WMA | UMA 2026 Evening Events

Over the course of four consecutive days at WMA | UMA 2026, headquartered at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center, attendees will attend a fantastic lineup of engaging, informative sessions, and can participate in multifaceted learning opportunities including the perennially popular Poster Session, casual Roundtable Discussions, and hands-on Activity Stations.

But every year, major highlights for many attendees are the fun, engaging Evening Events; and this year, attendees will be transported outside, into the sunny city where they will experience the unique history, art, and community found within some of Salt Lake City's most iconic cultural institutions.

Wednesday, September 23

Utah Museum of Contemporary Art
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
$45, includes appetizers and drinks
Underwritten by Utah Museum of Contemporary Art

Welcome to Salt Lake City! Begin your Annual Meeting experience with an evening at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA), a contemporary art museum in the heart of downtown – a short walk from the headquarters hotel. Spend the evening reconnecting with colleagues, exploring the galleries, and browsing the gift shop. On the short stroll from the headquarters hotel, keep an eye out for Point of View, a public artwork by Aaron T. Stephan comprised of more than 150 road signs with contrasting phrases that align — depending on where you stand — into a single unmistakable image: a whimsical yet thought-provoking invitation to consider your own point of view as you engage with colleagues and sessions over the days ahead. On view at UMOCA this evening is Time, Truth, and Other Immeasurables, an exhibition exploring dimensions of human experience that resist calculation — time, truth, vastness, spirituality, and deep history. In an era defined by speed and measurable outcomes, it invites viewers to reflect on what cannot be quantified yet profoundly shapes our existence: the unseen, the enduring, the infinite, the immeasurable.

Thursday, September 24

Museum of Utah
7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
$50, includes transportation and dinner
Sponsored by Utah Historical Society and Utah Division of Arts & Museums

Be among the first to experience Utah’s new and first-ever state history museum! Join us for an evening of food, connection, and exclusive access as we explore four immersive galleries that tell Utah’s history like never before. Through the themes of Becoming, Connecting, Building, and Inspiring, you’ll learn about Utah’s vast and exciting history and the people who have helped to shape the Beehive state- these galleries will be the subject of Saturday’s critique session. Mingle with other conference attendees, explore the galleries, and see the temporary exhibit Past is Personal where visitors see how Utahns have commemorated the nation’s 250th drawing upon the Utah Historical Society’s semiquincentennial project the Peoples of Utah Revisited. Come and explore the new home for Utah’s history - including behind-the-scenes tours of the brand new collection space!

Friday, September 25

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum & Natural History Museum of Utah
6:00pm - 10:00pm
Natural History Museum of Utah
$65, includes transportation, tours, appetizers, and drinks (buses will be looping from the Hilton to Red Butte Garden and Arboretum starting at 6pm and Natural History Museum of Utah starting at 7pm)

6:00 PM-7:00 PM - Respite at Red Butte Garden and Arboretum
Clear your mind and connect with Utah’s fall beauty at Red Butte Garden and Arboretum next door to the Natural History Museum of Utah. Situated in the city’s scenic Foothills, Red Butte Garden showcases native and non-native plants and trees in beautifully cultivated gardens and a spectacular Natural Area. Wander on your own or sign up for a guided tour. Enjoy panoramic mountain views of the city, mountains, and Great Salt Lake.

7:00 PM-10:00 PM - Evening Event: Natural History Museum of Utah
Join colleagues for an unforgettable evening at the Natural History Museum of Utah, where you will be surrounded by over 500 million years of Utah’s natural and cultural history! Located on the foothills of the Wasatch Range, the Museum’s home, the Rio Tinto Center, is an architectural masterpiece. Gather in the Canyon, the Museum’s most iconic space, inspired by Utah’s dramatic geology, and connect with old and new friends under the newly redesigned Collections Wall, a 40-ft case containing over 600 objects from the Museum’s unique collections.

Enjoy access to the Museum’s world-class galleries, interact with gallery interpreters, take in the best sunset view in Salt Lake City from the Sky Terrace, and stop at the Museum Store to take home a piece of Utah! Throughout the evening, museum leadership, education, and collections teams will offer behind-the-scenes tours of the paleontology preparation lab, collection rooms, exhibits shop, and even the building’s mechanical systems, to offer you exclusive access to the science, craftmanship, and engineering that power the Museum. With opportunities to explore, learn, and connect in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere, this reception offers an ideal way to close out the day and to experience NHMU from every angle.

Saturday, September 26

Hilton Salt Lake City Center
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
$50, includes appetizers and drinks

Spend the last night of the Annual Meeting chilling with colleagues at the Hilton Salt Lake City Hotel. Take it easy with libations, hearty appetizers, and an exciting mix of activities and educational offerings to connect with fellow attendees. Attend the hands-on play activities session “Aspire to Play: Designing Playful Museum Experiences” or watch a short museum film followed by Q&A. Through it all, forge new connections, find old friends, and recharge–with no need to rush to catch that last event

Aspire to Play: Designing Playful Museum Experiences
Dive into four diverse case studies of how play is used to develop skills, strengthen character, and promote learning outcomes for all different types of museums. Challenge your definition of play and its benefits. Learn how you can incorporate play into different levels of your organization. You will even get the chance to play yourself!

SINYOHOW HAAWAAKM 'AAKNACH
Sinyohow Haawaakm 'Aaknach is Barona Cultural Center & Museum's latest film in our ancient philosophy series. This 20-minute animated film explains where our cultural protocols come from. Sinyohow, the woman who knows all, raises her twin boys, who are also all-knowing, but despite this, they struggle with motherhood and growing up. Even though this is an ancient story, it remains relevant today! See the film and learn about the importance of modern storytelling!

Each of these Evening Events require pre-registration.
Please register here or click the button below.
We look forward to welcoming you to Salt Lake City!
 

Register Here!

Download the WMA | UMA 2026 Preliminary Program