RootsTech 2026 starts tomorrow, Thursday 3/5/26! I’m so excited! This is an annual personal tradition for me which fills up my bucket. I always learn a lot from the different classes about family history research and the latest technology available to help me. I learn how to use technology to build my family tree. Thanks to the magic of the internet, I get to do it all from the comfort of my home. I haven’t attended in person yet, so far I’ve just watched the limited selection of classes made available online. That is enough for me for now. The online classes are free. To attend in person costs money. Someday I will attend in person, probably after my youngest has flown the nest and I’m done homeschooling. That will be in two years!

It just makes me sooooo happy as I gather virtually with other people who have gathered in person in Salt Lake City and virtually who also want to discover and honor their family roots. This year’s theme is “Together.” That’s exactly how I feel as I hear the stories of the keynote speakers, see all the cool technology unveiled, and feel that so many other people care as much about their family roots as I do.

What exactly is RootsTech? It’s the biggest annual genealogy conference in the world, showcasing family stories and the latest technology. Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is attended by thousands of people in person at the Salt Palace Convention Center, as well as thousands of people virtually. This year it is Thursday March 5 through Saturday March 7, 2026.

Watch below to see a preview of RootsTech 2026 from the organizer, Jonathan Wing.

Here is the schedule with links to join online. See the photo below of the keynote speakers. Steve Young! He’s the only one I already know (not personally, of course) but I’m sure they will all be stupendous!

Below is another preview of RootsTech 2026.

I always love the Saturday of RootsTech because it always features an apostle of Jesus Christ with his wife sharing some of their own family history. They share inspiring material to motivate me to learn more about my own family history. It is part of the Family Discovery Day. This year we get to hear from Elder and Sister Rasband. You can watch this on-demand starting Saturday 3/7/26 in Gospel Library here, as well as watch past years, since 2017.

I especially loved the year that President Russell M. Nelson and his wife Wendy shared some family stories using the theme of Scrabble. This was in 2017. Watch below. They each share an amazing story about a deceased family member.

RootsTech content especially geared for LDS temple and family history leadership is over here, dropping at 8 AM on Thursday 3/5/26. It is designed for LDS leaders to help people get engaged in family history and temple work. You can watch past years’ content at the same link.

Here are all my posts about RootsTech from previous years.

The year that Elder Neil L. Andersen introduced the magic of the Puzzilla website has been my favorite presentation. I have relied on Puzzilla ever since to do my research. It’s fantastic! Go here to watch that.

I especially loved RootsTech 2024 that featured a descendant of Dred Scott, Lynne Jackson, as a keynote speaker. I so enjoyed her story of the healing that has taken place in her family as they have reached out to the descendants of Judge Roger Taney.

Watch below to get tips on how to prepare to watch the events online.

Check out all the cool sponsors in the online Expo Hall here. Watch below to see a sneak peek of the technology involved in RootsTech 2026. This is cutting edge stuff, including lots of AI.

You can go here to see past years videos, any time of the year!

The video below shows the global involvement of RootsTech, showing people from all over the world.

Note: actually RootsTech did some sessions today, Wednesday 3/5/26. Go here to see, click on “Full Schedule,” then “online,” and then click on “Wednesday.” RootsTech has so many videos and resources for me to learn from all year round. It’s a fabulous component of my personal mother’s curriculum. I’m being reminded as I blog this that it’s been awhile since I watched a RootsTech video from the archive. After the event, I’ll be more mindful of including RT videos in my personal mother’s curriculum, which changes by the season. (See my Christmas one here and my winter one here.)

I hope all these classes inspire you to learn your family names and stories. This knowledge arms you with angelic power. May you feel angel ancestors around you as you learn these stories and your ancestors’ names. Ever since 2012 when I started doing this work with focus, I have add so much angelic help. This help has brought resources, relationships, comfort, and other blessings into my life. I’m so grateful for it! I can’t imagine life without family history research and temple work. I love it so much.