International Museums & Contemporary Art
CIMAM Annual Conference 2026
Harare, Zimbabwe
20 November – 22 November 2026
International museum and contemporary art professionals gather in Harare for one of the world's leading forums dedicated to modern and contemporary art museums.
Days
Hours
Min
20 Nov 2026
About the Conference
What is CIMAM?
CIMAM, the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art, brings together museum directors, curators and cultural leaders from around the world for its Annual Conference. This is the 58th edition of the conference, and the first time in CIMAM's history that it will be held on the African continent, hosted in partnership with the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.
Why This Conference Matters
The CIMAM Annual Conference is one of the most influential gatherings for modern and contemporary art museum practice worldwide. As the 58th edition and CIMAM's first ever on the African continent, the 2026 conference aims to strengthen global representation and equitable cultural dialogue within the network.
Why Harare Was Selected
Harare was selected to question Western-centric definitions of "best practice" in museum work, and to centre African institutional knowledge, asymmetrical power contexts, and culturally diverse curatorial approaches within global museum discourse.
The Role of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe is the host institution for CIMAM 2026, coordinating venues, local programming and the exhibition activities that accompany the conference.
Significance to Zimbabwe's Cultural Sector
Hosting CIMAM 2026 places Zimbabwe's cultural sector firmly on the international stage, creating new relationships between Zimbabwean institutions, artists and the global museum community.
Significance to African Contemporary Art
CIMAM 2026 is a significant moment for African contemporary art, offering a platform to reframe global conversations about museum practice from an African vantage point.
Schedule
Conference Programme
opening
Opening Session & Welcome to Harare
Placeholder session. CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Raphael Chikukwa
keynote
Keynote (Placeholder, Day 1: Good Museum Practice)
Placeholder session, CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Keynote Speaker (To Be Announced)
keynote
Keynote (Placeholder, Day 1: Good Museum Practice)
Placeholder session. CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Keynote Speaker (To Be Announced)
panel
Panel (Placeholder, Day 1: Good Museum Practice)
Placeholder session, CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Panel Speaker (To Be Announced)
panel
Panel (Placeholder, Day 1: Good Museum Practice)
Placeholder session. CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Panel Speaker (To Be Announced)
break
Lunch
Placeholder session. CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
tour
Gallery Tour: National Gallery of Zimbabwe
Placeholder session. CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe
keynote
Keynote (Placeholder, Day 2: Tools of Transformation)
Placeholder session, CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Keynote Speaker (To Be Announced)
keynote
Keynote (Placeholder, Day 2: Tools of Transformation)
Placeholder session. CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Keynote Speaker (To Be Announced)
workshop
Workshop (Placeholder, Day 2: Tools of Transformation)
Placeholder session, CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe
workshop
Workshop (Placeholder, Day 2: Tools of Transformation)
Placeholder session. CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe
panel
Panel (Placeholder, Day 2: Tools of Transformation)
Placeholder session, CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Panel Speaker (To Be Announced)
panel
Panel (Placeholder, Day 2: Tools of Transformation)
Placeholder session. CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Panel Speaker (To Be Announced)
break
Lunch
Placeholder session. CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
tour
Visit: Zimbabwean Artist Studios, Harare
Placeholder session. CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
keynote
Keynote (Placeholder, Day 3: Radical Hospitality)
Placeholder session, CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Keynote Speaker (To Be Announced)
keynote
Keynote (Placeholder, Day 3: Radical Hospitality)
Placeholder session. CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Keynote Speaker (To Be Announced)
panel
Panel (Placeholder, Day 3: Radical Hospitality)
Placeholder session, CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Panel Speaker (To Be Announced)
panel
Panel (Placeholder, Day 3: Radical Hospitality)
Placeholder session. CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Panel Speaker (To Be Announced)
closing
Closing Session & Announcements
Placeholder session. CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Raphael Chikukwa
networking
Farewell Reception
Placeholder session. CIMAM 2026 has not yet published its programme. Replace with the confirmed session once available.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe
Who's Involved
Organising Team & Speakers
RC
Raphael Chikukwa
Executive Director
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Zimbabwe
RJ
Rtd Justice Mafios Cheda
Board Chairman
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Zimbabwe
FV
Fadzai Veronica Muchemwa
Curator of Contemporary Art
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Zimbabwe
LM
Livingstone Muchefa
Operations and Administration Manager
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Zimbabwe
FK
Fortune Kaseke
Business Development Manager
Higherlife Foundation and National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Zimbabwe
KS
Keynote Speaker (To Be Announced)
To be announced
To be announced
PS
Panel Speaker (To Be Announced)
To be announced
To be announced
Host City
Welcome to Harare
International delegates arriving for CIMAM 2026 will find a city rich in art, culture and history: from the National Gallery's collections to Harare's vibrant creative community and places of cultural interest across Zimbabwe.
Your Host
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe
Founded to collect, preserve and exhibit Zimbabwean and African art, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe has long been a home for the country's contemporary and historic artists. Conference visitors are warmly invited to explore the Gallery's collections and exhibitions beyond the conference itself.
Discover the National Gallery of ZimbabweWhere It Happens
Conference Venues
For International Visitors
Discover Zimbabwean Art
HM
Henry Munyaradzi
Sculptor
historic
MT
Moffat Takadiwa
Sculptor / Mixed Media
contemporary
KM
Kresiah Mukwazhi
Multimedia Artist
contemporary
TG
Tapfuma Gutsa
Sculptor
contemporary
TM
Thomas Mukarobgwa
Painter
historic
HL
Helen Lieros
Painter
historic
PZ
Portia Zvavahera
Painter
contemporary
Felix Shumba
Multidisciplinary Artist
contemporary
Eva Raath
Printmaker / Textile Artist
contemporary
Franklyn Dzingai
Printmaker
contemporary
Gideon Gomo
Sculptor / Assemblage Artist
contemporary
Pardon Mapondera
Textile / Recycled Materials
contemporary
For delegates
Map of
Zimbabwean Art
A dynamic map of the country's contemporary art scene: 78 artists, 15 spaces and a glossary of the ideas that connect them.
From CIMAM Harare
Daily Stories
Partners
Who makes CIMAM 2026 possible
Hosted by
Organised with
Lead sponsors
