Kentucky is one of only four American states also considered a "commonwealth." Even though this designation has few legal implications for Kentuckians, the concept of a commonwealth--at its heart, a community formed to serve the common weal, or common well-being--does have profound philosophical implications. The Kentucky Museum & Heritage Alliance (KMHA) 2026 Annual Conference, held June 7-9, 2026, invites you to explore how our work--as public historians, preservationists, museum and arts professionals, parks administrators, avocational humanities advocates, and other lovers of Kentucky's culture--is essential to ensuring the well-being of everyone who calls the Commonwealth home.
As the nation as a whole reflects on its 250th anniversary, we have the opportunity to do our own reflection in Kentucky. What does it mean for the arts, history, and heritage institutions authentically to unite for the common public good? How can we infuse the service we provide to our communities, and to each other, with the deeper meaning of "commonwealth?" Can we further broaden our interpretation of our shared cultural inheritance? What is our responsibility to those who will inherit our cultural landscape in the future?
Session proposals are now open. Please submit your sessions for consideration before FEBRUARY 28, 2026.
Registration is now open!
We are so excited to see you in Paducah. Registration is now open, through this link. We will be releasing our full schedule in mid-March, but here is a taste of the exciting array of activities for conference-goers, including:
- Sessions, exhibits, and networking at the River Discovery Center on the historic Paducah riverfront
- Opening block party at the Hotel Metropolitan, complete with hotel tours, living history performances, live music, and food, all offered in a dynamic celebration of Paducah’s historic Black community in “Upper Town”
- Optional pre-and-post-conference field trips and experiences in the area, including The Super Museum (Metropolis, IL), Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site, and the National Quilt Museum
Our conference hotel is the Holiday Inn Paducah Riverfront by IHG with a special rate of $110/night (plus taxes and fees) for all KMHA attendees. To book your room at this special rate, use the booking link below. BOOK NOW!
We are also thrilled to share that this year, KMHA will be offering conference scholarships.
We know that times are tough for many institutions, due to reduced funding, under-staffing, and bandwidth. We also know that as students or emerging professionals, it can be difficult to afford professional development. Because of the generosity of our conference sponsors, we are able to try and offset some of the costs of attending and traveling to the KMHA Annual Conference in 2026 for those who need some extra support.
KMHA has a limited number of scholarships available, which include complimentary registration to the conference (up-charge conference add-ons are not included) and two (2) nights at the official conference hotel.
Three (3) professional scholarships will be awarded to eligible applicants who are:
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Staff or volunteers at an institution with an annual budget under $300,000
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Staff or volunteers at an institution with five (5) or less employees
Three (3) student scholarships will be awarded to eligible applicants who are:
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Currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students in museum studies, public history, history, art history, library science, or a related field
For more information on application requirements, please visit the link below.
