2026 Annual Symposium: Shared Heritage, Shared Future:
Preservation, Stewardship, and the Next Generation
The ICOMOS-USA 2026 Symposium will bring together leading voices in preservation, policy, and cultural heritage July 8–10, 2026, in Philadelphia at a pivotal moment for the field. Grounded in the theme Shared Heritage, Shared Future, the program will explore how heritage is defined, interpreted, and protected across communities, across generations, and across borders.
From the growing recognition of intangible heritage to the evolving role of the United States on the global stage, the symposium offers a timely opportunity to engage with the ideas and people shaping what comes next. Be part of the conversation!
Register here!
Keynote Speakers Announced:
W. Richard West Jr.
Join us Thursday, July 9, for a keynote from W. Richard West Jr., a citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and one of the most influential figures in American museum leadership. As Founding Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and former President and CEO of the Autry Museum of the American West, West has dedicated his career to advancing cultural heritage, education, and global understanding.
Dr. Catherine Clinton
Dr. Catherine Clinton will serve as a keynote speaker! A distinguished historian and author of more than thirty books, Clinton currently holds the Denman Endowed Chair of American History at the University of Texas San Antonio and is Chair Professor Emerita at Queen’s University Belfast. Her scholarship, which spans American history, biography, and cultural heritage, has earned national recognition, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and service on prestigious award juries such as the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award. With deep experience across academic, public history, and museum advisory roles, Clinton brings a powerful and timely perspective to conversations on heritage, memory, and interpretation.
Become a Symposium Sponsor!
Pricing Information- Click Here to Register Early!
Hotel Accommodations:
Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown Hotel for $229.00 + tax per night
401 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Start Date: Tuesday, July 07, 2026
End Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Last Day to Book : June 17, 2026
Booking Link: World Heritage USA Room Block – Renaissance
Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia for $229 + tax per night
433 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Start Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2026
End Date: Friday, July 10, 2026
Last Day to Book: June 7, 2026
Booking Link: World Heritage USA Room Block – Hotel Monaco
Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District for $209 + tax per night
400 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Start Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2026
End Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Last Day to Book: June 7, 2026
Booking link: World Heritage USA Room Block – Wyndham
The Renaissance Hotel and the Kimpton Monaco Hotel are located just steps from Benjamin Franklin Hall, where the Symposium will take place. The Wyndham is .3 miles and takes about 6 minutes to walk.