International Congress of Maritime Museums - Sydney 2026International Congress of Maritime Museums - Sydney 2026 

Congress Theme: Maritime Museums in Action – Moving Forward with Courage and Conviction

We warmly warmly invite you to attend the pre-eminent international meeting of maritime museums in September 2026, and the 22nd ICMM Biennial Congress, the first Biennial Congress to be held in Australia. This is being hosted by the Australian National Maritime Museum in our largest city, Sydney. Renowned for the beauty of its harbour, participants will be able to discover the relationship of First Nations peoples to the bamal (earth) and badu (water), as well as explore significant sites of maritime history and archaeology. 

Keynote speakers and Congress delegates will explore how maritime museums are responding to contemporary challenges and opportunities.

To maximise interaction and engagement, participants will engage with the conference theme through a variety of formats - extended presentations, professional workshops, curated question and answer sessions and field trips. There will also be plenty of opportunities for sociable and professional networking in a welcoming and inclusive environment.’

Among the keynote speakers will be Seb Chan, who led the digital transformation of the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York and now Director and CEO of the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne, and Dr Kim Sajet, former Director of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington.

General sessions of the Congress will bring together speakers from Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific to participate in sessions organised around the themes of:

• Courageous leadership
• Community engagement, and
• Tomorrow’s museums.

Afternoons will have a practical, ‘hands on’ orientation under the theme Museums and Action – Common Problems, Outstanding Solutions. There will also be extended opportunities to engage with a suite of facilities on the ANMM campus including the floating naval collection, our historic replica sailing vessels, and the integrated Maritime Heritage Centre which houses the not-for-profit Sydney Heritage Fleet.

On Day Three, delegates will have the opportunity to visit significant maritime sites in Sydney Harbour, including the 1832 Quarantine Station and the former convict gaol and shipyard at Cockatoo Island. 

Visiting Australia 

Visitors to Australia may require a visa. Visas are the responsibility of delegates; ICMM and ANMM cannot provide advice or assistance. Information on visa options can be found on the Australian government’s Home Affairs website, Explore visa options.

Note that Australia has strict biosecurity laws governing what can be brought into the country. Further information can be found here, Entering Australia.

We strongly recommend that delegates and partners take out travel insurance to cover their travel and time in Australia.

More information on the city of Sydney can be found on the Sydney Tourism Website . Inner city suburbs close to the museum include Paddington, Woollahra, Surry Hills, the Rocks, Glebe, Balmain, Newtown, Marrickville, and Erskineville. To find out more about transport options to the museum, visit our website. 

Accommodation

Sydney is a large international city with a myriad of accommodation options. Ideally delegates should select accommodation within walking distance of the Congress venue or with a direct ferry or tram link for ease of access.

In planning your stay, please note early morning traffic can cause congestion. Delegates will normally be requested to be at the venue by 8.45 am each morning. All transport will also arrive and depart only from the conference venue, with no hotel pick up or drop offs.

The following chain hotels are located within 300 metres of the Australian National Maritime Museum.

• Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour – 100 Murray St, Darling Harbour
• Ibis Sydney Darling Harbour – 70 Murray St, Darling Harbour
• Aiden by Best Western, 45 Murray St, Darling Harbour

International Congress of Maritime Museums and the Australian National Maritime Museum are grateful for the generous support of our wonderful supporters, sponsors and partners who's assistance is an important parts of what makes this event possible. 

 

Financial supporters

Australian National Maritime Museum

Australian National Maritime Museum Foundation

ANMM USA Fund

International Congress of Maritime Museums

Lloyds Register Foundation

International Conservation Services

Australian Government

 

Program Partners and Sponsors

Sydney Heritage Fleet

Sydney Restaurant Group

Australian Museum

Western Australia Museum

Tasmanian Maritime Museum

Federation Harbour Trust

Australian Maritime Museums Council

Sydney by Sail

Red Mill Rum