WILLIAMSBURG — The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation announced it will host its 78th Annual Antiques Forum Feb. 19-25.
Offered both virtually and in-person, the foundation said this year’s conference is organized around the its mission statement, “That the future may learn from the past.” To commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence and the 100th anniversary of Colonial Williamsburg’s founding, the 2026 forum will explore past inspiration and future influence through the lens of material culture and the decorative arts.
Forum attendees will also have an exclusive opportunity to preview Colonial Williamsburg: The First 100 Years, a new exhibition at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg opening Feb 28.
The majority of conference activities will take place in the Virginia Room of the Williamsburg Lodge. The foundation said curators and scholars from Colonial Williamsburg will be joined by leading experts and collectors from across the nation to present on historic preservation, decorative arts, antiques, architecture, historic costume and more. To register and view the full conference agenda, visit colonialwilliamsburg.org/antiques.
In-person registration is $660 per person through Jan. 4 and includes a welcome reception, continental breakfasts, coffee and refreshment breaks, conference reception and dinner, and presentations, as well as access to the conference streaming platform. A variety of pre- and post-conference activities are available for in-person registrants, as are special room rates at Colonial Williamsburg hotel properties.
Virtual-only registration is $150 per person and includes access to all general session presentations through the conference streaming platform.
Both in-person and virtual-only registrations include a seven-day ticket voucher to Colonial Williamsburg’s Art Museums and Historic Area, valid for redemption through Dec. 31, 2026. Registration and payment in full are required by Feb. 8.
The foundation said a limited number of in-person and virtual attendance scholarships are available to students and emerging professionals in relevant positions or programs. Applications are due by Dec. 16.
Additional information is available at colonialwilliamsburg.org/learn/conferences or by calling 1-800-603-0948 toll-free or emailing educationalconferences@cwf.org. Follow Colonial Williamsburg on Facebook and @colonialwmsburg on Instagram and X.
