As museums navigate accelerating technological and organisational transformation, they face urgent questions about how to remain people‑centred while becoming future‑ready. AI is already changing workflows, decision‑making and institutional cultures, while at the same time cyberattacks are increasingly targeting cultural organisations. These developments raise wider challenges around leadership, preparedness, risk management and long‑term resilience.
The NEMO European Museum Conference 2026: Human after all – Museums in the wake of AI will address how museums can respond to these changes responsibly and strategically. Beyond technology itself, discussions will focus on how institutions maintain trust, adapt governance models and strengthen organisational stability in an evolving digital environment.
The programme will also explore the civic role of museums in an age of AI. Join us in Vilnius to explore how museums can support digital and AI literacy, foster critical thinking, and engage communities in open and informed dialogue about technological change and democratic societies. We’ll discuss how museums can play an active role in helping visitors navigate the complexity of AI while ensuring that human creativity, ethics and inclusion remain central to cultural practice.
- Registration opens in June 2026. Sign up for a reminder to stay informed.
Open call: Travel and conference grants for young museum professionals in the Baltics
An open call for participation is currently available for young museum professionals (up to 33 years old) based in the Baltic countries who are interested in AI, cybersecurity and the future of museums. Five participants will receive travel and conference grants (€500 plus free conference registration) to support their active engagement in the conference.
- Access all details and learn how to apply
- Deadline to apply: 30 April 2026
The conference is co-organised by NEMO - the Network of European Museum Organisations, the Lithuanian Museums Association, and the National Museum of Lithuania, with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, the Lithuanian Council for Culture, and the European Union. It is supported by Go Vilnius, the Lithuanian National Museum of Art, the National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, and Vilnius UNESCO City of Literature. The cultural programmed is made possible thanks to MO Museum, Vilnius City Museum, and Vilnius University Museum.
