In a city defined by innovation and reinvention, CAJM and AHO’s 2026 Conference will explore how museums can confront the urgent challenges of our time - from rising antisemitism and social fragmentation to new opportunities for collaboration, creativity, and renewed public trust.

Facing the Future: Museums as Catalysts for Change invites leaders from across the Jewish museum field and the broader cultural sector to examine how our institutions steward memory, strengthen civic life, and lead with purpose in a rapidly shifting landscape.

Our planning is guided by three core concepts:

• Hope and honesty in equal measure - pairing optimism with clear-eyed engagement.

• Detroit as a learning landscape - drawing insight from the city’s legacy of creativity, reinvention, and complex histories.

• Museums as catalysts - fostering connection, deepening understanding, and modeling new pathways forward.

Register Today – Spots Are Filling Quickly

Join us in Detroit, June 14–17, for the Council of American Jewish Museums’ 2026 Conference, Facing the Future: Museums as Catalysts for Change.

At a moment that calls for courage, clarity, and collaboration, this convening will bring together leaders from across the Jewish museum field and the broader cultural sector to strengthen our collective capacity and chart a path forward.

Register now to secure your spot. We look forward to gathering in community and shaping the future together.

A more detailed version of the conference schedule is available exclusively to registered attendees.

Antisemitism in America: The Past Is Present, Again

How can Jewish museums and institutions best leverage their knowledge of the past to help educate the public about antisemitism on the home front? Pamela Nadell, professor at American University and author of Antisemitism: An American Tradition, will discuss the issue and lessons from the past with Andrew Lapin, reporter at the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and creator and host of the podcast Radioactive: The Father Coughlin Story.

Join a special tour of The Shepherd for a guided journey through this remarkable arts and outdoor space. The Shepherd is a cultural arts center and sculpture park in Detroit’s Little Village, spearheaded by Library Street Collective.

Conference attendees will have the opportunity to experience the iconic Detroit Riverwalk, voted best riverwalk in the country. We will learn about the conservation and revitalization efforts that have transformed more than 100 acres of public parkland along the riverfront.