SIBMAS 2026 Conference

Title: Shifting Stages: Preserving Performing Arts on Moving Ground

Dates: 8-10 June 2026

Location: Theatre Archive at the National and University Library of Iceland

In an era of global turbulence—where the ground beneath us is literally and metaphorically shifting, and where histories are being questioned and reinterpreted—museums, archives, and libraries have become both flashpoints and havens. These institutions exist in a constant state of negotiation: tasked with bringing order to disorder, creating catalogues from chaos, and preserving the fragile traces of artistic expression under increasingly uncertain conditions.
Iceland, set between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, is a living metaphor for this precarious balance. Its landscapes, shaped by volcanic activity and seismic movement, mirror the creative volatility and resilience of the performing arts. Yet, as the threat of climate disruption looms—scientists warn that a collapse of the Gulf Stream could transform Icelandic & European life—questions of sustainability, adaptability, and preservation become ever more urgent.
Friction, however, is not solely a force of destruction—it also generates transformation. The performing arts, inherently ephemeral, demand innovative approaches to documentation, preservation, and access. At this critical juncture, it is vital for those who steward performance heritage to share resources, methodologies, and experiences; to amplify marginalized voices; and to engage in deep reflection on the future of both our institutions and our shared humanity.
The 2026 SIBMAS Symposium will explore these and related issues, focusing on how performing arts collections and institutions adapt, endure, and evolve amid instability.

Attendees will be able to register from mid-February.
The fees will be very modest: €80 for the whole event, €40 per day, with June 10 (visits and excursions) free of charge.
For students: €40 for the whole event, €20 per day.

Participants must be members of the SIBMAS and have paid their membership fees before May 31st.

In case of inquiries, please contact Sigríður (Sigga) Jónsdóttir (sigridur.jonsdottir@landsbokasafn.is) AND SIBMAS (info@sibmas.org)

The association’s general assembly will take place on June 9, on-site and online.

The entire executive committee and board will be up for election at this time: members can submit their applications for election at any time in advance of the General Assembly.

Reykjavík Symposium 2026 – SIBMAS