The LRE Conference 2026, titled “Beyond the 80th Anniversary: The Future of World War II Remembrance”, will take place on 10 March 2026 at the Open Air Museum in Arnhem, the Netherlands, as part of the 10th edition of the LRE Forum.
As the 80th anniversary commemorations of the Second World War conclude, the conference will focus on how remembrance can remain meaningful in a time marked by the loss of eyewitnesses, growing historical distortion, digital transformation and changing political and societal challenges. Open to everyone, the event will bring together international experts from the fields of history, education, cultural heritage and remembrance policy to reflect on the future of WWII memory in Europe and beyond.
The opening plenary session, Safeguarding WWII Memory in a Changing World, will feature James D. Bindenagel, former United States Ambassador to Germany; Jurmet Huitema-de Waal, education expert at the Anne Frank House; and Rafał Rogulski, Director of the European Network Remembrance and Solidarity. Together, they will examine the political, educational and social responsibilities of remembrance in the decades ahead in shaping resilient and inclusive societies.
In the afternoon, participants will engage in parallel roundtable discussions addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing memory institutions today. These include the future of remembrance tourism in the context of climate change, innovative ways of engaging younger generations through digital tools and education, the importance of international research and multi-perspective historical narratives, and the development of inclusive and contemporary commemorative practices.
Speakers contributing to the roundtables include Rebecca Armstrong of The Travel Foundation, Ben de Vries of Military Heritage, Cultural Heritage Agency, The Netherlands, Ave Paulus of ICOMOS Estonia, Victoria Grace Richardson-Walden from the University of Sussex, Sandra Camarda of the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History, Marlene Wöckinger of the Mauthausen concentration camp memorial, Joanna Wojdon from the University of Wrocław, Poland Hinke Piersma of NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Peter Johnson of the Imperial War Museums, Jana Wohlmuth Markupová from Charles University, Marta Berecka of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, Laurent Bellini from the City of Paris and Nienke Majoor of the Dutch National Committee for 4 and 5 May, among others.
The conference is part of the wider LRE Forum 2026, the LRE Foundation’s annual event, which will take place from 9 to 12 March in Arnhem and Nijmegen in collaboration with the Cities of Arnhem and Nijmegen and the Province of Gelderland. Marking its tenth anniversary, the forum will feature professional exchanges, site visits, exhibitions and networking activities for remembrance and heritage professionals from across Europe.
By looking beyond milestone anniversaries, the LRE Conference 2026 aims to strengthen international cooperation and ensure that the memory of World War II continues to inform democratic values, historical awareness and civic responsibility for future generations. Join us in Arnhem to take part in this shared reflection and help shape the future of remembrance.
More information and registration: https://www.lre-foundation.org/conference-2026/
