2027 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo
2027 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo
Mission. Value. Impact.
May 5-8, 2027 ★ Houston, Texas
The museum field comes together in Houston to connect, learn, find solutions, and explore how museums create and demonstrate their impact.
THE MUSEUM FIELD’S LARGEST CONVENING
Four days. Four thousand museum people. One field connecting, learning, and moving forward, together.
From art and history museums to science centers and zoos, AAM 2027 brings the breadth of the museum field together in one place. This is your annual meeting. Come for new ideas and leave with practical solutions, new collaborators, and a renewed sense of your impact on your museum and community.
AAM 2027 THEME
Mission. Value. Impact.
Museums have never been more important.
In a time of rapid change, museums help people make sense of the world. They preserve knowledge, inspire learning, and foster belonging. Together, these experiences generate enduring value, enrich communities, and strengthen society.
Yet creating value is only part of the challenge. Museums must also demonstrate their impact, communicate their relevance, and build sustainable organizations that can thrive amid evolving audience expectations, heightened competition, and constrained resources.
Explore five tracks focused on:
★ Audiences, Experiences, & Value Creation
★ Financial Sustainability & Growth
★ Organizational Capacity & Operations
★ Innovation & Future-readiness
★ Museum Practice & Essentials
Meet Up in Houston
May 5-8, 2027
One of America’s great museum cities activates AAM 2027 with behind-the-scenes workshops, parties in museums, and so much more.
George R. Brown Convention Center
1001 Avenida de las Americas
Houston, Texas 77010
“
What I love about AAM is how it pulls you out of your silo. You meet people doing wildly different work, and somehow their challenges and ideas spark something in your own. It’s not just about networking; it’s about perspective, reflection, and those unexpected moments that shift how you see your role.”
— Denisse Brito, Tucson, AZ
Lasting Connections
AAM 2027 is designed to help you feel reinvigorated and more deeply connected to our field. Build your network, find collaborators, exchange ideas with colleagues facing similar challenges, and discover mentors across all career stages.
Unmatched Learning & Professional Development
You’ll explore cutting-edge practices and gain actionable takeaways you can apply to your work immediately.
Cutting-edge Solutions & Innovations
The MuseumExpo is your one-stop opportunity to find solutions to your institution’s current challenges and discover innovations you didn’t even know existed.
“
Attending the American Alliance of Museums conference and being surrounded by museum professionals from across the country gave me new ideas and fresh perspective. I left with practical insights I can apply immediately, meaningful new connections, and a renewed excitement for the work we do every day. The conference challenged me to think bigger and reminded me how collaborative and innovative the museum field truly is.
— Alysia Prunier, Indianapolis, IN
Revisit Past Annual Meetings
PEOPLE AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Every community owes its existence to generations from around the world who contributed their hopes, dreams, and energy to making the history that led to this moment. Some were brought here against their will, some were drawn to leave their distant homes in hopes of better lives, some were forced from their homelands, and some have lived on this land for more generations than can be counted. Honoring truth is essential to building a just and equitable world. While acknowledgment is important, it is only a beginning.
We acknowledge the Piscataway people, on whose ancestral lands the American Alliance of Museums’ office is located. Philadelphia, the city we celebrate during this Annual Meeting, is the ancestral homeland of the Lenape people.
Please take a moment to consider the many realities of violence, displacement, migration, and colonization as we gather together for the 2026 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo. We must hold ourselves accountable for the necessary work to uncover truths in the museum field and beyond. We encourage you to use this native lands map so you can learn what lands you occupy—visit: native-land.ca.
The American Alliance of Museums’ mission is to champion equitable and impactful museums by connecting people, fostering learning and community, and nurturing museum excellence.
