The Greek Section of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the International Committee of University Museums and Collections (UMAC) of ICOM, and the Museum of Science and Technology at the University of Patras are organizing, for the first time in Greece, the annual international hybrid UMAC Conference for 2026, with the theme “University Museums as Agents of Sustainable Development,” at the University of Patras Museum of Science and Technology (umac2026.gr).

The scientific program of the Conference will take place from October 11 to October 14, 2026, at the University of Patras, primarily at the Museum of Science and Technology, with a few sessions held at the University of Patras Conference Center. It will be complemented by a rich cultural program offering a taste of the city’s vibrancy. The program includes a welcome event in the city of Patras in collaboration with KEDIP-CARNIVAL OF PATRAS, an event at the Archaeological Museum of Patras with the support of the Region of Western Greece, as well as visits to the museums of the University of Patras and a welcome event at the University of Patras, featuring a concert of works by Hatzidakis, Theodorakis, and Xarchakos, featuring piano and two voices (Maria and Poly Nikolopoulou and Pavlos Malliaris). On October 15 and 16, 2026, there will be a day trip to the Stymphalia Environmental Museum, supported by the Piraeus Cultural Foundation, and visits to museums at the University of Athens. The conference will be conducted in Greek, English, and French.

The conference is also supported by the regional associations ICOM-Europe and ICOM Africa, the national committees of France, Burkina Faso, and South Africa, as well as the International Committee for Museology (ICOFOM), and is held under the auspices of the University of Patras and the Region of Western Greece.

University museums and collections are important resources for education, lifelong learning, and research, and they serve valuable functions within universities and society. They can be aligned with the goals of Sustainable Development at universities to play a critical role through their collections and museum practices. This integration presents both challenges and opportunities and can influence the day-to-day operations of museums by facilitating access to and understanding of the university’s cultural, scientific, technological, and environmental heritage.

The conference will be attended in person and online by museum professionals, researchers, academics, students, as well as individuals interested in university museums and their role in society from 40 countries spanning all continents, while the organizers offered 7 scholarships to young professionals to facilitate their participation in the conference.