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We are living in a period of momentous change for the archives, records management, and cultural heritage professions. These changes have affected everything from workflows to community engagement, and from personnel issues to sustainability. Different types of repositories have experienced these political, technological, cultural, and environmental forces in diverse ways. ARCHIVES*RECORDS 2026 gives us an opportunity to take stock, to explore innovative solutions to the problems we are encountering, and to assess our professions’ history, practices, assumptions, and training.
The Program Committee seeks perspectives from across our profession that help us strengthen our professions’ diversity, our institutions, and our people. We encourage proposals that demonstrate the amazing variety of ways to be an archivist and to participate in the archives profession. The Committee recognizes that creating a sustainable and bright future for our profession involves creating a diverse program in which participants can freely choose the topic they wish to share. Therefore, instead of specific topic suggestions, we pose the following questions to hopefully prompt some ideas for your session proposals.
We welcome proposals on all topics related to archives and archival work.
The Program Committee invites submissions for 60- to 75-minute sessions (live and/or hybrid) and poster presentations. Proposals are welcome on any aspect of archives, records, and information management—local, state or territorial, national, and international—especially their intersections with other professions and domains. Each proposal will be evaluated on its completeness and the strength of the 150-word abstract and other statements. Proposals should incorporate one or more of the following:
We expect program sessions to reflect SAA’s core values as well as their commitment to a diverse and inclusive program and profession. Each session should include individuals and/or organizations with varied personal and professional experiences, perspectives, and identities. Please indicate—in a summative way—how your proposal reflects individual, organizational, or geographic diversity and/or supports the development, inclusion, and stewardship of a diverse profession or cultural record. This could include positionality statements that reflect on the unique identities of the panelists in relation to the work they will discuss, a recognition of dominant positionality inherent in your identity or organization, or the ways in which privilege and power manifest in the session and how you will use or respond to it.
The Program Committee encourages submission of proposals that may include, but are not limited to, the following formats:
Panel Presentation. Session consisting of a panel of three to five individuals discussing or presenting theories or perspectives on a given topic. Session may consist of a series of prepared presentations or a moderated discussion and should include time for audience feedback. If giving prepared presentations, presentation titles should be provided and will be included in the program. A moderator is required (this role may be performed by the chair); a commentator is optional.
Professional Poster Presentation. Report in which information is summarized using brief written statements and graphic materials, such as photographs, charts, graphs, and/or diagrams mounted on poster board (if in person) or in a PDF document (if virtual). Presenters will be assigned a specific time during which they must be with their poster to discuss it with attendees if presenting in-person.
Lightning Talks. Session consisting of eight to ten lively and informative 5-minute talks. The session chair secures commitments from speakers and compiles all presentation slides into one single presentation to ensure timely speaker transitions.
Mix and Match. “Mix and Match” allows individuals to propose an individual talk rather than a full session. Similar or complementary proposals will then be combined into one session. We hope this option will encourage individuals who have not previously submitted a proposal to do so, as well as provide an opportunity to connect archivists who might not have otherwise met one another. We will accept proposals for 5 or 20-minute presentations.
Alternative Format. Don’t feel confined by the prescribed formats—suggest an alternative or create your own! Alternative format sessions may take a variety of forms. Examples include world café and fishbowl discussions. Propose a moderated debate offering opposing points of view, or an “experiential” format involving simulation, role play, or games to convey key principles and learning objectives. We welcome your creative ideas about how your topic might best be addressed! Proposals in this category must: 1) specify the format and session facilitator and 2) describe briefly how the format will enhance the presentation of the material. You may suggest up to four presenters for the session.
Your format choice will not affect the Program Committee’s decision. The Committee may, however, recommend the proposed format be changed if it believes that a different format may better serve the session’s learning objectives or desired audience.
| We are bringing back Pop-Ups! A separate call for Pop-Up proposals will be issued in the spring of 2026. Do not use the session proposal form for Pop-Ups. |
Reminder for Proposal Submitters and Session Participants
Archivists and records administrators who participate in the program (including in Pop-Up sessions) must register and secure institutional or personal funding. Participants whose employment does not involve performing, teaching, or managing any aspect of the archival or records administration function, or who are from outside the United States and Canada, may be eligible for complimentary registration upon request. SAA cannot provide funding for speakers, whether they are international, non-archivists, non-records administrators, members, or nonmembers.
Proposals for the 2026 Annual Meeting are due on Monday, December 15, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CT. The Program Committee will not consider proposals received after the deadline.
Review the submission form questions (PDF) before submitting your proposal. Note: Submissions will only be received through the online submission form not the PDF.
See frequently asked questions (FAQs) https://www2.archivists.org/am2026/program/calls/program-proposals-faqs
| The 2026 Program Committee has created a Google spreadsheet to be used as an informal tool to connect individuals who are seeking ideas and/or collaboration on session proposals for the 2026 Annual Meeting. It is not monitored by SAA or the Program Committee and is not part of the official submission process. |
Questions? Contact the Conference Office at conference@archivists.org.
We value and respect our diverse guests, volunteers, service providers, and staff members. We expect all of our attendees to do the same. Read the SAA Code of Conduct.