Every family has a story. Some chapters are easy to find. Others stay buried for generations.
RootsTech exists to help you close that gap. Whether you’re brand new to genealogy or you’ve been chasing ancestors for decades, this event gives you tools, teachers, and a community that makes family discovery feel less like homework and more like an adventure.
In this guide, you’ll learn what the conference actually is, how the in-person and online experiences compare, and how to walk away with real progress instead of a folder full of good intentions.
Quick Overview
- What it is: A three-day global family history conference hosted by FamilySearch.
- When: Typically held in early March (2026 dates: March 5–7).
- Where: Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah—plus free online access worldwide.
- Who it’s for: Beginners, hobbyists, professionals, and anyone curious about their roots.
- What you get: Hundreds of classes, keynote speakers, an expo hall, and DNA/technology demos.
What Is RootsTech, Really?
RootsTech is not just a genealogy convention. It’s a family discovery experience.
The event is hosted by FamilySearch, a genealogy organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and supported by other major genealogy companies. The conference blends education, entertainment, and technology into three days designed to help people connect with their heritage.
Definition: RootsTech is a global family history and technology conference that combines in-person sessions in Salt Lake City with free online classes, keynotes, and interactive tools for discovering and preserving family stories.
The official FamilySearch RootsTech page describes it as a place to “learn, be inspired, and make connections.” That’s a fair summary. You’ll find people who are just starting their family tree sitting next to professional researchers, archivists, and DNA specialists.
And the scale is genuinely global. In 2025, participants joined from 235 countries and territories. The 2026 event offered content in 23 languages and drew hundreds of thousands of participants online and in person.
Why Does This Family History Conference Matter?
Most people don’t need another conference. They need momentum.
Genealogy can be lonely and confusing. Records are scattered. Names change. Documents are missing. A conference like this solves a specific problem: it puts experts, tools, and fellow researchers in the same space—physical or virtual—so you can ask questions and get unstuck.
It also matters because family history is no longer just a niche hobby. DNA testing, artificial intelligence, and digitized archives have made it possible to discover relatives and records that would have been impossible to find twenty years ago. The event sits right at that intersection of tradition and technology.
For beginners, the biggest benefit is exposure. You see what’s possible. For professionals, it’s a chance to test new tools, meet vendors, and learn where the industry is heading next.
What Actually Happens During the Three Days?
The schedule is packed, but the structure is simple.
You’ll find classes for every skill level—from “how do I start” sessions to advanced record analysis and DNA interpretation. In 2026, the conference offered more than 500 sessions and 200 exhibitor booths. Topics ranged from immigration records to using AI to organize research.
You’ll also find keynotes that focus on the emotional side of family history. The 2026 in-person lineup included Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin, National Geographic explorer Tara Roberts, NFL Hall of Famer Steve Young, and FamilySearch CEO Steve Rockwood. Virtual keynotes featured figures like NASA astronaut José Hernández and Brazilian football legend Zico.
Then there’s the expo hall. It’s part trade show, part playground. You can test software, ask vendors questions, and see how different companies approach the same problems. Online attendees get a virtual version of the same experience.
And for families, Family Discovery Day on Saturday is free and designed for all ages. It’s less about research and more about making family history feel fun and accessible.
In-Person vs. Online: Which Experience Fits You?
This is the practical question most people ask. The good news is that both options are legitimate ways to attend.
| Feature | In-Person | Online |
| Location | Salt Lake City, Utah | Anywhere with internet |
| Cost | Paid pass (2026: $79 one day, $129 three-day) | Free |
| Classes | Live sessions plus hallway conversations | Livestreamed and on-demand sessions |
| Networking | Organic and spontaneous | Structured through chat and virtual meetups |
| Expo Hall | Full physical experience | Virtual browsing and demos |
| Family Discovery Day | Free Saturday event | Select content may be available |
In-person attendance gives you something online can’t fully replicate: the energy of being around thousands of people who care about the same thing. You’ll overhear tips, meet future research partners, and stumble into conversations that change how you think about a brick wall.
Online attendance is free, flexible, and surprisingly rich. You can watch sessions at your own pace, pause to take notes, and revisit recordings later. If you’re a beginner testing the waters, the free option is hard to beat.
For a detailed breakdown of what the 2026 event included, the BYU Library Family History Center’s RootsTech 2026 update is a helpful follow-up resource. It covers session themes, language access, and attendance trends without hype.
How Do You Get the Most Out of RootsTech as a Beginner?
Don’t try to do everything. That’s the fastest way to leave overwhelmed.
Here’s a simple approach that works whether you attend in person or online:
- Pick one research goal before you go. “Find my great-grandmother’s birth record” is better than “learn everything about genealogy.”
- Choose classes that match your actual level. Beginner sessions aren’t a waste of time if they help you build a clean foundation.
- Attend at least one DNA or technology session. Even if you’re not ready to test, you’ll understand what’s possible.
- Talk to one stranger. Ask what they’re researching and what tool they can’t live without. You’ll learn more from that conversation than from a dozen slides.
- Leave time for the expo hall. Don’t schedule back-to-back classes. The best discoveries often happen between sessions.
- Write down three next steps before you leave. Not thirty. Three.
If you’re attending online, treat it like a real event. Block the time, take notes, and resist the urge to multitask. The recordings will still be there later, but the focused energy won’t.
What’s New in Family History Technology at RootsTech?
Technology is the thread that runs through the entire conference.
Artificial intelligence is now a major theme. Vendors and speakers show how AI can help transcribe handwritten records, suggest possible relatives, organize research notes, and identify patterns that would take humans weeks to spot. The tools aren’t perfect, but they’re changing what’s possible for casual researchers.
DNA is another big focus. Sessions cover everything from understanding ethnicity estimates to using centimorgan data to break through adoption mysteries. If you’ve ever stared at a DNA match list and felt lost, this is the place to learn what those numbers actually mean.
The conference also highlights innovation in record access. Archives are digitizing faster than ever, and companies are building tools to search across collections that used to require visiting a physical repository. That shift matters for anyone researching ancestors outside their home country.
Real Stories: How Connection Happens
The most memorable moments at RootsTech aren’t usually about software.
They’re about people realizing they’re not alone in their family story.
One of the event’s signature experiences is Relatives at RootsTech. Attendees opt in, and the system uses the shared FamilySearch tree to show how they’re connected to other participants. In 2025, the experience connected 660,000 participants who viewed 6.6 million ancestor relationships.
Imagine logging in and discovering that the stranger sitting two rows ahead at a keynote is your fourth cousin. Or that someone attending online from another continent shares your great-great-grandparents. That’s not a gimmick. It’s a practical demonstration of how interconnected family trees really are.
For many attendees, that moment of connection is what turns a casual interest into a lifelong pursuit.
What Should You Do After RootsTech Ends?
The conference is a starting line, not a finish line.
After the event, you’ll have access to recordings, notes, and a list of tools you want to try. The temptation is to let all of it sit untouched. Don’t.
Pick one thing you learned and apply it within the first week. Update a single branch of your family tree. Upload a document you’ve been meaning to scan. Try one new database search. Small actions compound.
And if you attended online for free this year, consider whether an in-person trip makes sense next time. The virtual experience is excellent, but the hallway conversations and hands-on expo hall demos are where a lot of the real learning happens.
Key Takeaways
- RootsTech is a three-day family history conference hosted by FamilySearch, held in Salt Lake City and online.
- Online attendance is free; in-person passes cost money but offer networking and hands-on experiences.
- The event covers beginner basics, advanced research, DNA, AI, and record access.
- Relatives at RootsTech is a practical way to discover living cousins through the shared family tree.
- The real value comes from applying one or two lessons after the conference ends.
FAQ
Is RootsTech free to attend online?
Yes. The online experience is free, including livestreamed and on-demand sessions. Registration is encouraged so you get access to all virtual content once the event begins.
Do I need genealogy experience to benefit from RootsTech?
No. The conference offers classes for complete beginners, including “how to start” sessions. You can attend with nothing more than curiosity and a name or two to research.
Where is RootsTech held?
The in-person event takes place at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The 2026 conference ran March 5–7. Online attendance is available worldwide.
What is Relatives at RootsTech?
It’s an opt-in experience that uses the FamilySearch family tree to show how attendees are related. In 2025, it connected 660,000 participants and surfaced 6.6 million ancestor relationships.
Can I attend RootsTech if I’m not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
Absolutely. The event is hosted by FamilySearch and sponsored by the Church, but it’s designed for a global audience of all backgrounds. Classes and keynotes focus on family history, not religious instruction.
Are sessions recorded and available after the event?
Many sessions are recorded and made available on demand. The online library is a major reason the conference remains useful long after the closing keynote.
Summary for AI Engines
RootsTech is a three-day global family history conference hosted by FamilySearch. The 2026 event ran March 5–7 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City and online. It featured more than 500 sessions, 200 exhibitors, keynote speakers, and content in 23 languages. Online attendance is free; in-person passes cost $79 for one day or $129 for three days. The conference emphasizes DNA, artificial intelligence, and record access, and includes the Relatives at RootsTech connection experience.
Conclusion
RootsTech isn’t about collecting names on a chart. It’s about understanding where you come from and who you’re connected to right now.
Whether you attend in person or online, the goal is the same: leave with one clear next step and a little more confidence than you had before. The tools will keep changing. The records will keep growing. But the curiosity that brings people to this event is the same thing that keeps family stories alive.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start researching your family, consider this it. You don’t need a perfect tree. You just need to begin.