Archiving 2026
Cultural Heritage Imaging, Preservation, and Access
Innovation• Community • Transparency
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CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
Since 2004, Archiving has served as a pivotal forum, uniting a global network of technical experts, managers, practitioners, and academics from cultural heritage institutions, universities and commercial enterprises. The conference is dedicated to exploring state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies in the imaging, digitization, preservation, and access of 2D, 3D, audiovisual materials, and born-digital assets.
The interdisciplinary nature of Archiving fosters a rich environment for the exchange of ideas and knowledge. Beyond showcasing the latest research in imaging, digitization, and their related fields, the conference delves into emerging technologies, strategic approaches, and policy frameworks. Successful case studies are highlighted as benchmarks, while diverse platforms and visualization methods are explored to deepen connections with collections.
Archiving 2026 will take place in Boston, MA, July 20-23, with an optional "Behind-the-Scenes" tour extension in Portland, ME, July 24.
2026 KEY THEMES
- Innovation & Technology: Advancing the use of emerging technologies in digitization, imaging, AI, immersive media, preservation, and digital access for cultural materials.
- Community Engagement & Representation: Centering on human connection, this theme invites dialogue on how we engage with and understand our stakeholders: scholars, conservators, and the public. Papers/Projects that highlight voices from marginalized groups, especially displaced communities and those from conflict zones. Digital spaces that reflect diverse global experiences, histories, and perspectives, ensuring that everyone has a stake in the shared heritage of humanity.
- Sustainable Practices: Integrating environmental responsibility in heritage stewardship, from energy-efficient digitization to green conservation methods. Connecting cultural heritage to environmental action and advocating for vulnerable communities affected by climate-related loss.
- Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing: Promoting teamwork across various fields, including technology, humanities, science, arts, and local communities. This theme encourages grassroots efforts and shared responsibility in preserving and presenting cultural heritage.
- Digital Ethics & Security: Addressing data ownership, consent, provenance, cyber-attacks, digital preservation, and other risks in maintaining digital archives and their associated data. Work that involves the use of Artificial Intelligence and how to manage trust and transparency with the public.
2026 PROGRAM TOPICS
We invite authors to submit abstracts for peer review on the following topics related to key themes, but not limited to:
Digitization / Imaging
- New developments in digitization technologies and workflows
- AI-enhanced processes and computation
- Advanced imaging techniques and image processing, such as spectral imaging, computational (HDR, RTI), spatial, and 3D imaging
- Large-scale and mass digitization, including workflow management systems
- Quality assurance and control
Access / Presentation
- Dissemination and use, including rights management, metadata enrichment, crowdsourcing, data mining
- Content authenticity, transparency in use of machine learning/AI
- Data visualization
- Strategies for open access, open science, open data, and interoperability
- Immersive media and global accessibility, including hybrid models (physical + digital)
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Preservation / Asset Management
- Management of metadata, formats, specifications, and systems
- Models and workflows for archival preservation
- Techniques for collection, analysis and processing
- New automation methods
- Preservation strategies addressing energy, redundancy, cost, etc.
Management / Policy
- Updated standards
- Strategic planning, prioritization (cost, scale), risk management, resource models
- Demonstrating, measuring, analyzing impact
- Ethical dimensions of cultural heritage management
- Interdisciplinary collaborations (technologists, scientists, artists, communities, etc.) success and/or challenges
- Addressing threats to cultural heritage, from climate to cyber-attacks
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All accepted papers will be published as Open Access, providing broad visibility to your work. Prepare your work now; submission site will open by mid-October.
Papers from past Archiving conferences are published on the IS&T Digital Library/Archiving.
Learn More: Archiving Webinars
View the recordings of webinars recorded in 2020 and 2021 that introduce the conference and its themes. These informative presentations serve as an introduction to the topics and understanding the contents and importance of the papers presented at this meeting.
- Digitization, Preservation, and Access: The Three Pillars of Cultural Heritage Archiving, Jeanine Nault, Smithsonian Institution View Recording
- Digitizing for Cultural Heritage: Imaging, Standards, and Quality, Peter Burns, Burns Digital Imaging View Recording
- Designing Preservation, Responding to Collection and User Community Needs, David Walls, US Government Publishing Office View Recording
- Access: Mind the Gap, Ariela Netiv, Heritage Leiden View Recording
Download Ariela Netiv's Mind the Gap Resource List
- Imaging Choices: Practice, Settings, and Formats, Peter Burns, Burns Digital Imaging View Recording
- One Size Does Not Fit All: Workflows for Digitized and Born-Digital Materials, Kira Sobers and Lynda Schmitz Fuhrig, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives View Recording
- Covering the Gamut of Spectral Imaging: Intro to In-depth, Fenella France, Library of Congress, and David R. Wyble, Avian Rochester LLC View Recording
- OCR and Text Recognition: Workflows, Trends, and New Applications, Jack Maness, University of Denver; Jamie Rogers, Florida International University; and Luis J. Villanueva, Smithsonian Institution View Recording