FOSDEM 2026 is scheduled for January 31 to February 1 in Brussels, Belgium, bringing together a diverse group of open-source enthusiasts, engineers, and companies. This popular annual event, which has been held since 2000, is expected to attract thousands of attendees and over 1000 speakers.
As a free event, FOSDEM promotes open collaboration by allowing anyone to attend without prior registration.
Key Themes at FOSDEM 2026
This year’s discussions will prominently feature artificial intelligence (AI), highlighted in keynote talks such as “FOSS in times of war, scarcity and (adversarial) AI” and “Open Source Security in spite of AI.” Privacy activist Katharine Jarmul will also address the subject in her talk, “What do we mean when we say Sovereign AI?”
Funding for free and open-source software (FOSS) is another critical topic, notably discussed in the keynote “Free as in Burned Out: Who Really Pays for Open Source.” The need for sustainable funding models in the open-source community is increasingly relevant as the EU focuses on digital sovereignty, reducing dependency on US tech giants. Talks such as “The Geopolitics of Code: From Digital Sovereignty to Global Fragmentation” will further explore these themes.
Content Beyond Serious Topics
While existential discussions dominate several sessions, there will also be substantive content for everyday users. Talks will cover topics such as KDE’s 30-year anniversary, a live demo of Libreboot, and the challenges facing free/libre open-source software (FLOSS) office suites in terms of interoperability.
The Graphics DevRoom will dive into advancements in window management, a new Rust-based NVIDIA graphics driver, and provide insight into the architecture of Mesa.
With a total of 71 tracks available, attendees can expect a variety of interesting discussions ranging from mobile FOSS applications to RISC-V hardware and music production.
Importance of In-Person Events
With Canonical transitioning the Ubuntu Summit to an online format, in-person events like FOSDEM are critical for fostering personal connections. The interactions that occur in hallways and during informal discussions are vital to the open-source community.
If you’re considering attending FOSDEM 2026, take note of the schedule to make the most of your experience, whether you’re attending in person or streaming online.
For more details, you can check the FOSDEM website.