The call for papers is now open
Museums are increasingly globally engaged and deal with global challenges, an agenda that often requires museum professionals to play an important diplomatic role. At the same time, museums – and other memory institutions – hold a privileged position, being widely considered as trustworthy sources of public information. They operate as spaces where narratives, perspectives and values are communicated. They can foster cultural exchange, mediate cross-cultural understanding and encourage global cooperation. Their unique position – between heritage, knowledge and public engagement – makes them powerful agents of cultural diplomacy with the ability to maintain trusting relationships and build bridges, also when more formal diplomatic channels might be strained or broken.
The ICOM UK conference for 2026 will showcase practical examples of how museums can engage in cultural diplomacy to bridge cultural divides, address global challenges, stimulate collaboration, strengthen and heal international relationships. It will explore the unique position of museums as powerful cultural diplomats in an uncertain world. Delegates can expect to learn from tangible examples of museum diplomacy in action and leave feeling empowered to think about their own role and agenda on an international stage.
Sub-themes:
- Cross-cultural co-operation – How do museums bridge cultural divides to achieve meaningful collaboration and sustained international relationships?
- The role of museums in conflict – How can museums serve their communities before, during and after armed conflict? What role do museums have in cultural diplomacy in support of national security?
- Museums as spaces of healing – How do museums act and create safe spaces for improved understanding, reconciliation and healing across cultural differences and international borders?
- Maximising global engagement through partnership – How do museums work with other sectors (e.g. media, technology, sport, higher education, creative industries, etc) to maximise their role as cultural diplomats?
- An Equitable Future – How are museums employing a globally-engaged posture to work internationally in an uncertain world and move towards a more equitable future?
Conference Programme Partners:
ICOM UK’s 2026 Annual Conference programme is organised in collaboration the National Museum Director’s Council (NMDC), the University of Oxford Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM), and co-curated with ICOM Canada’s Dr. Sascha Priewe, co-editor of Museum Diplomacy: How Cultural Institutions Shape Global Engagement.
