We are delighted to announce our evening events programme for MA Conference 2026: Museums Connecting Communities.
Over three nights, delegates in Birmingham will have the opportunity to unwind and network with colleagues over a drink as they explore some of the city’s incredible cultural venues.
Our tours programme of the city’s museums, heritage sites and cultural venues take place on Monday 2 November from 1200-1700, before the opening party kicks off at 1800.
All three evening events are for in-person conference delegates only. There’s no need to book onto an evening event, just turn up.
Opening reception: Thinktank
1800-2000, Monday 2 November
Birmingham’s interactive science museum provides the backdrop to our opening party. Thinktank is an awe-inspiring venue where delegates can network with colleagues over a welcome drink.
Highlights of the ground floor galleries – which focus on transport through the ages and machinery from the Industrial Revolution – include a Spitfire bomber plane that is suspended from the ceiling.
Birmingham’s Castle Bromwich factory produced more than 10,000 Spitfires during the second world war, and Thinktank details the story of the men and women who made these magnificent flying machines.
Main party: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
1830-2000, Tuesday 3 November
After an exhilarating opening day of conference at the Birmingham Rep, head around the corner to the grand Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
The recently refurbished museum is a fittingly grand space to host our main party. Relax with a drink as you network and check out the museum’s Made in Birmingham gallery, which looks deeper into the stories and people who made the city. Visit the museum’s much-heralded new Elephant in the Room gallery, which explore how objects have found themselves in this collection.
Closing party: The Exchange
1815-2000, Wednesday 4 November
Our closing party takes place at The Exchange, a former bank now run by the University of Birmingham, opposite the conference venue. Say a last goodbye to colleagues under Luke Jerram’s entrancing artwork Helios, a magnified look at our closest star. There will also be a pop-up talk about the art deco banking vaults downstairs.
Accessibility guidance for each evening event venue, as well as the Rep where Conference sessions take place, is available via our Everything you need to know about conference guide.