Designed to support accurate, meaningful teaching about the Holocaust, the Belfer National Conference for Holocaust Education is the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s flagship professional development training program for secondary school educators.
2026 Belfer National Conference for Holocaust Education
June 22–24, 2026
The 2026 Belfer National Conference will be held online from June 22 to 24, 2026. Participants have the option to join live or watch recordings at a later time.
Conference Overview
Reaching Every Student
Attend this free online conference to gain impactful strategies for delivering accurate and meaningful Holocaust education to all students. With guidance from experienced historians and educators, explore how to bring artifacts from the Museum’s collection into your classroom. Inspire all students to think critically about how and why the Holocaust happened using lessons and resources that support instruction across subject areas.
Conference sessions will cover a variety of topics, including teaching Holocaust history and literature using primary source artifacts, modifying instruction for different student needs, and examining new research that enhances our understanding of history.
Conference Highlights
Learn from experienced educators and historians through concise, live, and interactive sessions.
Gain instructional strategies paired with historically accurate, classroom-ready resources based on the Museum’s extensive collection of primary source evidence.
Engage with Museum Teacher Fellows, experienced educators who offer practical advice on strategies and tools for your classroom.
Connect in real time with a community of educators dedicated to teaching and learning about the Holocaust.
Free Resources
You will receive books in the mail that will be referenced during the conference, along with other classroom resources. (Available for teachers with a US or US territory mailing address only. While supplies last.)
Benefits
Participation is easy, free, and accessible for all.
Real-time attendance isn’t necessary; participate during live sessions or watch recordings later.
Learning can continue after the conference, with six months to further explore featured content on your personal dashboard.
Earn 24 hours of professional development.
— Joel Mason-Gaines, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Hear What Educators Who Have Attended Belfer Are Saying
“The uniqueness of Belfer is the combination of vetted classroom-ready resources and the exposure to a variety of world-class historians and museum professionals.”
“In 15 years of teaching middle and high school ELA, this conference is, by far, the BEST professional development that I have been privileged to attend.”
“The resources, the people, and the experiences! The opportunity to learn from museum staff and educators is a MUST-do opportunity, especially being virtual—no travel, no arrangements to be made, no expenses.”
This program is made possible with generous support from the Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Foundation.
Questions? Email belferconference@ushmm.org.
This Section
Explore lesson plans and training materials organized by theme to use in your classroom.