ICOM Exhibitions, a community of museum leaders and content producers, has opened registrations and the call for proposals for its 2026 annual conference, which will take place from 4 to 8 October at Musée de la civilisation in Québec City, Canada.
Titled Momentum: Museums, Exhibitions, and Disruptions – How Far Dare We Go?, the event will explore the current and future challenges shaping exhibitions and offer a space for reflection, dialogue, and partnership.
Welcoming around 150 museum professionals from across the globe, ICOM Exhibitions’ Momentum 2026 Annual Conference seeks to support innovation, encourage adaptation to change, and advance the work of the international museum community.
To register to attend, please click here.
Inspiring programme
Each day, the programme will examine a different theme through keynote presentations, workshops and sessions, including the Traveling Exhibitions Marketplace.
In the afternoons, delegates will visit the host museum and local cultural institutions, experiencing innovative approaches to exhibitions, interpretation, and audience engagement first-hand while sharing ideas and learnings.
Highlights include a visit to the new permanent exhibition, Resonances. Between Them and Us, at Monastère des Augustines, and a glimpse behind the scenes at the Musée de la civilisation, where delegates can also choose from six thematic tours.
Additionally, the programme includes a visit to the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. This features an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at one of Quebec’s most significant cultural projects, the new pavilion dedicated to the painter and sculptor Jean Paul Riopelle, which is set to open in October 2026.
Other optional tours include a visit to the Île d’Orléans, with a museum visit, lunch at a microbrewery, apple product tastings, and a stop at the Montmorency Falls; as well as a walking tour of Québec City's galleries and artist-run centres.
Sessions will be held in French or English, with simultaneous interpretation in French, English, and Spanish. The final programme will be announced in the coming weeks.
Call for proposals
ICOM Exhibitions is now calling for proposals that test the limits of disruption for the 2026 annual conference.
"The museum of 2026 can no longer rely on neutrality," says a spokesperson from ICOM Exhibitions.
"Between social tensions, inclusion imperatives, and democratic fragility, museums find themselves at a crossroads. Are they cautious refuges or laboratories of courage?"
Proposals that discuss participatory practices, sustainability, DEI, and the use of AI and immersive technology are highly encouraged.
Formats available include 45-minute roundtables, 60 or 90-minute workshops, 20-minute plenary sessions, 10-minute lighting presentations, and 3-minute presentations at the Traveling Exhibitions Marketplace.
Proposals must be submitted by 22 May. For full details, please click here.
See also: Momentum 2024: exploring memory & the future of museums
Rebecca Hardy has over 10 years' experience in the culture and heritage sector. She studied Fine Art at university and has written for a broad range of creative organisations including artists, galleries, and retailers. When she's not writing, she spends her time getting lost in the woods and making mud pies with her young son.
