Utah Museums Association 2026 Annual Conference

Each year the Utah Museums Association (UMA) convenes museum personnel (both professional staff and volunteers) from across the state to build the capacity of museums through professional development and networking opportunities. The conference venue changes each year to allow us to showcase the amazing cultural offerings located around the state and make it easier for museum professionals in each location to participate. A program committee representing varied viewpoints creates an engaging and educational program that will help museum personnel learn how museums can better serve their communities, using history, art, science, and culture to reach their diverse communities. This year, UMA will partner with the Western Museums Association to host a combined conference with attendees from across the western region. Over the four-day event, attendees will participate in 53 sessions, 3 workshops, 4 field trips, 4 evening events, and a service project. A host committee, comprised of local community members, plans activities to enable conference attendees to explore the cultural venues, food, and outdoor adventures offered in the area. This year's conference theme — ASPIRE — invites museum professionals to imagine boldly and take intentional steps toward transformation, whether through expanded community engagement, rethinking stewardship, or exploring new interpretive strategies. The annual conference is the single largest gathering of museum professionals in Utah each year.