The Museum Computer Network (MCN), a non-profit organisation supporting museums to achieve their digital goals, has announced details of MCN 2026, a conference bringing together museum and cultural heritage professionals from across North America and beyond.
MCN 2026 provides a space for the community to network, exchange knowledge, and discover the newest advancements in digital museum technologies.
This year, attendees can experience two days of insightful sessions, ranging from technical deep dives to compelling case studies. There will also be networking opportunities to connect with colleagues and build lasting relationships.
The event includes an evening reception, museum tours, and MCN's signature event, Ignite!
Registration now open
The theme of this year's conference is Trust & Longevity.
The programme will explore how museums and cultural organisations develop products, systems, and processes designed to last through constant change, especially in a time when trust in information sources, expert knowledge, and public institutions is declining.
As technology advances, expectations change, and deadlines tighten, organisations need to make careful, innovative, and ethical decisions to maintain trust over the long term.
In an age dominated by AI-created content, algorithmic boosting, scepticism towards science, conflicting stories about history and truth, and swiftly evolving digital landscapes, trust and longevity are deeply connected.
This theme investigates how institutions evolve from quick fixes to long-term stewardship by developing systems, experiences, and policies that protect historical and cultural knowledge, maintain evidence and context, showcase diverse viewpoints, and foster spaces for inquiry and dialogue.
The sessions will look at how trust is established and maintained through governance, teams, infrastructure, digital platform management, collection care, and operational choices that help institutions adapt, work together, and succeed over time.
The conference will be held at Hyatt Regency Seattle in Seattle, Washington, from 21 - 23 October 2026. For more information and to register, please click here. Early bird registration runs until 3 August.
Charlotte Coates is blooloop's editor. She is from Brighton, UK and previously worked as a librarian. She has a strong interest in arts, culture and information and graduated from the University of Sussex with a degree in English Literature. Charlotte can usually be found either with her head in a book or planning her next travel adventure.
