International Archives Week 2026
The International Council on Archives has announced the theme for International Archives Week 2026, taking place from 8–12 June 2026: “#ArchivesForJustice: Rights, Memory & Futures.” Selected through a global survey involving archivists and information professionals worldwide, the theme reflects the growing recognition of archives as critical foundations for justice, accountability, and democratic societies.
International Archives Week provides an opportunity to highlight the vital role archives play in preserving memory, protecting rights, supporting transparency, and strengthening the rule of law. The 2026 theme places particular focus on archives as active infrastructures that connect past events, present responsibilities, and future rights.
The ICA emphasises that archives are far more than historical collections. Records preserved within archives often serve as evidence in legal, administrative, human rights, and accountability processes. The way records are created, managed, described, preserved, and accessed can directly influence an individual’s or community’s ability to pursue truth, justice, and recognition.
The theme also acknowledges that archives are shaped by power structures and historical inequalities, including colonial legacies that have influenced what information has been preserved, excluded, or controlled over time. As a result, the archival profession is increasingly being challenged to adopt more inclusive, participatory, and community-led approaches to stewardship and access.
Five key subthemes will guide International Archives Week 2026 discussions and activities. These include archives for accountability and the rule of law, archives for memory and lived experience, archives for inclusion and community empowerment, archives and colonial legacies, and archives for future justice through digital innovation and emerging technologies such as AI.
For records and information management professionals, the theme reinforces the broader societal value of effective recordkeeping and information governance. Beyond compliance and operational efficiency, archives and records play a fundamental role in protecting rights, preserving evidence, supporting transparency, and ensuring communities can access and understand their histories into the future.