Call for Papers: ICOM SECURITY Annual Conference 2026, Lviv, Ukraine – Submissions Due September 1, 2026

The ICOM SECURITY Annual Conference 2026 will be held in Lviv, Ukraine, in collaboration with ICOM Ukraine, ICOM Germany, the West Ukrainian Museums Association, and UNESCO Hub Lviv.

November, 25^th -28^th 2026
Lviv, Ukraine

Scope and Topic
Cultural heritage in war is not merely collateral damage, but often a deliberate target aimed at erasing cultural identity, collective memory, and the sovereignty of an independent nation. The devastating statistics on cultural heritage losses in Ukraine as a consequence of the Russian full-scale invasion, as of 1 July 2026, there are 540 cultural sites that have been verified as damaged[1]. These include 155 religious sites, 281 buildings of historical and/or artistic interest, 43 museums, 33 monuments, 22 libraries, 5 archaeological sites, 1 archive, and arts education institutions—places that profoundly shape Ukrainian identity and memory. Clearly, this is a genocidal war against Ukrainian identity and nationhood. There is also a tremendous loss of human capital in the sector.

The expert network of ICOM IC Security is serving as a unique platform for professional exchanges on risk management and security challenges in war, countering military threats and discussing a renewed framework of responsibility for cultural heritage.

This IC SECURITY conference invites museum and security professionals and researchers from ICOM and beyond, to explore how museums can respond in a mutual exchange with Ukrainian colleagues to the following challenges:

–                Museum security aspects in conflict and war
–                Specific challenges of illicit traffic in conflict and war
–                Cyber security for museums
–                Challenges in “psychological” or “social” security for museums
–                The “human factor” in times of crisis for museum security

The conference shall have a working character with both Keynotes and PechaKucha presentations and facilitated and moderated discussions, and will be protocolled and recorded for later electronic publication.

Call for Presentations
ICOM SECURITY invites submissions for PechaKucha-style presentations as part of the conference program.

PechaKucha is a dynamic presentation format designed for concise, visual storytelling and rapid idea exchange.

Presentation Format
• 20 slides x 20 seconds each (auto-advance)
• Total duration: 6 minutes 40 seconds (adaptable to 7-minute moderated format)
• Highly visual, minimal text
• Focus on clarity, impact, and narrative

Suggested Themes
• Museum security aspects in conflict and war
• Specific challenges of illicit traffic in conflict and war
• Cyber Security for museums
• Challenges in “psychological” or “social” security for museums
• The human factor in museum security

Who Should Apply
We welcome submissions from:

• IC SECURITY, ICOM and NON ICOM members
• Museum professionals
• Academics and researchers
• Emerging professionals
• Security Professionals
• Policy makers and cultural strategists

Submission Guidelines
Please submit:

• Title of Presentation
• Abstract (max. 250 words)
• Innovativeness (max. 100 words)
• Short Bio (max. 150 words)
• Indicate preferred theme among the five challenges
• If ICOM Member ID membership Yes/no
• If IC SECURITY Member  Yes/no

Selection Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated based on:

• Relevance to conference themes
• Originality and innovation
• Applicability and impact

Important Dates
• Submission Deadline: September 1^st  
• Notification of Acceptance: September 15^th
• Conference Dates: November 26^th -27^th 2026

How to Submit
Please send your submission before September 1^st  to: secretary.icms@icom.museum
Subject Line: PechaKucha Submission – ICOM SECURITY 2026

Note to Presenters
Selected participants will be required to:

• Adhere strictly to the PechaKucha format
• Submit final presentations in advance ready for publication (proof read, pictures, credits etc…)
• Participate in the full conference program

• The organizers are working with funding agencies and donors to support participants for travel, accommodation and subsistence costs. Special consideration will be given to applications from Emerging Professionals (under 40, according to ICOM Secretariat).

Tentative Agenda

Wed, Nov 25^th
Arrival of foreign participants to Krakow, from there transfer to Lviv

Thu, Nov 26^th
Opening with greetings and welcome addresses
Key notes, PechaKucha presentations, followed by Working Group discussions

Fri, Nov 27^th
Key notes, PechaKucha presentations, followed by Working Group discussions
Visit to Conservation and Evacuation Center West Ukrainian Museums, Lviv

Sat, Nov 28^th (optional)
Departure for Drohobyc by bus, lunch, discussions and visit to St. George, UNESCO-World Heritage, Bruno Schulz Memorial.
Return to Lviv, departure of foreign participants to Krakow in the evening or next morning

[1] Damaged cultural sites in Ukraine verified by UNESCO | UNESCO