The Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) is delighted to share its new program of activities for 2026–2027. The prospectus sets out the DPC's plans for the year ahead, bringing together an ambitious program of publications, training opportunities, webinars, specialist briefings, community initiatives and practical resources for digital preservation professionals around the world. Shaped by the evolving needs of DPC members, the program supports a welcoming and inclusive global community working together to secure a sustainable future for digital assets.
“By bringing together expertise and practical support from across sectors, domains and geographies, we continue to strengthen a truly global community of digital preservation practice,” says Sarah Middleton, Chief Community Officer for the DPC.
“The new prospectus reflects the challenges and opportunities our members are facing right now, from managing risk and responding to environmental concerns, to exploring the potential of AI, strengthening advocacy and developing the skills needed for the future. We want to ensure everyone, wherever they are in the world, can access the knowledge, support and connections they need to achieve their digital preservation goals.”
Connecting a Global Community
A highlight of the year ahead is the introduction of the new Around the World event series, connecting practitioners across Australasia and Asia-Pacific, Europe and Africa, and the Americas through a continuous three-day program of knowledge exchange. Built around four key themes, the format creates a shared global conversation while making participation more accessible across time zones.
The popular DPC Members Fora and Networking Events will also continue, with opportunities for members to meet, collaborate and share experiences in Australasia and Asia-Pacific, the Americas, and Europe through a combination of face-to-face, hybrid and online events.
In a significant milestone for the Coalition, the DPC will host its first ever event delivered in a language other than English. The DPC Rapid Assessment Model (RAM) Workshop for Chinese speakers, made possible through the support of DPC's Chinese-speaking members, will help broaden access to digital preservation knowledge and reflect the increasingly global nature of the DPC community.
Practical Resources for a Changing Landscape
This year sees the launch of the Carbon Footprint Toolkit, a practical resource developed through the DPC’s Carbon Footprint Task Force to help practitioners measure, assess and reduce the environmental impact of their digital preservation activities.
The DPC will also launch a Community Archives Ambassador Toolkit, providing organizations with a flexible package of resources, presentations and activities to support community-led digital preservation and help local groups begin safeguarding their digital content.
Alongside these new resources, members will benefit from updates to other key DPC resources including the Rapid Assessment Model (RAM), the Digital Preservation Procurement Toolkit, the Digital Preservation Policy Toolkit, and the EDRMS Preservation Toolkit.
Exploring Emerging Themes
A rich online program will explore some of the most significant issues facing practitioners today. Topics for the new Around the World event series will include Risk Management, Artificial Intelligence for Digital Preservation, Preservation at Scale, and the Preservation of Complex Digital Objects and File Formats. DP Spotlight sessions (formerly #DPClinic) will also examine topics such as social media preservation, active contemporary digital histories, legacy media, Indigenous cultural material and secure systems.
These activities will be supported by a publication program featuring new and updated Technology Watch Reports covering AI and Digital Preservation, Digital Forensics, OAIS, Preservation Metadata and Web Archiving, alongside new guidance on Disaster Risk Management.
Championing Digital Preservation Worldwide
On 5 November 2026, the DPC will celebrate World Digital Preservation Day with the theme “Save our Stories (SOS): Our digital heritage in danger.” The campaign will encourage organizations and individuals to demonstrate the value of digital heritage and strengthen advocacy for its preservation in the face of neglect, conflict and crisis.
The year will also feature the Digital Preservation Awards 2026, celebrating excellence, innovation and collaboration in digital preservation from around the world. The awards will be presented in Warsaw alongside the No Time to Wait Conference in October 2026.
Sharing Knowledge and Building Capability
The DPC continues to invest in practical resources that help organizations build digital preservation capability. Alongside updates to existing toolkits, the year ahead includes publication of a Labour Market Analysis, a new Recruitment Toolkit, a refreshed Learning Resources Portal, and continued development of Digital Preservation Handbook 3.0, which will be published in 2027 to coincide with the Handbook’s 25th anniversary.
Members will also receive anonymized benchmarking data through a new DPC RAM Benchmarking Report, enabling organizations to compare their capabilities with peer institutions and identify areas for future investment and improvement.
Developing Digital Preservation Skills
The DPC remains committed to strengthening digital preservation skills around the world. The popular Novice to Know-How training program will continue to be available free of charge, with modules covering digital preservation skills, access, email preservation, digital asset registers and advocacy, alongside new content on risk management due this year.
A dedicated Advocacy Training program for members will also help practitioners align digital preservation with organizational objectives, understand audiences and communicate value effectively. Additional tailored training, lectures and grants through the Career Development Fund will continue to support workforce development across the community.
Dedicated Support for Members
Full Members continue to benefit from direct support and advice from the DPC as part of their membership, while consultancy services remain available to both members and non-members. Support may include maturity assessments, training, policy development, strategy creation and bespoke guidance tailored to organizational needs.
As an international charitable foundation, the DPC exists to help its members deliver resilient, long-term access to digital content and services. Through advocacy, workforce development, good practice, community building and tailored support, the DPC continues to work towards its vision of a secure digital legacy for all.