Museums+Tech 2026 — Using our spaces for authentic interactions

Place is central to museums. Some are sited and help tell the story of a place, while others serve their communities by reflecting local histories, identities and experiences. Museums can foster belonging, offer spaces for connection and reflection, and create opportunities to engage with collections, society and one another.

Yet digital technology has transformed our relationship with place. Many of the communities we belong to are no longer defined by geography alone. What does this mean for museums and the stories they tell? How has digital changed the museum experience and our interactions with collections in-person and online?

As these interactions evolve, so too do questions of audiences, authenticity and engagement. Who is the museum visitor today, and can a meaningful relationship exist entirely online? Can digital enhance authenticity, deepen connections with objects and stories, and create new forms of interaction? As museums adapt to the digital age, they continue to explore what meaningful engagement really looks like.

As always through the conference we want to stimulate reasoned debate, as we are all a community here to discuss and build consensus. The MCG’s annual conference attracts speakers and participants from some of the most innovative cultural organisations, agencies and university programmes in the world. Want to join us? Grab your tickets below.

You can book your tickets here.