Museum Odyssey: Reflections from the AAM 2026 Annual Meeting in Philadelphi

By Marita Sakhltkhutsishvili

May 25, 2026

For more than a century, museums have largely been defined by what they collect. Their authority rested in objects, archives, expertise, and the stewardship of cultural memory. Yet walking through the halls of the American Alliance of Museums' 2026 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, it became increasingly clear that the profession is entering a period of profound transformation.

Governor Josh Shapiro during the opening speech at AAM 2026. Image Source: Martin Sakhltkhutsishvili.

The most urgent conversations were not about collections. They were about: People, artificial intelligence, public trust, professional burnout, community engagement, economic sustainability, accessibility, career uncertainty, and institutional relevance.

Taken together, these discussions revealed a profession actively redefining its role in contemporary society.

This year's conference, organized under the theme Museum Odyssey, arrived in a city uniquely suited to such reflections. Philadelphia occupies a central place in the American historical imagination, a landscape where questions of identity, democracy, memory, and public responsibility remain highly visible. Yet while the city provided the backdrop, the conversations unfolding inside the conference halls were focused squarely on the future.

The American Alliance of Museums, founded in 1906, today represents approximately 35,000 museum professionals and institutions across the United States, ranging from art museums and science centers to historic houses, botanical gardens, zoos, aquariums, and heritage sites. As the largest museum organization in the country, AAM plays a significant role in shaping professional standards, accreditation practices, advocacy efforts, and educational resources.

The opening ceremony immediately established the tone of the gathering. Public officials and museum leaders repeatedly emphasized a message that surfaced throughout the week: museums remain among the most trusted institutions in society. In an era increasingly defined by misinformation, political polarization, and declining confidence in public institutions, this statement carried unusual weight. Still, trust alone was not the dominant story emerging from Philadelphia. A more complex narrative was unfolding beneath the surface.

Beyond Collections: Museums as Social Infrastructure

Opening events and live cultural performance at the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) 2026 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. Image Source: Marita Sakhltkhutsishvili.

One of the most striking observations from the conference was the extent to which museums are expanding beyond their traditional identities as repositories of objects.

Across workshops, panel discussions, and keynote presentations, museums were increasingly described as educational platforms, community centers, research institutions, technological innovators, and spaces for public dialogue. The language of the profession appears to be shifting. Preservation remains central, but preservation alone is no longer viewed as sufficient. Museums today are being asked to demonstrate their value not only through what they conserve, but through what they contribute to contemporary life.

This evolution reflects a broader change in public expectations. Communities increasingly expect museums to address current issues, foster civic engagement, improve accessibility, and create meaningful social connections. The institution that simply preserves is gradually giving way to the institution that actively participates. The conference repeatedly returned to this theme, suggesting that the future of museums may depend as much on relationships as on collections.

Artificial Intelligence Moves from Theory to Practice

The i2S BookTEK 5 professional digitization system is on display at the AAM 2026 MuseumExpo. Image Source: Marita Sakhltkhutsishvili.

Few topics generated more discussion than artificial intelligence. Only a few years ago, AI occupied a largely speculative place within museum conversations. In Philadelphia, however, it became clear that the discussion has shifted from possibility to implementation.

Across multiple sessions, museum professionals presented projects utilizing AI for content creation, accessibility improvements, educational interpretation, audience engagement, collection management, and operational efficiency. What was once viewed as experimental is rapidly becoming part of everyday museum practice.

At the same time, the conference revealed significant differences in how professionals perceive these technologies. Some view AI as a powerful tool capable of expanding institutional capacity and improving visitor experiences. Others remain cautious, raising concerns regarding authenticity, ethics, professional displacement, and the long-term implications of automation.

The resulting tension was one of the most revealing aspects of the conference. The debate is no longer whether artificial intelligence will influence museums. The debate is how museums can adopt these technologies while preserving the trust and human expertise upon which their authority depends.

The Human Cost of Stewardship

Living history interpretation inside the historic Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia. Image Source: Marita Sakhltkhutsishvili.

If artificial intelligence represented one side of the profession's future, discussions surrounding labor conditions revealed another. Throughout the conference, conversations repeatedly returned to issues of funding, staffing, salaries, and professional sustainability. Institutions across the country reported budget constraints, increasing operational pressures, and growing concerns about workforce retention.

Perhaps the most emotionally charged sessions focused on emerging museum professionals. Workshops dedicated to CV preparation, interviewing, professional development, and career navigation consistently attracted large audiences. Behind these practical discussions was a deeper concern shared by many participants: how does one build a sustainable career in a field defined by passion but often constrained by limited resources?

Museum work is frequently driven by commitment rather than financial reward. While this dedication remains one of the profession's greatest strengths, conference discussions made clear that many professionals are increasingly questioning whether passion alone can sustain the workforce required to meet expanding institutional expectations. This challenge extends beyond individual careers. It raises fundamental questions about the long-term resilience of the museum sector itself.

Community as a Curatorial Strategy

The Clef Club Jazz Philharmonic Band is performing at the American Alliance of Museums 2026 conference in Philadelphia. Image Source: Marita Sakhltkhutsishvili.

Another notable theme emerging from the conference was the growing emphasis on audience-centered practice. One particularly memorable session examined the development of a traveling exhibition centered on cats by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. At first glance, the topic appeared surprisingly unconventional. Yet the project offered a powerful example of how museums are rethinking public engagement.

By collaborating with cat owners, animal shelters, and local communities, the institution transformed a subject deeply embedded in contemporary popular culture into a platform for education, interpretation, and audience development.

The success of the initiative reflects a broader shift occurring across the museum sector. Rather than expecting audiences to adapt to institutional priorities, museums are increasingly seeking ways to meet communities where they already are.

The implications extend far beyond a single exhibition. They point toward a future in which relevance is not achieved by lowering standards, but by building stronger connections between professional knowledge and public interests.

Reinventing the Historic House Museum

A presentation by the National Trust for Historic Preservation outlining their nationwide site metrics at the AAM 2026 Annual Meeting. Image Source: Marita Sakhltkhutsishvili.

For readers of The Heritage Report, some of the most compelling discussions emerged from sessions dedicated to historic sites and house museums. Case studies involving institutions such as The Glass House, Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House, and Edith Farnsworth House demonstrated how historic properties are confronting many of the same challenges facing museums more broadly.

Questions of interpretation, accessibility, transportation, audience engagement, financial sustainability, and visitor experience have become increasingly central to their operations. What emerged from these discussions was a recognition that preservation alone does not guarantee relevance. Historic sites must continually negotiate the relationship among authenticity and accessibility, scholarship and public engagement, and conservation and economic reality. The challenge is no longer simply preserving historic places. It is ensuring that preserved places remain meaningful.

The Next Chapter

Promotional graphic courtesy of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) announcing the 2027 host city. Image Source: American Alliance of Museums.

If there was a defining message emerging from AAM 2026, it was not a single technology, exhibition strategy, or institutional model. It was the recognition that museums are operating within an environment of constant change.

Artificial intelligence, workforce development, community engagement, accessibility, financial sustainability, and public trust may appear to be separate challenges. Yet throughout the conference, they repeatedly converged around a common question: how can museums remain relevant, trusted, and sustainable while responding to the rapidly changing needs of society?

The answer is still being written.

What became clear in Philadelphia, however, is that museums are no longer viewed solely as repositories of collections. They are increasingly expected to function as educational platforms, community partners, technological innovators, and spaces for civic dialogue.

This evolution presents both opportunities and responsibilities. As museums expand their role, they must continue to protect the scholarly rigor, ethical standards, and public trust that have defined the profession for generations.

The theme Museum Odyssey therefore proved particularly fitting. Not because museums are abandoning their traditional mission, but because they are continually redefining how that mission is carried forward in the twenty-first century.

The journey continues—not away from preservation, but toward new ways of connecting preservation with the needs of contemporary society.