Join us in Sydney for the International Congress of Maritime Museums
Published
From the ICMM President
Dear Members,
I am pleased to announce that registration for the next biennial Congress is now open. It will be held from 13- 18 September 2026 at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, Australia.
The International Congress of Maritime Museums has been organised bi-annually since 1972 for the museum profession. The objective is to gather and share knowledge, new insights, and maritime stories. Each Congress is hosted by an ICMM member following an expression of interest to host, with the aim being to highlight different countries and cultures so that delegates can see how maritime museums operate around the world.
We are extremely fortunate that the 2026 Congress will be held at the Australian National Maritime Museum with their extensive floating collection and exhibitions that explore the maritime heritage of the ‘Island Continent’.
We encourage you to embrace the Congress theme – Maritime Museums in Action: Moving Forward with Courage and Conviction – and to join us in Sydney.
Kristen Greenaway
President
From our Director
Dear colleagues,
It is my pleasure to invite ICMM members to Sydney and to the Australian National Maritime Museum for the 22nd biannual International Congress of Maritime Museums.
As an island nation shaped by sea, Australia is the ideal location to bring together world leaders in maritime history and storytelling to share insights, combine understandings and explore opportunities to advance our future.
The 2026 Congress is an opportunity to consider the maritime museum of the future. Whilst the winds of change are gathering momentum – climate change, rising sea- levels, declining public trust, increasing cost of living, global destabilisation, AI and more – collectively we have an opportunity to shape our own course in a manner that best serves our audiences.
For those who have never visited Australia, my team offers you a warm welcome, and for those who have, we look forward to renewing friendships.
Daryl Karp AM
Director & CEO, ANMM
International Congress of Maritime Museums Sydney 2026
The museum is proud to host the 22nd ICMM Biennial Congress in September 2026.
We welcome delegates with a formal association with a Full or Affiliate ICMM member organisations or who are an individual Associate Member. If you are not yet a member, please see the International Congress of Maritime Museums website for more details.
Contact us
If you have questions or comments about the International Congress of Maritime Museums, hosted in Sydney in September 2026, please contact the team at the Australian National Maritime Museum by email at ICMM2026@sea.museum