The ICOM NATHIST 2026 Annual Conference will be held from 9–11 November 2026 in Adelaide, Australia, jointly hosted by the South Australian Museum and the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium of South Australia.
Under the theme Collections for a Changing World, the conference will bring together natural history museum professionals, researchers, and practitioners from around the world to explore collection stewardship, evolving partnerships, emerging technologies, and the field’s collective role in responding to a rapidly changing world. Sessions will include plenary addresses, concurrent presentations, lightning talks, the NATHIST AGM, and curated site visits to leading South Australian institutions.
Adelaide, named the world’s second National Park City in 2021, offers a walkable, compact city with world-class gardens, museums, and cultural attractions, just 15 minutes from its international airport.
Visit the dedicated conference website for the full programme, registration details, and accommodation information: https://icom-nathist2026.eventsair.site/
CONFERENCE THEMES
- Exploring what is a natural history collection: 2026 and beyond.
- Disaster preparedness – thinking about the unthinkable.
- Urban greening and biodiversity protection.
- Sustainability and collections conservation.
- Exemplars of global collaboration in natural history collections use across cultures, continents and regulations.
- The importance of living collections as natural history collections.
- Collections data and its central role in monitoring environmental change.
- The supporting role of Citizen Scientists for maintaining Natural History Collections.
- General theme.
KEY DATES
Call for Abstracts Opens (Click here for more details)
June 2026
Submissions Close
First round 30 June 2026
Second round 30 July 2026
A third round will be considered if needed
Notification of Acceptance
Mid-August 2026 (submission rounds 1 and 2)
A later acceptance date will be announced if a third round of abstract submissions is opened
GROUP REGISTRATION & ALTERNATE PAYMENT
If you would like to purchase multiple registrations as a group or request an alternate payment method invoice, please contact All Occasions Group via email at conference@aomevents.com. Other payment methods include invoice, EFT/direct debit or SWIFT payment.
REQUEST AN INVITATION LETTER TO SUPPORT YOUR VISA APPLICATION
Once registered, if you need a letter for your Visa application contact All Occasions Group via conference@aomevents.com.