2026 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo

The 2026 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo (AAM 2026), organized by the American Alliance of Museums, is the largest museum conference in the world. It brings together museums of all types and sizes—from art and history museums to zoos and botanic gardens—to share ideas and make transformational connections. AAM 2026 will take place in Philadelphia, PA from May 20-23, 2026. The conference theme is "The Museum Odyssey," exploring how time shapes museums as timekeepers, travelers, chroniclers, and seers. In 2026, as the United States marks its 250th anniversary, museums have a unique opportunity to reexamine the past, embrace the present, and help shape what comes next, with Philadelphia serving as the perfect setting for this reflection. Programming will explore this theme through four tracks: Museums as Timekeepers, Time Travelers, Chroniclers, and Seers, along with a new track, Museum Essentials and Evolving Practices, focusing on core skills and strategies for every area of museum work. Attendees can expect innovative thinking, professional development, and networking, aiming to leave reinvigorated and deeply connected to the field. Participants will explore cutting-edge practices, gain actionable takeaways, deepen their practice through hands-on workshops and learning labs, and discover solutions to institutional challenges and innovations.