Ecsite, the European network of science centres and museums, has announced key dates for the 2026 Ecsite Conference, which will take place in Sweden from 2 to 4 June.
The event will be hosted by Universeum in Gothenburg, and is set to welcome more than 900 science centre, museum and science engagement professionals from across the globe. Attendees will share expertise, network and discuss the future of the sector.
Trade show sales open today, 14 October, and the call for speakers remains open until 26 October. Registration will open on 11 February 2026.
For more information on participating in the trade show or to submit a proposal to speak at the event, please visit the Ecsite website.
Connection, peer-learning, & inspiration
On 2 June, attendees can spend the morning in four-hour Deep Dives for professional development before the conference opens in the afternoon.
The programme will include two inspiring keynote addresses and more than 80 sessions on subjects spanning exhibitions and collections to strategy, leadership, and operations.
It also features showcases of travelling exhibitions and bazaars for hands-on activities and shareable resources, as well as specialised networking events and peer moments, innovative products and services at the Ecsite trade show and exclusive access to Universeum, Sweden’s national science centre.
Those attending for the first time are invited to a dedicated meet-up, which ensures there is always a friendly face in any room they enter. The Ecsite president and the Board can personally welcome new members from across the world. All delegates can then gather at the Networking Gateway to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones.
Ecsite's signature event, Nocturne, recognises the accomplishments of science centres and museums, while the Farewell Party closes the conference, celebrating three days of connection, peer-learning, and inspiration.
The 2026 Ecsite Conference welcomes all science centre, museum and science engagement professionals. This includes those who shape the programming at science centres and museums, exhibition developers, education directors, university students, professors and researchers, as well as human resources, marketing, and financial staff working within the sector.
Additionally, managers and coordinators of innovative EU and global projects, along with CEOs, managing directors, and senior managers, are encouraged to attend.
Ecsite is the European Association of Science Centres and Museums, comprising over 300 member organisations worldwide. These include Natural History Museums, Science Festivals, Aquariums, Science Communication Faculties, and all other organisations that communicate science with the public.
This year, the Ecsite Conference took place from 3 to 5 June at the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw, Poland. The extensive programme included sessions such as Future-proof learning: Advancing climate education through VR, art, storytelling, and hands-on science; The role of imagination in tackling complex issues in science centres; and the AI Spotlight.
