Join us this November, wherever you are
The Museums Association’s annual conference is one of the key events in the cultural sector calendar, and we want as many people as possible to benefit from the practical advice and thought leadership on offer.
Taking place 2-4 November at the Repertory Theatre in Birmingham, our hybrid event Conference 2026: Museums Connecting Communities will explore its theme through a wide range of sessions spotlighting the best of new and emerging practice.
We will be streaming Core and In Practice sessions live to online delegates during the event, with these sessions available to all delegates as recordings after the event. Online tickets for the full event start at just £60.
Our online tickets are particularly relevant for international delegates as well as front-line staff unable to attend in person.
Core sessions
Many of the sessions taking place in our main auditorium, The House, will interrogate topical issues affecting all museums such as:
- Caring for colonial collections
- Open licensing of online collections
- Working with rural communities
- Ethics and AI
- Museum attendance and benefit gap
Online delegates will also be able to hear keynotes from Gus Casely-Hayford, director of V&A East, and award-winning writer, performer and educator Casey Bailey. Members of Birmingham Citizens’ Jury will host the event, introducing key sessions such as the AGM and the Museums Change Lives Awards.
Finally, panel discussions in The House will explore the current challenges facing the sector and asks what the future holds, with sessions from civic museums, university museums and small institutions.
In Practice sessions
Taking place in The Studio, In Practice sessions share good practice, case studies and hints and tips for the sector. Available for online as well as in-person delegates, sessions share how to:
- Work with front-of-house and volunteer teams
- Embed participatory practice in smaller museums
- Co-curate exhibitions
- Work collaboratively to embed new databases
- Address challenging histories such as slavery
- Connect with LGBTQ+ audiences
- Tackle class inequality
For a full list of all the sessions available to online delegates, check out our page on streamed sessions at MA Conference 2026.
FAQs
Can anyone purchase an online ticket?
Yes, we want to welcome as many people as possible, which is why our pricing starts from £60 (see our fees and financial information for full range of pricing). Online tickets are particularly relevant to international delegates and front-line staff unable to attend in person.
How do I know which sessions are available for online delegates?
All sessions taking place in The House and The Studio will be streamed and recorded – these are marked on the programme as “all attendees welcome”. Sessions that are unavailable to online delegates are marked as “in-person only”.
How do I access online sessions?
All delegates, including those with online-only tickets, will be able to access the conference programme, delegate list and streamed sessions via our online platform Swapcard. If you want to watch live, you just need to click the relevant session at the start time and the stream will automatically start.
You can also use the “watch live session” button on the homepage to watch whichever core session is currently taking place.
Can online delegates ask questions?
Yes, Swapcard has a chat function enabling you to interact with other online delegates and ask questions. We will try to share as many of your questions as possible with speakers during Q&As, but please be advised that it is not always possible to answer every question.
What if I can’t watch live?
Streamed sessions will be available for all delegates to watch as recordings around two weeks after conference ends. We will email delegates when they are available.
Can I purchase a single-day online ticket?
Our digital tickets are for the full event, covering Core and In Practice sessions on both Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 November.
Can online delegates attend tours or social events?
Unfortunately not, our tours on Monday 2 November and three social events are just for in-person delegates.
Do you offer tickets for multiple members of staff or an entire organisation?
Digital tickets are for named individuals only and cannot be shared by a group or department.
However, we do offer an all-staff digital ticket that allows every member of staff at an MA member organisation to attend conference online. This ticket costs £680 and makes conference available online to an unlimited number of delegates at your organisation. You can find out more and order your all-staff ticket via our online form.
Still got questions? Email events@museumsassociation.org and we’ll be happy to help.