The 17th International Summer School of Museology PIRANOVA 2026 will take place in Koper, Slovenia, from 25 to 27 May 2026. This year’s edition, titled Museum Lab No. 1: Interpretation through Words and Technology, will focus on questions of interpreting and communicating cultural heritage.
This year’s Summer School will explore how museums tell stories about objects today, how they create meaning through exhibitions, and how they make heritage accessible to diverse audiences – both through language and with the help of contemporary technologies. Special attention will be given to the relationship between traditional forms of interpretation, such as exhibition texts, storytelling, and the presentation of literary heritage, and new digital and interactive approaches.
The programme is structured around two thematic panels:
1st Panel: Museums in the Digital Age – Interpreting Heritage through Technology
This panel will focus on contemporary digital tools, media, and innovative technological approaches in museums, while also reflecting on how technology is transforming exhibition practices and opening new possibilities for visitor engagement.
2nd Panel: Exhibiting with Words – Interpreting Heritage through Language
The second panel will explore the role of language in exhibitions – from exhibition texts, titles, and labels to storytelling and the presentation of literary and cultural heritage. It will pay particular attention to how words shape meaning and make heritage accessible to diverse audiences.
As in previous years, the Summer School will combine lectures, discussions, hands-on workshops, and a professional excursion. This year, participants will travel to Trieste, where they will visit the LETS Museum.
The event is intended for museum professionals, curators, conservators, students of museology, and anyone interested in museum work and cultural heritage. The programme will be held in English.
Registration is open until 15 May 2026, or until all places are filled.
The early bird discount (–20%) is available only until 10 April 2026.
Special discounts are also available for students and members of the Forum of Slavic Cultures.
The detailed programme will be published soon.
More information and the application form are available here.