Welcome to the fifth live edition of 2and3D Photography – Practice and Prophecies 2026.

In a world under pressure, where polarization prevails, and which is burdened by violent conflicts, wars, and a climate crisis, our work is now more urgent than ever and it is crucial that we stand together and seek collaboration. Large groups of people are fleeing their homes and countries where their heritage is being destroyed. It is this heritage that connects us and defines our identity. We digitally document this heritage, thereby preserving it for future generations. It is of great importance that we can continue to tell the stories of our history and shared culture through this visual material. In line with this, science and research have come to play an increasingly significant role in our daily practice. With the rise of innovative photographic techniques and technical imaging, we posed the question at the previous edition of 2and3D Photography: how responsible is it to produce zettabytes of data given the amount of resources needed to maintain it? However, that is not the only challenge. We must also make this data accessible and manageable for science and future generations. The advent of AI can be a tool in this regard, yet it can simultaneously undermine credibility. What agreements do we make to safeguard our integrity and reliability?

The program for this edition reflects these topics and more. I would like to thank our partners AHFAP and Cultural Emergency Response (CER) for their valuable advice and involvement in 2and3D Photography 2026.

A special thanks to Albertine Dijkema, our staff photographer and designer, who created our new conference aesthetic which we hope will remain our signature look for the next ten years.

Just as in previous years, the Rijksmuseum is proud to welcome everyone back for three inspirational days with lively discussions, the exchange of knowledge and experience, and the chance to meet new friends and catch up with old ones.