The Detroit Institute of Arts is pleased to be the host museum for the 2026 symposium!
See the links below to view symposium details including programs, excursions, and breakouts; reserve your hotel room; and find answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Please contact [email protected] for registration questions or [email protected] for general questions about the symposium.
| Symposium Guide | Hotel Reservations | Registration FAQs |
Registration for the National Docent Symposium 2026 is a two-step process: click the tabs below to register for the Symposium and optional excursions, listed by day (note, there are no optional excursions on Saturday). You will receive a separate email inviting you to register for breakout sessions. With the exception of Dinner at The Henry Ford Museum on Sunday evening, all pre-tour excursions are reserved for registered symposium attendees only; no guests, please. Some venues may only be accessible by stairs. Refer to the Registration FAQs link above or email [email protected] if you have questions.
Registration
| Registration | $550 |
| Afternoon (12-5 PM) | $95 | |
Nooks & Crannies: Behind the Scenes at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford Estate |
$95 | |
| $95 | ||
Private Views: Contemporary and African American Art Collections, Grosse Pointe, MI |
$95 | |
| $95 |
| Full Day (9 AM–5 PM) | Cranbrook Estate–Saarinen and Wright, Japanese Gardens & Contemporary Art |
$150 |
| $150 | ||
|
$150 | |
Art in the City: Detroit Highlights in Architecture and the Arts |
$150 | |
| Half Day (9 AM–2 PM) | $95 | |
Fish, Flowers and Pottery: Belle Isle Park & Pewabic Pottery |
$95 | |
Private Views: A Multi-faceted Collection and an Architectural Gem |
$95 | |
| Afternoon (12–5 PM) | Private Views: Two Worlds –Contemporary and American Folk Art, Bloomfield Hills, MI |
$95 |
| $95 | ||
| $150 | ||
| $95 |
| Evening (6:30–10 PM) | $150 |
Fine print: You will receive an Order Summary email from “Detroit Institute of Arts” summarizing your purchase, and a confirmation email from “NDS2026 Registration” inviting you to select your breakout sessions for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. You will receive a second Order Summary for your breakout sessions, indicating your registration is complete. Upon arrival to the symposium, stop by the Registration/Hospitality Desk to receive your participant packet.
National Docent Symposium 2026
Start your engines...the next National Docent Symposium is headed to Detroit, Michigan on November 6 through November 9, 2026!
This biannual symposium promotes continuous improvement in docent practice by facilitating communication and collaborative interaction among U.S. and Canadian volunteer docents and guides. The Detroit Institute of Arts is pleased to be the host museum for the 2026 symposium.
For more information, visit www.nationaldocents.org(opens in a new tab) or email us at [email protected]