Sign up for the Family Tree Newsletter! Plus, you’ll receive our 10 Essential Genealogy Research Forms PDF as a special thank you.
Get Your Free Genealogy Forms
"*" indicates required fields
Stay current with genealogy news, fresh articles, podcasts and updates in our monthly Family Tree roundup.
Catch up on the news
January 2026
As the first month of 2026 comes to a close, we’ve been excited to share some new and highlighted articles to support your family history research this new year. This month’s topics included a 2026 genealogy research plan, insights into AncestryDNA Journeys, how to use voting records in genealogy research, and much more.
If you missed these articles and want the latest expert tips, advice and research discoveries sent to your inbox, sign up for our daily or weekly e-newsletter.
Plus, don’t miss our latest podcast episode, which is now also available as a video interview on YouTube.
Check out this month’s news headlines, too:
- MyHeritage expands to 50 languages with the addition of Albanian, Basque, Bosnian, Georgian, Icelandic, Irish, Luxembourgish, Maltese and Welsh.
- MyHeritage launches a new feature for MyHeritage DNA: Traits.
- ScotlandsPeople’s Annual Update adds 290,000 new records.
- American Ancestors launches a new website to mark America’s 250th anniversary.
- Newspapers.com adds 218 new titles to their collection.
- FamilySearch releases the schedule for RootsTech, taking place in March 2026.
- Reclaim the Records publishes their 2025 Year in Review.
New, updated and highlighted articles in January
January Podcasts
December 2025
As the month (and year) comes to a close, we’re excited to share some new and highlighted articles to support your family history research. This month’s topics include researching across the US-Canadian border and its history, why you should revisit DNA test results (even years later), and a guide to researching genealogy in “burned counties.”
If you missed these articles and want the latest expert tips, advice and research discoveries sent to your inbox, sign up for our daily or weekly e-newsletter.
Check out this month’s news headlines, too:
- The social media genealogy chat, #GenChat, hosted its last chat in mid-December.
- The National Genealogical Society releases the agenda for its May 2026 conference.
- Ancestry.com publishes a blog post clarifying its policy on users’ data and requests from law enforcement.
- Ancestry.com adds a searchable collection of all the digitized family history books on its platform from the US.
- MyHeritage’s OldNews hits 400 million pages, including a new expansion into South American (Argentina and Uruguay) newspaper titles.
- Ancestry.com expands on their beta tool, AI “Listen & Explore,” with the addition to “Listen to their story,” that generates audio narratives based on historical records.
- 23andMe posts a roundup of the company’s 2025 updates and products.
- FamilySearch releases a new AI Research Assistant and a new way to search the full-text collections with “Simple Search.”
New, updated and highlighted articles in December
December Podcasts
November 2025
As the month comes to a close, we’re excited to share even more new and updated articles to support your family history research. This month’s topics include tips for using plat maps and Dawes Rolls in your research, research guides for North Carolina and Idaho, and a guide to genealogy gifts for everyone on your list this holiday season. Plus, don’t miss the two new podcast episodes from this month.
If you missed these articles and want the latest expert tips, advice and research discoveries sent to your inbox, sign up for our daily or weekly e-newsletter.
Check out this month’s news headlines, too:
- FamilySearch announces the speakers for RootsTech 2026.
- The United Kingdom raises the fee for obtaining digital copies of wills from England and Wales (post-1858) from £1.50 to £16 each (a 966% increase).
- Newspapers.com partners with Gannett, a media company, to digitize nearly 150 new titles across 29 states, including 91 titles that have issues spanning over 100 years.
- MyHeritage DNA releases a major update to Theory of Family Relativity, adding 103 million new theories.
- FamilyTreeDNA adds over 12,700 new mtDNA haplogroups to the updated mtDNA Tree of Humankind.
- AncestryDNA launches Custom Clusters, available to Ancestry Pro Tool subscribers, allowing test taker to make custom DNA clusters.
- 23andMe introduces a new beta feature available to premium members called “Reconstructed Ancestors,” which reconstructs parts of an ancestors’ genetic profile using DNA shared with relatives.
- The Kentucky Historical Society announces the launch of their newly updated website for the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, including a new look and improved searching capabilities.
New and updated articles in November
November Podcasts
October 2025
October was all about celebrating Family History Month. From uncovering ancestral roots to preserving family stories before winter sets in, we spent four themed weeks diving into the heart of genealogy.
Each week took on a new focus: global heritage, immigration, cemeteries and genealogy projects. Together, they offered a month-long reminder that family history and genealogy research is never static: it grows, evolves, and connects us across generations and the world.
We released five brand-new articles, including guides to transcribing tombstones, exploring local societies, organizing writing projects, and using websites and software. Plus, our two new podcast episodes on cemetery projects and websites helped us embrace spooky season in the best genealogical way. Many old favorites also got new updates, from German and English genealogy research to immigration records, gravestone symbols and even creating family cookbooks.
If you missed a week (or want to relive them all), it’s never too late to celebrate Family History Month. Your ancestors’ stories are always waiting (no calendar required)!
Check out this month’s news headlines, too:
AncestryDNA releases the Ancestral Origins 2025 Update, which includes ethnicity estimate updates that connects users DNA to now more than 3,600 places around the world.
Fold3 adds more records from states previously not included in its Korean War Era Draft Registration Cards collection, including Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee and Washington.
MyHeritage announces that it will transition its DNA test to whole genome sequencing. Learn more here.
Federal offices (including the National Archives and its branches cross the country) are closed due to the US government shutdown. You can still request records from federal agencies, but they won’t be fulfilled until the shutdown ends. Note that processing delays are likely even after the shutdown, as many offices have furloughed or cut staff.
New, updated and highlighted in October
Week 1 (Oct. 2–8): Heritage—Dive into global research strategies.
Week 2 (Oct. 9–15): Immigration—Focus on U.S. arrivals and migration patterns.
Week 3 (Oct. 16–22): Cemeteries —Learn about gravestone symbolism, burial records, and more.
Week 4 (Oct. 23–29): Projects & Preservation—Explore ways to write, record and organize your family history before winter sets in.
October Podcasts
September 2025
This past month, September eased us out of the hot, sun-soaked days of summer spent exploring cemeteries, snapping headstone photos and sitting in front of the air conditioning. Now, with cooler air creeping in and cozy weekends on the horizon, it’s officially the season of definitely watching football… and absolutely not getting sucked into 19th-century homestead records during halftime.
This month also brought that back-to-school feeling with a time to refocus and learn something new. We leaned into that spirit with three brand-new articles, two refreshed favorites to help keep your genealogy skills sharp as the seasons change. This month’s topics include tips for using Find A Grave, using AI in genealogy, researching Los Angeles and German ancestry, and getting the most out of the relaunched Elephand website. Plus, don’t miss our latest podcast episodes on homestead records and using Veridian to find historical newspapers.
Additionally, Family Tree Magazine editor Andrew Koch launched a Substack–another way to keep up-to-date with what’s going on behind the scenes at your favorite genealogy magazine.
Check out this month’s news headlines, too:
- The Newberry Library relaunches the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries with a new interface design.
- 23andMe announces that a major update to its Ancestry Composition report will come soon.
- Ancestry.com shops around for a new owner or IPO.
- AncestryDNA announces that a new Ancestral Origins update will come soon.
- RootsTech 2026 registration officially opens.
- Veridian launches Elephind version 2.0 with new search tools and collections.
- BillionGraves adds new features.
- RootsMagic 11 is released with significant new features and updates to the software.
So, what’s next? Family History Month!
To make the most of Family History Month, be sure you’re signed up for our daily and weekly e-newsletters! Each week in October, we’ll share themed content, expert advice, and brand-new articles to help you learn and stay inspired:
- Week 1 (Oct. 2–8): Heritage — Dive into global research strategies.
- Week 2 (Oct. 9–15): Immigration — Focus on U.S. arrivals and migration patterns.
- Week 3 (Oct. 16–22): Cemeteries — Learn about gravestone symbolism, burial records, and more.
- Week 4 (Oct. 23–29): Projects & Preservation — Explore ways to write, record, and organize your family history before winter sets in.
Don’t miss a week—subscribe now and make this Family History Month your most productive yet!
New and updated in September
September Podcasts
This article was posted online on 29 September 2025. Last updated: December 29, 2025
Author
Katharine Andrew MS/LIS is a digital editor for Family Tree Magazine and professional genealogist.
