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Virtual Conference
Digital technology is transforming the way museums engage audiences, teach and inspire learning – reshaping not only classrooms but the very role museums play in education.
So what does this shift look like in practice, and how can museums adapt to a fast-moving digital learning landscape?
On 8–9 December 2026, the MuseumNext Digital Learning Summit brings together educators, practitioners and innovators from institutions including the V&A, the Getty, the Smithsonian, the National Gallery, the Barnes Foundation, the Jewish Museum Berlin and Westminster Abbey to share the case studies, lessons and ideas redefining learning in museums.
Hear how the National Gallery tested conversational AI with visitors, and why it all came down to trust. Find out how a small railway museum in Lithuania built multilingual audio guides and a chatbot with no tech team and no big budget. Discover how the V&A’s mused site is reaching 11–14-year-olds who have never heard of the museum, and how Hadrian’s Wall Live grew to nearly 20,000 engagements with one coordinator and zero budget.
Join remote visitors on live 360° tours of a museum in Austria, see how the Smithsonian is putting collections into people’s hands through low-cost 3D printing, and explore how digitised specimens become evidence for young investigators in Utah. From the Getty’s choose-your-own-path online field trips to Westminster Abbey’s national Remembrance livestream for schools, speakers will show how digital can carry the power of place into classrooms around the world.
Access and inclusion run throughout the programme, from films co-created with disabled people at the National Trust’s Hardwick Hall to the Jewish Museum Berlin’s digital programme supporting teachers in the face of rising antisemitism. And if you’re wondering whether digital learning can pay its way, the Barnes Foundation will share how its own platform has earned over $1 million in online education revenue and is now being licensed by other institutions.
Across two afternoons, this summit will equip you with practical strategies, honest lessons and fresh inspiration to thrive in a digital-first world.
Join us as we explore the big questions shaping the future of museum learning – and uncover how your institution can lead the way.
Seventeen years ago, we started MuseumNext to shine a spotlight on the most groundbreaking and imaginative work happening in museums.
Today we’re able to reach a global community of museum thinkers (more than 20,000 last year) with engaging and accessible virtual events.
I’m dedicated to ensuring that everyone attending our events has a great experience and that the time you spend watching our events will be valuable to you.
And I’m excited to welcome you to the Digital Learning Summit in December. I know you’ll find it an inspiring few days.
Jim Richardson,
Founder, MuseumNext
Did you know that virtual conferences are far greener than in-person events? By drastically cutting travel-related carbon emissions and removing the need for venue resources, they significantly reduce both the overall carbon footprint and waste.
But our commitment to sustainability doesn’t end there. We’re continually working to minimise the environmental impact of our work and to use our network as a force for good.
