This is your once-a-year chance to reconnect with old friends and colleagues…and to make new connections with other people who understand the all-out thrill of sharing great photographic images from the past…people who share the way you feel about the vivid, time-travel experiences offered by 19th-century photography.

Here are some of the events that you'll enjoy when you participate in DC 2026:

• A festive opening reception for attendees 
• Talks by expert speakers presenting important discoveries and new research, showing seldom-seen images and offering new insights into photography’s beginnings
• A photo fair with veteran dealers and newcomers offering more daguerreotypes and 19th-century photographs than can be seen anywhere. Buy, sell, trade, or just look and learn – it’s an opportunity that only comes along once a year.
• A grand banquet with a live auction and silent auction featuring exceptional images
• Room-hopping to catch up with friends and see what’s on the market
• And behind-the-scenes viewings of photography collections at leading cultural institutions, led by their curators

Block out the time on your calendar…then register for the Symposium and make your room reservation for a stay at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill at a special rate (reserve by August 13 for the special rate as rooms are limited). 

Behind-the-Scenes Institution Visits

Our lineup of museum and institution visits will include private tours of several 19th-century photography collections. Check back for details! 

Behind-the-scenes viewings provide rare access to museum-quality images and experts.  Photos by David S. Fondiller and Carlos Vertanessian

Photo Fair

The Daguerreian Society Photo Fair will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026 in the Congressional A Ballroom (lobby level) of the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capital Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001. It is open to Symposium attendees as well as the public.

Symposium attendees and members: 9 am early admission. Entry cost ($10) included with conference registration.

General admission: 10 am - 4 pm, $10. 

Registration

To register for the conference, a link under "Upcoming Events" on the homepage will be set up soon. By registering, you receive all the program highlights mentioned above. Further details will follow in emails and Daguerreian Society Quarterly issues.

A summary of the registration options is as follows. Early registration typically ends a month before the event.