researchers. Co-convened by Prof Carlo Cereti and Dr Mariano Errichiello, hosted by the Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture at UC Irvine and organised in collaboration with the Shapoorji Pallonji Institute of Zoroastrian Studies, University of Toronto and University of Sapienza, the Winter School provides an interdisciplinary introduction to one of the world’s oldest living religious traditions and its contemporary global communities.Whether you are a student, researcher, educator or simply interested in learning more about Zoroastrianism, this is a valuable opportunity to deepen your knowledge and expand your network.  Apply here by 15 September.
Prof Almut Hintze will speak at the Consciousness Perspectives Forum on 13 July 7.30pm. Titled “The concepts of Good and Evil in Zoroastrianism“, this lecture will be streamed through Zoom. Against the backdrop of Zoroastrian cosmology, it discusses questions about the radically different nature of Good and Evil, the Zoroastrian concept of creation and the role and responsibility of human beings in the world. Register here.
Save the date! 

In the evening of 8 October 2026, the Institute will host the book launch of the Zoroastrian World. The editors and some contributors will deliver a short presentation, followed by Q&A and reception. Details to follow.
News
The Zoroastrian Stories of Migration Heritage Project was featured on BBC London News, BBC Radio London and across BBC social media for their work documenting Zoroastrian migration stories. You can read more here.
Recently featured on CNN, a landmark case before the Supreme Court of India has brought renewed attention to questions of identity and belonging within the Parsi community. Focusing on the recognition of children of Parsi women married to non-Parsis, the case has sparked discussion on inclusion and the future of communal life. You can read more here.
Events
The Fifteenth Biennial Iranian Studies Conference will be held at Utretch University from 5- 8 August 2026. For further details, head to the AIS website.
Publications
Administrations et préposés d’époque sassanide: Nouvelles données à la mémoire de Philippe Gignoux
edited by Rika GyselenThis volume brings together studies based on primary sources, often unpublished, which highlight important aspects of the administration of the Sasanian Empire. The sources used are mainly seals and seal impressions on clay bullae. Read more.
Indo-Aryans in the Bronze Age
by Stanislav GrigorievThis book challenges the steppe-origin theory of Indo-Aryans, arguing their homeland was in North Western Iran. Using linguistic, genetic and archaeological data, it traces migrations from Iran to Central Asia, India, and beyond during the 3rd millennium BC, shaping Indo-Aryan dialects. Read more.
About Us
If you would like to give a gift to the Institute via the Centres and Institutes – regular gift | SOAS service, we would be grateful for your donation. Patrons can now donate regularly or as a one-off payment. These funds will ensure the continued running of the Institute and an expansion of our activities. We remain incredibly grateful for the support of all our stakeholders, donors and community members.

The SOAS Shapoorji Pallonji Institute of Zoroastrian Studies was launched in June 2018 thanks to the generous donation from a Parsi benefactor, Mr Shapoor Pallonji Mistry, in the name of his father, Mr Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry.

The Institute’s Annual Report for the academic year 2024-25 is available to view on our website. It covers all of the activities fof the Institute, including events, research and teaching. Find out more. 

Visit our website to find out more about the Institute.

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