The International Congress of Cretan Studies (ICCS) was established in 1961 by the Society of Cretan Historical Studies (SCHS), aiming at the diffusion of research related to the history of Crete. The International Congresses are held once every five years, rotating between the capital cities of the four Cretan prefectures.

In the prefecture of Chania, the International Cretan Congress is organized by the Philological Society of Chania “O CHRYSOSTOMOS”, the oldest literary society of Crete (founded in 1899).