The Norwegian National Organizing Committee for ICOM-CC 2026 welcomes you to the 21st ICOM-CC Triennial Conference in Oslo 14-18 September 2026. The conference will be accompanied by a broad program of events, before and after the conference, at venues throughout Norway.

Conservators, scientists, curators, and other museum professionals are invited to experience “the Norwegian Miracle” – a phrase coined by Swiss curator and art historian Hans Ulrich Obrist. “The Norwegian Miracle” describes the recent revisioning of the cultural landscape of Oslo. For more than a decade, a significant investment has been made into institutions dedicated to art, cultural heritage, and conservation in Oslo. The capital of Norway has become a truly cultural destination. Several major initiatives in Norway’s museum sector have resulted in The Munch Museum which opened in 2021, the National Museum in 2022, and the new Museum of the Viking Age, scheduled for completion in 2026. These exceptional new museum buildings are driving the production of new knowledge and helping to strengthen the conservation field.

Oslo is a compact venue where events, social programs, and accommodation can be planned within walking distance of each other, allowing more time for conference activities, and for conversations and meetings.

The theme for the 2026 triennial conference is:

Cultural Connections in Conservation.

Cultural connections touch upon the very reasons we conserve cultural heritage. Both societal and professional connections – as well as our links to the past and future – are vital to unlocking and supporting the cultural identities embodied in our material culture. As global changes and societal shifts continue, it becomes increasingly important to understand, respect, and advocate for diverse voices and communities, including indigenous cultures. Adapting to new challenges, forging new paths, and fostering inclusive collaborations can align with our commitments to conserving our material heritage, whether from the past or contemporary in origin. We must also acknowledge that one of the unintended consequences of conservation could be increased cultural distance. By integrating rigorous methods, insightful perspectives, and relevant technology in ethical and dynamic new ways, we can ensure that conservation knowledge is accessible and impactful – both professionally and societally.

Joining together in Oslo in September 2026, we will have the opportunity to ask:

• How can conservation establish new (and renew existing) professional connections to address global challenges?
• How can conservation navigate temporal connections between the past, present, and future understandings, and uses of material culture?
• How can conservation help advocate for diversity and cross-cultural communication?
• How can conservation help to bridge inter-generational cultural divides?