FamilySearch has revealed some of its plans in 2026 to help you make more family connections worldwide. Upcoming experiences will use emerging technologies to provide increased access to genealogical records, expand FamilySearch’s global Family Tree, and enhance its mobile apps.
More Access to Genealogy Records
FamilySearch provides convenient access to family history records from more than 170 countries and principalities. It will continue to work with the world’s archives, record custodians, and others to help make more genealogical records accessible online. In 2026, FamilySearch plans to expand its global collections and significantly increase access to records for many countries, including the countries of Belgium, Cameroon, Malawi, South Korea, and Uruguay.
Full-Text Search: Reading Old Genealogy Documents
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to tremendously impact family discoveries. FamilySearch will expand its Full-Text Search technology in 2026 to read old handwriting in additional languages, making newly digitized documents easily searchable by an ancestor’s name. Users of the free service are discovering exciting family history breakthroughs as more and more content is digitized and made searchable through the Full-Text Search technology.
Assistance with Family Discoveries
FamilySearch site visitors will enjoy a variety of enhanced tools to assist them in their quests for family connections. First, new technology will help find answers to your questions using resources across FamilySearch.org. The interactive chatbot will search through the FamilySearch Research Wiki, blog, and help content to help answer questions quickly. Another new discovery assistant will filter through FamilySearch-generated hints to recommend which suggestions may particularly help extend the branches of your family tree.
Be among the first to experience these and other fun new concepts throughout 2026 by visiting FamilySearch Labs.
Exciting New Tree Features
FamilySearch Family Tree will focus on data quality and collaboration in 2026. The popular free global community tree will enhance contributors’ abilities to accurately merge the best of each user’s contributions. Participants will also receive suggestions to improve the quality of the content they’ve personally added to the tree and will receive alerts before making edits that seem to lower the quality of existing information. In addition to the suggestion of potential parents and spouses at the ends of family lines, which FamilySearch AI began introducing at the end of 2025, look for more in-context AI assistance to improve the data quality of FamilySearch Family Tree.
The Family Tree app’s search function was updated at the end of 2025 to provide a unified experience, enabling mobile phone users to simultaneously search for Family Tree profiles, historical records, and memories within the app. In 2026, updates will make it easier for new users to get started with the app and navigate to the most frequently used features.
RootsTech 2026—a Global Family Celebration
RootsTech, FamilySearch’s global family history event, returns on March 5–7, 2026, with a vibrant in-person experience in Salt Lake City and a free online option. Millions worldwide can enjoy hundreds of classes available in multiple languages, localized content, and can connect with presenters, exhibitors, and other attendees via e-chat and the mobile app. Discover new relatives, grow your family tree, explore innovative products and services, and be inspired by world-class keynotes and speakers.
Online participation is free. Registration is now open—start building your personalized schedule at RootsTech.org.
FamilySearch Labs
FamilySearch Labs provides individuals with the opportunity to experiment with new and upcoming features before they are fully launched. This participation helps provide useful feedback to developers. Some new experiences and features coming in 2026 are already available in Labs for user testing.