Each year Archivists, MAM, DAM professionals and media technologists come together to tackle shared challenges: metadata strategies, archive preservation standards, AI integration and the shift from static repositories to intelligent content systems. Whether you manage a broadcast archive, corporate media library or cultural heritage collection, these events and conferences are where your peers share what's actually working.

Here are the top MAM, DAM and archive-focused trade shows and conferences to attend in 2026. 

1. Digital Preservation Summit 2026

February 5, 2026 | Virtual

An intensive one-day summit designed specifically for GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums), performing arts, university and corporate archive professionals, this summit moves beyond basic file storage to address comprehensive preservation frameworks.

Why attend: You'll get practical guidance on assessment frameworks, metadata standards, workflow optimization and how emerging technologies affect long-term preservation. It’s co-located with DAM and Museums 2026, so one registration gets you access to both events. The virtual format makes it accessible regardless of travel budget.

2. DAM LA 2026

March 18–19, 2026 | Los Angeles, California (Sheraton Grand Downtown)

The West Coast's leading Digital Asset Management event, now in its evolution toward AI-powered systems. The 2026 theme is "The Intelligent Evolution of DAM."

Why attend: DAM LA draws 300+ professionals from major media companies including Showtime, Starz and NEP Group. Attendees consistently cite it as the premier venue to meet thought leaders, share implementation strategies, and network with peers who face the same scaling challenges. If you're building or expanding a DAM system, this is where you can see what's working at scale.

3. Shaping Knowledge 2026

April 21–23, 2026 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The third International Conference on Shaping Knowledge Beyond Digital Archiving, hosted by the National Library and Archives of Abu Dhabi, has as its 2026 theme: "Towards New Horizons of Knowledge in the Digital Age."

Why attend: This conference focuses on advanced technologies and global best practices for preserving national memory and driving innovation in knowledge management. It's a unique opportunity to connect with archivists and digital preservation specialists working across the Middle East, North Africa and broader international community. If you're exploring how emerging markets are approaching digital archiving at scale, Shaping Knowledge can offer some fresh perspectives.

4. IS&T Archiving 2026

June 15-18, 2026 | Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Running since 2004, the Society for Imaging Science and Technology's annual conference on cultural heritage imaging, preservation and access brings together technical experts, managers, practitioners and academics from cultural heritage institutions, universities and commercial enterprises.

Why attend: Archiving2026 will focus specifically on imaging and digitization methodologies for 2D, 3D, audiovisual materials and born-digital assets. Sessions cover the technical side of preservation—scanning standards, color accuracy, format migration, metadata schemas—that other conferences often skim. If your work involves digitization workflows or you need to evaluate imaging technologies for preservation projects, this is where the technical community gathers.

5. DAM Europe 2026

June 25–26, 2026 | London, United Kingdom

This is Henry Stewart's European flagship for digital asset management professionals. The 2026 DAM Europe program continues the "Intelligent Evolution of DAM" theme from its LA edition, with an emphasis on AI integration and automation.

Why attend: You'll connect with 300+ professionals tackling DAM challenges across media, retail, healthcare, education and cultural heritage sectors. The two-day format balances case studies from recognizable brands with practical workshops. London timing works well if you're coordinating European and UK stakeholder buy-in for DAM initiatives.

6. ARCHIVES*RECORDS 2026 (SAA Annual Meeting)

July 29–August 1, 2026 | New Orleans, Louisiana

The 90th Annual Meeting of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) is the premier gathering for professional archivists across all sectors.

Why attend: The SAA represents the broader archival profession beyond moving image archives, making it valuable for understanding digital preservation standards and best practices that span industries. Sessions cover records management, digital archiving strategies and professional development. If your archive intersects with institutional records or you're building cross-departmental preservation policies, SAA can provide essential context.

More details: archivists.org/am2026

7. iPRES 2026

September 21–25, 2026 | Copenhagen, Denmark

The International Conference on Digital Preservation’s annual gathering for researchers and practitioners is focused on keeping digital materials accessible for future generations.

Why attend: iPRES brings together experts from national archives, universities, libraries, museums and commercial organizations committed to digital heritage preservation. The program balances academic research with hands-on implementation. If your preservation strategy extends beyond media files to datasets, websites or born-digital collections, iPRES addresses the full scope.

8. FIAT/IFTA World Conference 2026

October 6–9, 2026 | São Paulo, Brazil (Cinemateca Brasileira)

This marks the 50th World Conference of the International Federation of Television Archives—the premier global gathering for media archive professionals. FIAT/IFTA 2025 in Rome drew 300+ attendees from 65+ countries.

Why attend: This is the international community for broadcast and media archivists: managers, researchers, developers and service providers tackling AI's role in audiovisual preservation, metadata standards and archive accessibility. Hosted by Cinemateca Brasileira, the 2026 edition marks FIAT/IFTA's first time holding the conference in South America. If you work with international broadcasters or need to benchmark against global archive practices, this is the room to be in. 

At a past conference, our client Asharq News won the FIAT/IFTA award for Excellence in Media Management for the project “AI Metadata for Arabic Archive.”

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9. DAM New York 2026

1-2 October 2026 | New York City, USA

Henry Stewart's East Coast DAM conference, like its Los Angeles and Europe editions, attracts professionals from media, entertainment, corporate and creative sectors.

Why attend: DAM New York offers a more focused setting than the larger broadcast shows, with deep dives on DAM strategy, implementation roadmaps and emerging practices. The 2026 program continues the "Intelligent Evolution of DAM" theme. If you're based on the East Coast or need to connect with New York-headquartered media companies, this event helps to minimize travel while maximizing relevant conversations.

Read next: How Banijay Entertainment is using Moments Lab to repurpose more than 200k hours of archives.

10. AMIA Annual Conference 2026

Date and location TBD (typically North America)

The Association of Moving Image Archivists’s annual conference brings together 550+ professionals from major media institutions, corporate archives, national archives, libraries, historical societies and universities.

Why attend: AMIA is the American counterpart to FIAT/IFTA—the primary community for moving image archivists in the US. The conference typically features 60+ sessions programmed by working archivists, plus workshops and screenings focused on media preservation and access. If your organization is US-based and you're building relationships with American archives, media companies or cultural institutions, AMIA is essential.

Full details are yet to be announced, so keep an eye on: amiaconference.net

Plan your 2026 MAM, DAM and archive-related trade show calendar

The MAM and archive landscape is shifting fast. AI-powered search, automated metadata and intelligent workflows are moving from pilot projects to production systems. These conferences are where you can see what's working, meet the teams building the workflows and technologies, and bring practical strategies back to your organization.

Which ones will you be attending? To know more about where we’ll be and when, follow us on LinkedIn. 

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