RootsTech 2026 Day 3 is in the books. Twenty-six sessions complete over three days, one new MacBook Pro in the house, and a brain full of ideas I can’t wait to put into practice. Not a bad way to wrap up a conference.
Starting Strong at RootsTech 2026 Day 3
I woke up bright and early on RootsTech 2026 Day 3, determined to make the most of the final stretch. Before my first live session even started, I downloaded slides for all of the 10 AM sessions while finishing up the last session I’d queued from the night before: “Unveiling Hidden Branches: A Genetic Study of George Washington’s Extended Family Tree,” presented by Sherman McRae. DNA, history, and a family whose name everyone knows – it made for a compelling start to the morning.
A handful of in-person sessions caught my eye in the 10 AM slot, including one I genuinely wished I could have attended: “A Genealogist’s Guide to Researching Swedish Ancestry.” With one of my active research projects focused on Swedish ancestry, that one would have been directly useful. “Constructing Genealogical Proof: Conflict Resolution, Indirect Evidence, and Written Conclusions” also looked outstanding.
For my 10 AM session, I went with “DNA Analysis Methodology: Defeat the Genealogy Gremlin” with Karen Stanbary. Definitely worth it.
The Tough Choices
At 11:30, I faced the kind of scheduling dilemma RootsTech is famous for. Two sessions, same time slot, both appealing: “The Genealogy Puzzle: Putting the Right Pieces Together” or “Seeking the Identity of Unknown Parents” with Dana Palmer in the Advanced/Professional track.
I went with “Seeking the Identity of Unknown Parents.” Unknown parentage research is directly relevant to work I’m doing right now, and the Advanced/Professional designation sealed the decision. As a bonus, this was the second Ride Along Watch Party I joined during the conference – a great way to watch a session alongside others who are equally invested.
A Well-Earned Break (and a New Toy)
One of the things I love about virtual conference attendance is the flexibility. When RootsTech 2026 Day 3 offered nothing that grabbed me between 12:30 and 3:30, I didn’t sit around waiting. I used the time to run an errand I’d been putting off.
I came home with a new MacBook Pro – one with three times the memory of my old machine. Yes, I’m a self-confessed computer geek as well as a paralegal and a genealogist. Between the open browser tabs, the AI tools, the Airtable bases, and the genealogy databases I keep running simultaneously, the upgrade was long overdue. Zero regrets.
The Final Sessions of RootsTech 2026 Day 3
The 3:30 time slot brought more in-person sessions I would have liked to catch live. “Big Y for Real World Genealogy: Using Case Studies to Demonstrate Y-DNA Tools” stood out – Y-DNA may be the key to breaking down not one but two of my current brick walls. “Hi, We’re Related! Successful Communication With Your DNA Matches” was also on my radar. Reaching out to DNA matches doesn’t always come naturally to me, and I’d welcome practical strategies for making that first contact feel less awkward. “Swedish Probate Records” with Kathy Meade is another session I’ll be watching for in the future – I know those records are out there for my family.
For my final live session of RootsTech 2026 Day 3, I chose “Question Everything: Sharpen Evaluation, Avoid Assumptions, and Clarify Your Writing” with Kelley Conner Lear – an Advanced/Professional session, and the final Ride Along Watch Party of the conference. What an incredible session to end on. The title says it all. For a genealogist working toward higher standards in research and writing, that message couldn’t have landed at a better time.
I also plan to watch “The Future of AI in Genealogy” panel discussion on replay. And one in-person session has slides that look amazing – I’m already tracking it down: “DNA Case Study: Finding an 1877 Birth Father with Genetic Affairs, BanyanDNA, and No Birth Record.”
I called it a wrap at 4:30. The 5 PM online sessions didn’t pull me back in, and honestly? That felt right.
RootsTech 2026 Final Tally: 26 Sessions
2 Beginner sessions
- How to Use the FamilySearch Research Wiki – Danielle Batson
- Good Genealogists Don’t Guess – Kathryn Moore
5 Intermediate sessions
- Notarial Records in Poland – Dawid Walendowski and Anna Wiernicka
- Timelines for Genealogy – Janet Few
- It’s Just an Index: Poland – Banjaynn Fieldstein and Kate Ramsey
- Notarial Records in Poland (Replay) – Dawid Walendowski and Anna Wiernicka
- DNA Evidence Analysis with AI – Nicole Dyer
11 Advanced/Professional sessions
- The GPS in Practice – Angela Packer McGhie
- Untangling the Darling Web – Bonnie Wade Mucia
- When Nothing Found Means Something – Diana Elder
- Finding Substitutes for Vital Records – Peggy L. Lauritzen
- Avoiding Research Pitfalls – Jana Greenhalgh and Mindy Taylor
- Autosomal DNA and Likely Parents – Alice Childs
- Planning and Organizing Findings – Kate Townsend
- Crafting a Genealogical Proof Argument – Stephanie O’Connell
- DNA Analysis Methodology – Karen Stanbary
- Seeking the Identity of Unknown Parents – Dana Palmer
- Question Everything – Kelley Conner Lear
8 All Levels sessions
- Demystifying the AGBI – Tricia Seguine
- General Session 1 – Marlee Matlin
- Social and Civic Clubs: Discovering Your Ancestors’ Community Involvement – Melissa Barker
- What’s New at Ancestry – Crista Cowan
- DNA’s FAN Club: Using Shared Matches To Solve Genealogical Mysteries – Paula Williams
- Practical Digital Strategies – Andrew Redfern
- Collaborating with DNA Cousins – Paula Williams
- Unveiling Hidden Branches: A Genetic Study of George Washington’s Extended Family Tree – Sherman McRae
And about 20 sessions are queued for later viewing.
Four Things That Made RootsTech 2026 Day 3 Work
Looking back at the three days, a few things made this conference click in a way I want to remember and repeat.
Taking time off made everything possible. Two full days away from my regular job changed the entire experience. I could concentrate fully on sessions without splitting my attention. If you can swing it, I can’t recommend this approach strongly enough.
Not researching during sessions was the right call. I made a deliberate choice to not open research databases while watching sessions this year. It worked. (Well – almost. There was one brief research session that happened. It may have resulted in a significant find. More on that soon.)
The Ride Along group changed the experience. I’ve attended RootsTech virtually for years completely on my own. Having the Ride Along group to connect with during Watch Party sessions made the conference feel far less solitary. It’s a different experience when you have others watching alongside you.
Organization carried me across the finish line. Every slide deck downloaded. Every session logged in Airtable. Everything tracked on the calendar. I ended RootsTech 2026 Day 3 knowing exactly where everything stood – and that’s a very satisfying feeling.
The last step is moving all 26 completed sessions into my full Courses Taken table in Airtable. That part is deeply satisfying to do, but I’ll do that tomorrow, when I have a bit more energy. 🙂
Part of the RootsTech Ride Along
I wrapped up RootsTech 2026 with two live recap sessions. The first was with Barbara @ProjectKin and @DearMyrtle about the ProjectKin/Geneabloggers Ride Along partnership. The second was “Bill and Kyla’s Excellent Adventure” – the day 3 recap from Bill Moore and Kyla Bayang. Great fun! And I think we’re all exhausted.
This post is part of the RootsTech Ride Along, a collaboration between Geneabloggers and Projectkin designed to increase visibility and encourage community connection during RootsTech. Members share their blogs, vlogs, and opinion pieces at RideAlongPartners.org.
Proud Bunny Slipper Brigade member here. Slippers optional, but strongly encouraged.
Did you attend RootsTech 2026? In person or virtually? What sessions made your must-watch list? Drop a comment below!
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