RootsTech, the world’s largest annual family history conference and celebration, will be taking place March 5-7 this year both at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City and online at RootsTech.org.
Speakers for the conference will include former NFL and BYU quarterback Steve Young, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and NASA astronaut José Hernández. The following reviews key details and information about the conference.
Elder and Sister Rasband to speak at free Family Discovery Day
RootsTech, a three-day genealogy conference hosted annually by FamilySearch, includes a variety of family history-themed events and activities.
Among these is a free Family Discovery Day, which offers Latter-day Saints and friends ways to “help families grow their love for Jesus Christ and the temple through inspiring messages” from leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and activities, according to an event notice on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
This year, the conference’s Family Discovery Day — to be held Saturday, March 7 — will feature Elder Rasband and his wife, Sister Melanie Rasband, as speakers during a 1:30 p.m. session.
Their joint message will focus on coming unto Christ by uniting families for eternity, and will be streamed live/be available for on-demand viewing at broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. On-demand viewing will also be available on the church’s Gospel Library app following the live broadcast.
Additional activities for all ages — including cultural performances, live music, classes and family history experiences — will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Family Discovery Day in the Salt Palace Convention Center. Registration for the Family Discovery Day is free, but required to attend.
Also speaking as part of RootsTech will be Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He will speak during the Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction session to be available for on-demand viewing starting Thursday, March 5, at 8 a.m. Mountain Standard Time. The 30-minute recorded training is intended to help Latter-day Saints in stake and ward councils, and others with callings supporting temple and family history efforts, according to a church release.
Steve Young, a NASA astronaut and others among keynote speakers
In addition to church leaders, RootsTech 2026 will feature a handful of other in-person and virtual keynote speakers who will speak about their lives and family.
Among those speaking in person are:
- Steve Young, former NFL and BYU quarterback
- Marlee Matlin, Academy Award-winning actress and author
- Tara Roberts, National Geographic explorer in residence, author and historian
- Steve Rockwood, president and CEO of FamilySearch
Those speaking virtually include:
- The Gardiner Brothers, award-winning Irish dancers
- Jessica Soho, award-winning Filipina broadcast journalist
- José Hernández, Mexican American engineer and NASA astronaut
- Zico, Brazilian football legend
Virtual speakers’ keynote addresses were made available to watch on demand Friday, Feb. 13, and those of in-person speakers will be available in person and online for registered attendees on the days of the conference, according to a church release.
A full schedule, including keynote speakers and RootsTech’s hundreds of online and in-person classes, was released Jan. 8. Both online and in-person attendees can explore the schedule now and use a free scheduling tool to create a watch list of keynotes and classes at RootsTech.org or on the conference’s mobile app.
Other RootsTech 2026 highlights
Aside from classes and keynote speakers, RootsTech 2026 will host its annual in-person and virtual expo halls.
The expo hall inside the Salt Palace Convention Center will provide attendees the opportunity to learn about new family history innovations, try new products and ask questions to company representatives. The virtual expo hall will enable online participants to do many of the same things at RootsTech.org, according to an event notice.
Also at the conference, attendees will be able to participate in Relatives at RootsTech — an activity enabling both in-person and online attendees to possibly find family connections with other conference attendees.
“With so many people participating in RootsTech online and in person, participants have a good chance of running into at least one relative,” an event notice states. Relatives at RootsTech scans participants’ FamilySearch Family Tree and “quickly compares it with other people at the conference who have enabled the experience. Then it tells them where their branches cross and how they’re related.”
To join the activity, participants will need to have/create a free FamilySearch account and then enable the experience on the FamilySearch Family Tree app or at FamilySearch.org. More information on how to enable/participate in the experience can be found at this link.
How to register for RootsTech 2026
Registration to attend RootsTech 2026 in-person and online is available on the conference’s website.
In-person passes cost $79 for a one-day pass and $129 for a three-day pass. Prices at the door on the days of the conference will rise to $99 for a one-day pass and $149 for a three-day pass.
Registration to participate in RootsTech 2026 online is free. And registration to attend the conference’s Family Discovery Day on March 7 is also free.
See what’s offered in the conference’s in-person and online registration options here.
“Every year, we look forward to welcoming millions of RootsTech participants from around the world,” said FamilySearch director of events Jonathan Wing in an event notice on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. “We are committed to providing a world-class experience that will inspire and empower our attendees to make meaningful discoveries.”