February 23, 2026
Introduction: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega gives three tips for getting the most out of RootsTech 2026, whether you’re attending in person or online. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family Kitchen.”
It’s that time again! RootsTech starts in a few weeks and whether you attend in person or virtually, now is the time to start making the most of your experience.
Billed as the “world’s largest family history conference and genealogy learning library,” RootsTech is a 3-day event, with presentations and an expo hall, held at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Presentations are offered in-person and online (please note that the online conference registration is free). This year the event will be held March 5-7. However, you can take advantage of educational videos from RootsTech year-round.
What can you expect from RootsTech? In one word: education. This is the event to learn more about family history, from the educational presentations to the vendors answering questions about their products and services. RootsTech is your one-stop shop for everything genealogy.
With the prospects of absorbing so much genealogical education over three days, what are the “musts” to get the most from that experience? I suggest that you plan, note all that RootsTech offers, and remember that essentially RootsTech is year-round.
(1) Plan
Whether you plan to attend RootsTech in person or online, either way you need to plan. The conference is for three days and there are several things to consider as you think about what you want to take part in.
Head over to the RootsTech schedule and comb through the options for in-person, virtual, and hybrid (online and in-person) presentations. You can access the schedule at the RootsTech website. If you are attending in person, you can use the app to create a schedule (see your mobile device store to download the RootsTech app).
Tip: Not all lectures will be recorded or available online. Some are only available to in-person attendees.
Why is it important to plan your schedule ahead of time? If you’re attending in person, having a first and second pick is vital since some lectures fill up fast. If you show up after all the seats are taken you could be turned away.
For those attending virtually, having a schedule can help you plan your day. Keep in mind the time difference, since RootsTech is in Utah and observes Mountain time. If you don’t plan your schedule, you may miss out on live opportunities.
One last thing to do as you choose the classes you want to watch is to note if there is a handout. If so, download that NOW so that you can use it to familiarize yourself with the topic prior to the presentation, explore suggested resources, and to take notes when you hear the presentation.
(2) Note ALL That RootsTech Offers
It seems that, no matter if it’s a product, service, or event, we usually don’t take advantage of all that is offered. RootsTech is no exception. You can take advantage of the RootsTech website while sitting at your computer or the RootsTech app on your mobile device. Whichever you use, make sure to scroll down the page and click on links to find everything.
Tip: If you have the RootsTech app from a previous conference, you will need to download the RootsTech 2026 app. The previous version should provide you with the link to the updated version.
There are a few reasons to use the RootsTech app. For example, in addition to the conference schedule, there is the opportunity to use “Relatives at RootsTech.”
This feature uses the FamilySearch Tree to search for matches between attendees at RootsTech. In order to utilize this feature, you will need to add information to the FamilySearch Tree. Once you turn on the feature in the app (or on the FamilySearch website) you can view relatives attending RootsTech (in person or online), including their relationship to you (so far my closest relative was a 2nd cousin on my mother’s side). As of this writing I only have 402 relatives at RootsTech, but this number will increase as we get closer to the conference – so make sure to check back often.
From Relatives at RootsTech, you can choose how you want to view your list of relatives. You can filter your list by including location, ancestor, family line or search. Once you choose a relative, you can also view your descent from the common ancestor – AND, maybe best of all, you can utilize a chat feature to message them. This is a great way to find relatives who are researching your shared family history.
(3) RootsTech Is Year-Round
Sure, RootsTech is live in March – but in reality, with its large learning library, you can benefit from RootsTech all year long. You can search the library and its 1,500 sessions on 185 topics in over 30 languages at your convenience from anywhere you have internet access. Recordings in this library date back to 2019. Not all RootsTech presentations were recorded, so this does not represent all presentations – but with 1,500 sessions (and growing) there is enough free education to keep you busy when RootsTech 2026 ends.
Tip: If you are attending RootsTech in person note on your schedule what presentations will be recorded. Make a priority to attend those that are in-person only. Recorded presentations can be viewed later.
RootsTech is a must for those serious about stepping up their research abilities. Whether you attend in person (if so, please come visit the GenealogyBank Booth #1209) or online, you will find plenty to help you find those elusive ancestors.
Create a free account at GenealogyBank for 7 days to start your genealogy journey and discover the stories your ancestors left behind.
Note on the header image: a past RootsTech genealogy conference. Credit: mormonnewsroom.org.