Celebrating International Archives Week 2026: Preserving Archives for Justice
Next week, between 8th–12th June 2026, the global archival community will come together to mark International Archives Week (IAW2026), led by the International Council on Archives (ICA). This year’s theme ‘Archives for Justice: Rights, Memory & Futures’ highlights the vital role archives, and digital preservation, play in supporting accountability, preserving memory and enabling a more equitable future for all.
The theme of Archives for Justice resonates strongly with the Digital Preservation Coalition’s (DPC) mission, aligning closely with its work to strengthen digital preservation practice worldwide, particularly in an era where digital records are central to evidence, governance and public trust. Effective digital preservation ensures that records remain accessible, authentic and usable over time, supporting transparency, accountability, cultural memory and future research.
Throughout June, the DPC’s programme offers multiple opportunities to engage with this important IAW theme, underlining how digital preservation contributes directly to the goals of Archives for Justice, ensuring that records remain available as evidence, memory and cultural heritage:
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Thursday 4th June – #DPConnect Americas and Thursday 11th June – #DPConnect Europe
Join our year-round open fora for the global community to share challenges and approaches to digital preservation which underpin equitable access and community engagement. -
Tuesday 16th June – Introducing the DPC Advocacy Toolkit and Novice to Know-How Advocacy Course
Discover these new DPC resources designed to support practitioners to advocate for digital preservation as essential infrastructure for transparency, rights and long-term access. -
Thursday 18th June – Zero Trust Thinking: Resilient Digital Preservation in a World of Cyber Risk
Join the discussion to consider how we can safeguard records against loss or manipulation - a growing concern for maintaining trust and accountability.
International Archives Week invites participation from across the archival, records management and digital preservation communities. The ICA encourages professionals, researchers and organisations to host events, join discussions and share their work using the hashtag #ArchivesForJustice.
So, join in an event, take part, reflect on the theme and consider how your work contributes to a world in which archives, and the digital records they safeguard, support justice, rights and memory for all.