International Archives Week 2026: 8–12 June 2026
The International Council on Archives (ICA) is proud to announce the theme for International Archives Week 2026 (#IAW2026): #ArchivesForJustice: Rights, Memory & Futures. Selected through a global survey involving hundreds of responses from ICA members and the wider archival community, the theme reflects a shared recognition of the fundamental role archives play in supporting justice, rights, and democratic societies.
Celebrated annually, International Archives Week (8–12 June 2026) provides a global platform to highlight the societal functions of archives: enabling accountability, preserving memory, safeguarding rights, and supporting the rule of law. The 2026 theme places particular emphasis on archives as active infrastructures that sustain justice across time, from past violations and present responsibilities to future claims and aspirations.
Theme: #ArchivesForJustice: Rights, Memory & Futures
Archives hold records that are fundamental to the exercise of justice and the protection of rights. The ways in which these records are preserved, described, accessed, and governed directly influence how individuals and communities can pursue truth, accountability, and justice.
Justice itself is complex and context-dependent, spanning legal, social, cultural, environmental, historical, and intergenerational dimensions. Archives contribute to these processes not only by preserving evidence of past events, including violations, but also by supporting systems that uphold the rule of law, protect rights, and ensure accountability. They act as trusted reference points, documenting decisions and responsibilities over time, and reducing risks for individuals and communities.
Beyond formal legal frameworks, archives also support memory, dialogue, and reparative processes, especially where legal mechanisms may be limited or absent. In this sense, their role extends across restorative, preventative, and ethical approaches to justice.
At the same time, archives reflect histories shaped by power, including colonial legacies and systemic inequalities that have influenced what has been recorded, preserved, or excluded. Addressing these realities requires critical reflection on archival practices, from description systems to custodial models, and a commitment to more inclusive and participatory approaches.
Ensuring equitable access and meaningful participation for marginalised, Indigenous, and historically excluded communities is central to this effort. It also involves recognising the specific challenges surrounding archives in non-sovereign contexts, including questions of custody, access, and restitution.
Five Key Subthemes
This theme explores the diverse ways archives intersect with justice through the following interrelated subthemes:
1. Archives for Accountability: Rule of Law, Truth, and Transitional Justice
This subtheme focuses on the role of archives as sources of evidence that document decisions, actions, and responsibilities. It highlights their importance in supporting the rule of law, administrative accountability, and human rights processes, including truth commissions and tribunals, while also addressing issues such as impunity and historical crimes.
2. Archives for Memory: Recognition, Human Dignity, and Lived Experience
Archives contribute to justice by preserving personal testimonies, oral histories, and community narratives, particularly those of marginalised groups. This work supports recognition, restores memory, and reinforces human dignity by connecting records to lived experiences and processes of social healing.
3. Archives for Inclusion: Access, Participation, and Community Empowerment
This subtheme explores how archives can ensure meaningful access for the communities they document. It emphasises participatory approaches, community-led initiatives, and the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge systems, while challenging exclusionary practices and promoting shared stewardship.
4. Archives, Colonial Legacies, and Non-Sovereign Contexts: Displaced and Shared Heritage
This area addresses the impact of colonialism and power structures on archival collections, including displaced or fragmented records. It considers questions of restitution, repatriation, and ethical custodianship, particularly in non-sovereign or contested contexts, and recognises the limits of digitisation in replacing original materials.
5. Archives for Future Justice: Anticipating Rights, Responsibility, and Possibility
This subtheme looks ahead to how archives can support emerging forms of justice. It includes the development of digital infrastructures, AI tools, and new custodial models, while also addressing environmental and technological accountability. A key focus is balancing innovation with sustainability and long-term community benefit.
How You Can Participate in #IAW2026
Organise
#IAW2026
Host an event, webinar, or discussion that explores the role of archives in supporting justice, rights, and memory. Showcase initiatives that highlight accountability, inclusion, and ethical stewardship in archival practice. Collaborate with local institutions, professionals, and communities to create meaningful and engaging activities. Don’t forget to share your event with the global archival community by adding it to the #IAW2026 Agenda.
Promote
#IAW2026
Explore the International Archives Week 2026 Content Hub and discover how you can join the conversation and engage with the global archival community. Spread the word about #IAW2026 and the theme #ArchivesForJustice through your social media channels, blogs, and websites.
Contribute
#IAW2026
Submit a case study proposal and share your experience, research, or project. This is your opportunity to explore how archives contribute to justice in its many forms and to engage with an international audience.
Engage
#IAW2026
Join our #IAW2026 webinars to participate in discussions and connect with professionals and communities from around the world. Stay tuned for more details on registration and speakers
Questions?
For more information about #IAW2026, contact us at communications@ica.org
Join us for an inspiring week of learning, exchange, and reflection on how archives contribute to justice, rights, and futures across societies.
