This article was first published by NEMO.
The NEMO European Museum Conference 2026: Human after all – Museums in the wake of AI took place from 11–13 October. In Vilnius, Lithuania, we gathered with 320 participants from 41 countries to rethink the human role in museums in an age shaped by AI and increasing digital vulnerability. Keep scrolling for the recordings, a NEMO statement, photos, and resources.
Through keynotes, panels, workshops and peer exchange, conference participants explored how AI is reshaping trust, democratic participation, museum work, leadership and public engagement. Discussions ranged from AI-generated realities and critical AI literacy to cybersecurity, organisational transformation and the future of museum practice.
A central theme throughout the conference was agency. Rather than viewing AI as an inevitable force, speakers and participants explored how museums can actively shape technological change through human-centred approaches, ethical decision-making and collaboration. Museums emerged not merely as users of technology, but as trusted institutions that can help people navigate complexity, strengthen critical thinking and contribute to resilient and democratic societies.
