2026 National Summit

With the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation being celebrated in 2026, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is re-imagining its national conference. In 2026, it will kick off with a national one-day summit in Washington, D.C., bringing national thought leaders together to help build upon its focus of expanding the commemorative landscape and revitalizing democratic citizenship through the power of historic places. The summit will bring together over 500 preservation and community leaders to spotlight how founding ideals of liberty, equality, self-government, and opportunity shape preservation work. It will feature elected officials, scholars, public intellectuals, and industry experts exploring how historic places can revitalize communities, meet urgent local needs, and tell a more inclusive American story.