All daytime conference events will take place at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Schedule:
Preliminary schedule now available
Language and Accessibility:
The conference will be conducted primarily in English with French and Spanish simultaneous translation. ASL interpretation will be available upon request.
For the first time ever, the International Network of Museums for Peace Conference is coming to North America. We invite you to join us in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
This conference will provide an opportunity for knowledge keepers, community leaders, museum workers, artists, activists, and scholars to gather in Winnipeg, on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Red River Métis, to explore the transformative role museums can play in fostering empathy, decolonization, rematriation/repatriation, promoting human rights and cultivating a culture of peace.
If you are an International Network of Museums for Peace member, or someone who is ready to engage with the conference’s theme, consider attending.
This will be the 12th International Network of Museums for Peace Conference. It is being organized by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the International Network of Museums for Peace.
Event details navigation
Call for Proposals
The International Network of Museums for Peace (INMP) Conference 2026 will focus on the potential for museums, storytellers and others caring for, and creating, cultural heritage to promote truth, invite dialogue and reflection, and advance reconciliation.
The bulk of the content will be coming from you, the participants, and we are looking for you to propose your ideas.
Main conference sessions (Wednesday, August 12 – Friday, August 14):
Early bird price (until May 31, 2026): CAN $475
Regular price (after May 31, 2026): CAN $550
Student early bird price (until May 31, 2026): CAN $190
Student regular price (after May 31, 2026): CAN $250
Virtual attendee price for August 13 and 14 sessions: CAN $125
Note
Note that INMP members attending the conference will receive an exclusive welcome package after arrival in Winnipeg.
The cost of optional activities and excursions are not included in conference registration fees. Should attendees choose to participate in these events, they must be booked and paid for by individual attendees.
Themes for this important conference fall into three categories:
Indigenization/decolonization of museums
Peacemaking/human rights
Working in the space of cultural heritage/peacemaking
Conference attendees should anticipate sessions such as:
What can we learn from Indigenous knowledge systems about peace and justice?
Recognizing the connection between colonialism and museums, how can museums and museum workers become co‐creators of peace in communities where they are based, or in communities with whom they work?
How can museums create space for reconciliation, healing and learning beyond their walls?
How can we invite visitors, colleagues, families and communities to rethink their own beliefs and biases, and encourage reflection on our understanding of truth and storytelling?
What are the cutting‐edge methods to educate for peace? What are the roles of stories and storytellers? What is the relationship between affect and action in this work?
How can museums move beyond a limited understanding of “objectivity” or neutrality to take a stand for justice? What are the consequences of doing so?
What are innovative ways that youth can help create, curate and engage with content promoting truth, reconciliation and transitional justice?
What role do museums play in helping communities navigate ongoing conflicts – both domestic and global?
How do stories – including, but not exclusive to, a museum or artistic setting – create experiences that encourage visitors to step into the lives of others?
What do museums and other institutions focused on peacebuilding need to do internally to ensure human rights are lived – and to create and sustain a culture of truth, equity, bravery and fun within their institutions?
How might institutions, including museums and other organizations involved in peacebuilding, transitional justice, truth and reconciliation, better address, prevent and engage with trauma in their work with staff, communities and visitors?
The conference will kick off in a good way late on the afternoon on Wednesday August 12, with an Indigenous ceremony. Dinner to follow.
Thursday, August 13 and Friday, August 14 days will be filled with conference sessions. An offsite closing dinner will be held on Friday evening. Cost for attendees is included in conference fees. Tickets for non‐conference attendees will be available for purchase. Check back after January 26, 2026 for pricing details.
Optional ticketed events and excursions:
Thursday, August 13
Optional ticketed dining experience for conference attendees and/or guests will be available for purchase. Check back after January 26, 2026 for pricing and registration details.
Friday, August 14
Closing dinner tickets for non‐conference attendees will be available for purchase. Check back after January 26, 2026 for pricing and registration details.
Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16
After the conference concludes, attendees and any companions they may be travelling with are invited to enjoy two days of curated excursions. Choose from an urban day within Winnipeg, filled with experiences such as walking tours, museum or gallery visits, boat rides, food and beverage stops, and more!
OR…
Board a bus and get transported beyond city limits to explore more of what Manitoba has to offer, and participate in authentic Indigenous experiences and learnings.
These in‐city and beyond‐city experience will be offered on both Saturday August 15 and Sunday, August 16. Check back after January 26, 2026 for pricing and registration details.
Travel and accommodation are not included in conference registration fee, and must be booked and paid for by individual attendees.
Hotel
Conference rates are available at three Winnipeg hotels:
A conference rate of CAN$229 has been secured at the Fort Garry Hotel. The hotel is centrally located in Winnipeg’s downtown area; it is a 12‐minute walk from the hotel to the Museum. Rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. Secure your room by July 1, 2026.
A conference rate of CAN$199 has been secured at the Hyatt House Winnipeg South/Outlet Collection. The hotel is outside of Winnipeg’s downtown area, on the South side of the city near a large retail mall. It is a 25‐minute drive from the hotel to the Museum. Rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. Secure your room by July 1, 2026.
A conference rate of CAN$189 has been secured at the Hampton Inn by Hilton Winnipeg. The hotel is outside of Winnipeg’s downtown area, near Winnipeg International Airport, convenient for those with late airline arrivals or early departures. It is a 20‐minute drive from the hotel to the Museum. Rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. Secure your room by July 1, 2026.
Known for its friendly and welcoming spirit, Winnipeg is a diverse multicultural city with a rich and varied history. An Indigenous trading centre prior to the arrival of the Europeans, Winnipeg was at the heart of the country’s fur trade and instrumental in developing Canada’s gateway to the west. Home to a grain exchange that once rivalled the largest markets in the world, Winnipeg’s architecture and neighbourhoods reflect the profound character of what was once a small prairie town.
Over the last decades, Winnipeg has developed into a cosmopolitan city complete with top‐notch restaurants, swanky boutiques, exciting attractions and an arts and culture scene that bursts with talent and originality.
What is the International Network of Museums for Peace?
The International Network of Museums for Peace (INMP) is a global, non‐profit organization that connects museums, memorials, and other peace‐related institutions to promote a culture of peace. Established in 1992, its mission is to build global peace through collaboration, shared resources, and promoting public education on peace history, the costs of war, and nonviolence. The network facilitates information sharing, best practices, and international conferences for its members.
What is INMP Conference 2026?
The 2026 conference, called Peacebuilding through truth and reconciliation, will provide an opportunity for knowledge keepers, community leaders, museum workers, artists, activists, and scholars to gather in Winnipeg, on Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Red River Métis, to explore the transformative role museums can play in fostering empathy, decolonization, rematriation/repatriation, promoting human rights and cultivating a culture of peace.
When will Peacebuilding through truth and reconciliation take place?
The conference will take place from 12 to 16 August 2026. Thursday, August 13 and Friday, August 14 days will be filled with conference sessions. After the formal component of the conference concludes, attendees and any companions they may be travelling with are invited to enjoy curated excursions on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16. Check back after January 26, 2026 for pricing and registration details.
Where will the conference be held?
The conference will be held at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Known for its friendly and welcoming spirit, Winnipeg is a diverse multicultural city at the centre of Canada with a rich and varied history. An Indigenous trading centre prior to the arrival of the Europeans, Winnipeg was at the heart of the country’s fur trade and instrumental in developing Canada’s gateway to the west. Home to a grain exchange that once rivalled the largest markets in the world, Winnipeg’s architecture and neighbourhoods reflect the profound character of what was once a small prairie town.
Over the last decades, Winnipeg has developed into a cosmopolitan city complete with top‐notch restaurants, swanky boutiques, exciting attractions and an arts and culture scene that bursts with talent and originality.
Who is welcome to attend?
The conference is open to everyone, museum and cultural sector professionals, academics, students, INMP members and non‐members alike. Anyone with an interest in human rights in the cultural sector, from anywhere in the world, is welcome to attend.
What is the theme of the 2026 conference?
Set in a unique place of convergence, dialogue and trade, INMP Conference 2026’s theme is, “Peacebuilding Through Truth and Reconciliation.” Themes that this conference will explore include:
Indigenization/decolonization of museums
Peacemaking/human rights
Working in the space of cultural heritage/peacemaking
Can attendees visit local museums and cultural sites during the conference?
Yes, special tours and excursions to Winnipeg cultural sites will be offered. Please visit the updated schedule section for the latest information.
What inclusivity and accessibility measures will be in place for conference attendees?
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is committed to accessibility and the inclusion of persons with disabilities. For further enquiries, please contact: inmpconference2026@humanrights.ca.
In what language(s) will the conference be conducted?
The conference will be conducted primarily in English with French and Spanish simultaneous translation. ASL interpretation will be available upon request.
How can international visitors apply for a visa to attend the conference?
Visa requirements vary by nationality; consult Canada’s official visa resources or embassies.
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