RootsTech 2023 by FamilySearch, the world’s largest family celebration and genealogy event opened Thursday. The event kicked off that morning at 9:00 MDT at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, and online at RootsTech.org and runs through Saturday, March 4. See what’s happening each day of this fun, inspiring, free 3-day event, and create your personalized on-demand playlist of content you would like to watch throughout the year. Hundreds of thousands of connections have already been made.
Now in its 13th year, the in-person RootsTech event took a 2-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, the online portion of the event grew to more than 3 million participants. This year RootsTech 2023 has returned, bigger and better than ever with both an in-person and online presence that will reach attendees in more than 235 countries and territories with localized content in nearly a dozen languages.
Free Online Viewing
The virtual RootsTech conference is available for free on the RootsTech site and has both live-streamed sessions (which started Thursday) and on-demand content. Virtual attendees can chat with vendors, relatives, professional genealogists, and other RootsTech attendees—and even enjoy a virtual Expo Hall.
In-person Event
The in-person RootsTech event at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah includes some unique classes and experiences that will not be livestreamed or recorded. Attendees can receive in-person help, walk through the Expo Hall to enjoy live demos, and experience the keynote sessions in person. Join us, if you can, to see what surprises are in store! Passes for the live event are at RootsTech.org.
Here’s what’s happening in person and online between now and Saturday, March 4, at RootsTech 2023.
RootsTech 2023 Keynote Addresses
Always a big draw, the RootsTech keynote speakers bring not only star power but deeply meaningful family stories to waiting audiences. This year the RootsTech 2023 Main Stage will welcome:
- Jordin Sparks—Grammy nominated, multi-platinum singer/songwriter and actress, and the winner of the sixth season of American Idol.
- Sean Astin—Award-winning actor, producer, and director best known for his role as Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
- Me Ra Koh—Famed photographer featured on Oprah, Live with Kelly & Ryan, and other popular television shows, best-selling author, Disney Channel host, and one of the first 2 women photographers to be Sony-sponsored.
- Steve Rockwood—President and CEO of FamilySearch International will also address the worldwide RootsTech audience focusing on the RootsTech 2023 theme of “Uniting.”
- Actor, comedian, and television host Kirby Heyborne will serve as the RootsTech Main Stage emcee.
RootsTech 2023 Class Sessions
RootsTech prides itself as a learning platform geared toward helping people everywhere and at every skill level to connect with their family, past and present. RootsTech organizers have gathered experts from across the world who will present more than 200 classes at the in-person conference, and an additional 300+ that will be streamed online or available on-demand for free. The range of topics is truly staggering, varying broadly from basic research and reading records in unfamiliar languages, to DNA and the latest advances in machine learning to help you discover your ancestors in the world’s historical documents. Everyone looking to connect with their family from beginners to experts will find loads of content suited to their tastes.
Classes presented this year will add to the hundreds of classes already available for free from previous RootsTech conferences. To search this vast, free library of family history learning, visit FamilySearch.org/RootsTech/library.
RootsTech 2023 Expo Hall
The heartbeat of RootsTech 2023 is the massive Expo Hall where more than 125 vendors, including sponsors Ancestry, FamilySearch, MyHeritage, and Storied, will offer exhibits for face-to-face and hands-on learning. Anyone is welcome to visit the Expo Hall for free during all 3 days of the in-person event. There is also a virtual expo hall experience featuring more than 30 vendors for online attendees at RootsTech.org.
New this year in the Expo Hall is the RootsTech 2023 Central Park, an oasis of green space in the middle of the exhibit hall where attendees can connect, rest, and engage in stimulating conversation with thousands of like-minded individuals. Fun activities that unite communities with food, music, and the arts will also be available in and around the Central Park space.
Innovation and Tech Forum 2023
RootsTech began as a showcase for genealogical technology and a catalyst for innovation. RootsTech 2023 continues that tradition with the Innovation and Tech Forum 2023, a RootsTech Main Stage event hosted by historian, author, broadcaster and professional genealogist, Nick Barett, and featuring Vlada Bortnik, CEO of MarcoPolo, makers of the popular MarcoPolo video chat app. The Innovation and Tech Forum includes a panel discussion with industry leaders highlighting the latest in family history technology. It takes place Thursday, March 2, at 1:30 PM and will be live streamed on RootsTech.org.
Relatives at RootsTech
Back by popular demand is Relatives at RootsTech 2023, a unique virtual experience that connects attendees worldwide with dozens, if not hundreds, or even thousands, of their living cousins. RootsTech compares the family trees of millions of RootsTech 2023 attendees in person and online to find connections. Then it makes those connections available to registered attendees along with information about how attendees are related and how to contact one another through the FamilySearch.org messaging platform. Relatives at RootsTech for 2023 has been live for more than 2 weeks and will remain active through the end of March. For more information, visit RootsTech.org.
Family Discovery Day 2023
Family Discovery Day is, itself, an event worth experiencing at RootsTech 2023. Family Discovery Day 2023 is a free, fun, in-person event for the entire family offering activities and experiences that can help you and your family unite as you learn more about your family. No registration is required for the in-person or online Family Discovery Day.
What Is RootsTech?
RootsTech is a place to learn, be inspired, and make connections through family history. Hosted by FamilySearch and sponsored by other leading genealogy organizations, we have hundreds of expert classes, tips and tricks videos, and inspiring stories that can help you experience family history like never before. Visit our on-demand learning library or make plans to join us for our next virtual or in-person conference event.