DjangoCon US 2026

Code of Conduct Transparency Report for DjangoCon US 2026

2026-09-28T06:00:00Z

The organizers of DjangoCon US 2026 are publishing this year’s Code of Conduct transparency report. This report summarizes the reports we received and the actions taken by the Code of Conduct Committee. If we receive any submissions after this report is published, we will edit this post and include the time we address the submission.

Reports

Formal Complaints

We addressed one official complaint:

Professional Boundaries: We received a report concerning an interaction between a member of the conference team and an attendee that crossed appropriate professional boundaries. The Code of Conduct Committee spoke with the team member about maintaining those boundaries and the power dynamics involved when interacting with attendees. The team member apologized, and we extended that apology to the attendee.

Informal Reports

We also had an informal report:

Removal from the Conference: Before the conference, organizers became aware of circumstances involving an attendee that required us to remove them from the event. The individual did not attend the conference, and no further action was required.

Takeaways

The incidents reveal a need for continued efforts to promote a respectful and inclusive environment at the event. This includes:

Reinforcing the Code of Conduct: Ensuring that all participants are aware of and adhere to the event's guidelines on appropriate behavior.

Wrap-up

Thank you all for making DjangoCon US 2026 a memorable event! We recognize that transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining community trust. By upholding our values and supporting one another, we continue to build a stronger and more inclusive Django community.

Edit history

Revision 1 (2026-09-29): Fixed an off-by-one-year error in the post date

Call for Organizers: DjangoCon US 2027

2026-08-26T17:00:00Z

DjangoCon US 2026 has just about wrapped up! We are already planning for DjangoCon US 2027, and we need organizers to help make DCUS 2027 the best it can be.

We have some documentation about the various roles, but here's a quick overview of the teams at DjangoCon US.

The DEFNA board will not leave you stranded; we have a lot of documentation to help you on your way, including rough checklists of tasks needed for each team.

Ideally, all committees will have a chair and co-chair to allow for one or the other to take vacations, handle day job duties, and so forth. This list is by no means comprehensive, but it should hopefully give you an idea of what each committee is responsible for.

Conference Leadership

The conference chair and co-chair lead the conference, including coordinating between teams and making executive decisions (including approaching the DEFNA board when applicable). Expect to be in meetings with the venue and online conference provider, weekly organizer check-ins, monthly reports to the DEFNA board, and lots of questions on Slack. You'll also lead the volunteer kickoff meetings in early 2027 (ideally mid-to-late January) and recruit organizers as you see fit.

At the conference, you'll be making speeches at the start of each day (or pick an organizer to do so) and the end-of-conference wrap-up in addition to coordinating setup, teardown, and everything in between.

These two roles have the highest time commitment and the most visibility. If you want to help people get things done and get up on stage, these are the roles for you.

Program Committee

Size: 2-4

The program committee is responsible for making sure that the schedule of tutorials and talks is the best it can be.

Pre-conference responsibilities

Start the call for proposals process (opening no later than mid-January)
Coordinate with the Opportunity Grants team to schedule the opening and closing of the CFP
Publish blog posts announcing the CFP, speaker mentors, and speaker resources
Recruit keynote speakers (the DEFNA board will offer suggestions, but if you have a message you'd like the keynotes to send, you have lots of latitude here, but keep in mind conference diversity goals)
Recruit speaker mentors (start with emailing the 2026 speakers in Pretalx and bring in more as you like)
Review proposals as they come in for anonymization (ideally, recruit one member of the program committee who will not be reviewing talks to do the anonymization before opening talks for review)
Recruit talk reviewers (the DEFNA board will send you the 2026 reviewers, but more reviewers are encouraged, especially from diverse backgrounds). There will be over 100 submissions, so having more reviewers lessens the load for individual talks
Decide on any tweaks to the format (Stick with single-track? Spanish-language talks? Keep the Deep Dive Day? This is your chance to put your mark on the program)
Review talks
Once reviews are completed, de-anonymize talks and filter for duplicate speakers, multiple speakers from the same organization, diversity goals, overlapping topics, and more
Select the best talks (where "best" is extremely subjective; we have documentation on things we look for in good proposals); you're not strictly bound to pick the highest scoring talks, so you have some leeway
Coordinate with the Opportunity Grants team to send them a list of accepted speakers so they can prioritize them for awards
Conduct a Code of Conduct review of potential speakers
Coordinate with the OG team to notify speakers in waves (ideally completed by June 15)
Build a schedule (ideally by July 1)
Publish blog posts announcing speakers and keynotes (ideally by July 15)
Update schedules based on speakers' needs
Coordinate with the DEFNA board to approve reimbursement requests
Generate cue sheets for session chairs and speaker mentors
Recruit backup speakers in case of speakers having to back out (visa issues, illness, etc.)
Work with the social events team to arrange a speaker appreciation dinner
Generate spreadsheets in multiple formats to make other teams' lives easier

At-conference responsibilities

Work with registration desk to make sure that all speakers show up
Work with session managers (other organizers) to ensure distribution of cue sheets and speaker gifts
Check with tutorial speakers (if we are having them) to make sure they have everything they need

Opportunity Grants Committee

Size: 1-2 (plus reviewers)

The OG committee is responsible for obtaining grants from the DSF and PSF and awarding grants to people who will best use them, prioritizing speakers, first time attendees, and people from underrepresented and/or historically disadvantaged groups.

Pre-conference responsibilities

Start call for grants process (concurrent with CFP)
Publish blog posts announcing the grant process
Request grants from the Django Software Foundation and Python Software Foundation (the DEFNA board will help you fill out the forms)
Recruit grant reviewers (other organizers and DEFNA members are happy to help)
Review submissions
Coordinate with the program team about grants to speakers
Notify grant recipients in waves (concurrent with program notifications)
Communicate with recipients on how to get reimbursed (we'll have templates)
Give DEFNA a list of recipients and amounts
Approve reimbursements as requests come in
Coordinate with the visa (community) team as needed to approve invitation letter requests
Write a transparency report giving a high-level overview of how the grants were awarded

At-conference responsibilities

Answer questions from grant recipients and the DEFNA board

Community Team

Size: 2-4

Pre-conference responsibilities

Schedule orientation
Arrange childcare and lactation/wellness room
Coordinate visa applications
Improve accessibility of the venue and conference as a whole
Reach out to local Python user groups to market the conference

At-conference responsibilities

Post-sign-ups for the lactation room and distribute keys as needed
Collect receipts for childcare reimbursement

Sponsorship Committee

Size: 2-4

The sponsorship committee recruits sponsors which helps offset the cost of running DCUS.

Pre-conference responsibilities

Create and announce sponsorship prospectus (we have templates, and DEFNA will help with specifics)
Recruit sponsors
Coordinate contract signing with DEFNA
Consider awarding community sponsorships (non-financial) to other non-profit Python conferences and related communities (local Python meetups near the conference will love the exposure)
Coordinate shipping of sponsor swag for the swag bag
Lay out sponsor tables (on a venue map)
Work with sponsor chair/co-chair to handle sponsor shout-outs when needed
Order banners to go behind the speakers on stage and at venue entrances

At-conference responsibilities

Direct sponsors to their booths/tables and swag
Ensure that booths are reserved for sponsors who have reserved a booth, and are not open for others
Field complaints/questions from sponsors

Code of Conduct Committee

Size: 4-6

The CoC committee suggests improvements to the CoC and investigates reports. This is the heart of the conference because, without the CoC, we wouldn't have the welcoming environment that we have at DCUS.

Pre-conference responsibilities

Suggest modifications/improvements to the CoC
Assist program committee with pre-conference review of recorded online talks

At-conference responsibilities

Field reports and investigate them, including recommending actions to the DEFNA board
Follow up on reports, including conversations with both reporters and those who have been reported, and facilitate the appropriate response
Write a CoC transparency report to recap reports (heavily anonymized) and actions taken

Size: 2-3

The social events committee is responsible for scheduling the "after-hours" events at DCUS to give people chances to socialize and unwind after a long day of talks.

Pre-conference responsibilities

Find a venue for the speaker appreciation dinner and coordinate contract signing with DEFNA
Plan opening reception (if sponsored, this will become a bigger event compared to previous years)
Plan any other fun events like board game night

At-conference responsibilities

Work with the venue on any work needed for social events

Venue Committee

Size: 1-2

The venue committee is responsible for coordinating plans between the other organizing teams and the venue(s). Ideally at least one person in this committee lives near the conference and can visit the venue frequently.

Pre-conference responsibilities

Work with the event venue to select and lay out talk, tutorial, and sprint rooms
Lay out the extra rooms needed for the conference (lactation room, quiet room, organizers room, speaker green room, lunch/break areas)
Work with event venue and DEFNA to select catering menus (and providers if we're not contractually obligated to use one)
Work with the hotel to coordinate room blocks
Work with the venue to plan logistics (sponsor gear shipping, signage, etc.)
Allocate reward rooms in coordination with the DEFNA board
Order supplies for restroom stocking

At-conference responsibilities

Review room guest list against ticket list to claim reward nights
Handle any last-minute requests from vendors/sponsors/organizers/etc.
Notify venue staff of any needs (bathroom cleanliness, meals to accommodate special diets, etc.)

Online Committee

Size: 2-3

Pre-conference responsibilities

Select an online conference provider
Recruit and schedule online moderators

During-conference responsibilities

Increase online engagement during the conference
Adjust live-streaming URLs for each day of the talks

Audio/Video (A/V) Committee

Size: 2-3

The A/V committee is responsible for making everything look good. They handle coordination between the on-site crew, the online streaming platform, and the post-conference processing teams and upload the results to YouTube after the conference.

Pre-conference responsibilities

Select on-site video production crew
Select post-conference processing crew
Coordinate both of the above teams with the online platform
Work with the venue team to ensure high-speed wired internet access to the on-site video crew
Procure a wide variety of dongles for presenters to hook their laptops up to the projectors
Procure projectors and screens if the venue doesn't already have them, including one for the green room so speakers can test their setup

At-conference responsibilities

Help on-site crew set up equipment and ensure streaming works
Get dongles to the right rooms as needed
Help keynote speakers get presentation mode working if needed
Answer lots and lots of questions

Swag Committee

Size: 1-2

The swag committee is responsible for everything speakers and attendees take home from the conference (aside from knowledge!).

Pre-conference responsibilities

Coordinate with external designer on T-shirt, swag bag, and banner designs
Order attendee t-shirts (with sponsor logos)
Order swag bags (with sponsor logos)
Design and order speaker gifts
Order DCUS-branded swag (stickers/magnets/etc.)
Order masks and COVID tests (if needed)
Order lanyards, badges, and badge flags
Order thank-you notes

At-conference responsibilities

Recruit volunteers to stuff swag bags on Sunday afternoon
Get T-shirts and swag bags to the registration desk, ideally sorted by size and cut for rapid distribution
Get speaker gifts to the volunteer team for distribution

Volunteer Committee

Size: 2

The volunteer committee is responsible for cultivating new volunteers, who can become organizers in future years.

Pre-conference responsibilities

Determine what roles need on-site volunteer support (session chairs, session managers, registration desk, etc.)
Set up sign-up for on-site volunteers and online volunteers (moderators/cheerleaders)
Draft announcements for calls for volunteers (blog post + social media)

At-conference responsibilities

Tell volunteers where to go
Give volunteers tools to succeed
Coordinate thank-you note signing by organizezrs

Marketing Committee

Size: 2-4

The marketing committee is responsible for getting the word out about DCUS.

This team manages the various DCUS social network feeds, including Twitter, Mastodon, Bluesky, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more. This team also edits and posts blogs on the DCUS main page and coordinates bulk emails to ticketholders to remind them about the conference as it approaches.

Pre-conference responsibilities

Publish announcements and reminders on social media, the conference blog, and more (Django News, Python Community News, etc.)
Send a copy to the Django Software Foundation to get major news events on the Django blog
Review, edit, and suggest copy for the other teams' announcements
Post on social media early and often.
Select an "official emoji" for the conference (typically suggested by the design package for the year's website)
Boost speakers and organizers talking about the conference
Schedule posts announcing talks and events

At-conference responsibilities

Pay attention to the #djangocon topic on social media and mentions to @djangocon on various social networks
Boost speakers and organizers
Answer questions as they come up
Run the #help-desk channel on the conference attendee slack

Website Committee

Size: 2-3

The website committee is responsible for updating the website as the conference transitions through phases (CFP coming soon, CFP open, CFP closed, schedule released, hotel block closed, conference over, etc.), reviewing pull requests, and adding content (e.g. new sponsors). This requires the most coding of any team aside from maybe the program team.

Pre-conference responsibilities

Meet with external designer to design the conference website
Implement designs from external designer
Update static pages for CFP status
Update static pages for venue information
Review pull requests from other teams
Add sponsors as directed by the sponsorship team

Automation Team

This team is more free-flowing and writes scripts to make teams' lives easier. Responsibilities vary based on the year, and if you have ideas for special projects for the future, have at it!

Sprints Team

Size: 2-4

Pre-conference responsibilities

Write blog posts announcing sprints
Invite people to launch special sessions (e.g. Carlton's "Getting Started Contributing to Django")
Ensure we have signage and power equipment

At-conference responsibilities

Coordinate help desk
Direct people to lunches and breaks (if offered)

Wrap-up

To sign up for any of the teams (or just say "Put me to work"), send an email to hello@djangocon.us and we'll add you to our organizer Slack instance and invite you to our organizer meetings once they start. We would love to have you! You do not have to have previous organizing experience (although we will probably prefer it for some of the leadership roles).

Almost Time: What to Know Before You Head to Chicago

2026-08-20T17:00:00Z

DjangoCon US 2026 starts Monday, August 24 at the voco Chicago Downtown. Some of you are already packing; some of you are still finishing that one thing at work before you can think about packing. Either way, here is everything worth knowing before you get on a plane, a train, or the Blue Line.

📬 Watch your inbox on Friday

In-person ticket holders will get a welcome email on Friday, August 21 with the things we only share with attendees: your invitation to the conference Slack, the volunteer shift signup, and the link to register for Monday's lightning talks. Keep that email handy, since it is where those links live. Check your spam folder if you do not see it by Saturday.

Online ticket holders will get a welcome email on Sunday, August 23 with Slack invite and volunteer sign up link (yes, we need online volunteers, too!) There will be a separate email with a unique link to get into the live streaming portal.

Before you leave home

Sign up for a Travel Safety Check. You can share your arrival details and an emergency contact, and a DEFNA board member will reach out on WhatsApp or Signal after you land to make sure you made it. Only DEFNA board members can see the data, and we delete it 30 days after the conference. Start here: Travel Safety Check. There's also a post with our latest read on travel to Chicago, including what we know about federal activity in the city and who to talk to if you need help.

Do a quick packing pass. Our first-timer packing list covers the essentials, and the short version is: a refillable water bottle, a layer for chilly ballrooms, and comfortable shoes. August in Chicago is usually lovely, but the breeze off the lake has opinions.

Traveling from outside the US? A First-Timer's Guide to Navigating America and our international travel post cover tipping, transit, plug adapters, and the paperwork side of things.

Finding your way once you arrive

We have floor maps of the venue online, so you can get oriented before you are standing in a hallway with a suitcase. The short version:

14th floor: conference registration, our breakfast, and all the talks
15th floor: Open Spaces in the Wolf Point Ballroom, plus the lobby where the Welcome Reception happens

Conference registration opens at 7:30 AM on Monday, just outside the Sauganash Ballroom, and our continental breakfast starts at the same time on the 14th floor. Tuesday and Wednesday both start at 8:00 AM. Note that hotel check-in is somewhere else entirely, either the 1st floor or the 15th floor, so do not go looking for us with your suitcase.

The 15th floor also has the hotel's own paid breakfast, which is a separate thing from the breakfast included with your conference ticket. If you want the buffet, that is where to find it. Otherwise head to the 14th floor with everyone else.

There will be signage and volunteers around, so if you are turned around, just ask.

Sunday: the Welcome Reception

Start the week with us at the Welcome Reception on Sunday, August 23, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the 15th Floor Lobby. Conversation, beverages, and a low-key way to meet people before the talks begin. Come as you are and stay as long as you like.

🎟️ Sprints-only ticket? You're invited too

If you are coming just for the sprints later in the week, the Welcome Reception is still yours. Come say hello on Sunday.

Thank you to REVSYS, Two Rock Software, and Caktus Consulting Group for making the reception possible.

Monday: Board Game Night

Board Game Night runs Monday from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM in the Sauganash Ballroom. Bring a game, learn a game, or just pull up a chair and watch someone get a surprise win at something. It is one of the easiest evenings to fall into conversation with people you have not met yet.

Lightning talks

⚡ Talks are five minutes, wide open on topic, and one of the best parts of the week. They happen all three conference days, and plenty of experienced speakers gave their very first talk at a lightning talk session.

Registration for Monday's lightning talks opens through the link in Friday's welcome email. Signups for Tuesday and Wednesday will be announced at the conference. If you want a nudge on picking a topic, our lightning talk post has ideas and tips.

Open Spaces

New this year: Open Spaces, running Monday and Tuesday in the Wolf Point Ballroom at 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 4:00 PM.

The format is simple. Write your topic on a sticky note, put it on the board next to a table, then show up at that table at that time. There are 14 tables, so nobody is competing for a slot. Career conversations, code reviews, the AI workflows that are actually earning their keep, the AI gripes you have been saving up, a talk that did not make the main stage, or a hobby you want to share all belong on the board.

You are also free to leave any Open Space at any time. That is the format working, not a verdict on anyone's session.

Thursday and Friday: contribution sprints

The contribution sprints run Thursday, August 27 and Friday, August 28, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM in the Sauganash Ballroom (West), and virtually on the conference Slack.

🛠️ Sprints are free, but they need their own ticket

Sprint attendance is free and open to everyone, including people not attending the main conference. You do need to grab a separate sprints ticket so we know how many chairs to plan for and so you can confirm that you agree to abide by our Code of Conduct. If you have not done that yet, reserve your spot.

Thursday morning is a good place to start even if you have never contributed to anything:

9:00 AM, Project Introductions: project leads give 30-second pitches so you can find something that interests you
9:25 AM, Learn to Contribute to Django with Sarah Boyce and Jacob Walls, or Learn to Review Django PRs with Lilian
1:00 PM, Django New Features Review with Frank Wiles, working through Django's New Features queue

If you want to get your environment ready before you fly, How to Prepare for Sprints as a Contributor is the guide to read on the plane. Leading a project? Preparing for sprints as a project leader will help you get the most out of the two days.

A few other things worth knowing

Volunteering: shifts are short, first-time volunteers are supported, and it is one of the fastest ways to feel like you belong. The signup link is in Friday's email, and here is why we think you should.
Quiet spaces: there is a Quiet Room in Shakespeare House and a private Wellness Room in Lake House, open 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM all three conference days.
Childcare: we reimburse childcare up to $150 per day with a receipt, and there is a private lactation space at the venue. Details in our childcare post, or email hello@defna.org.
Getting outside: we have a Strava group and an #outings channel on Slack for group runs, rides, and walks. Get Active at DjangoCon US has route ideas and hotel gym details.
Public health: masks are recommended (KN95 or N95 preferred), and we will have N95 masks available on request and designated mask-required seating areas in the talk rooms. Tests are not required this year. The full public health policy has the details.
Code of Conduct: it applies everywhere, including Open Spaces, Slack, and evening events. Please read the Code of Conduct and know how to reach the team if you need them.
The talks themselves: one single track, three keynotes from Dawn Wages, Karen Tracey, and Sarah Boyce, and a Deep Dive day on Wednesday. The full schedule is online.

See you very soon

Travel safe, drink some water, and we will see you in Chicago!

Sign up for Travel Safety Checks & Chicago Travel Safety Updates

2026-08-19T17:00:00Z

We’re excited to see you in Chicago!

Whether you are traveling within the country or flying in from abroad, we know travel can be stressful, and we know that travel in the United States may not feel as safe and easy as it has in past years. To help provide some peace of mind, we’ve built a Travel Safety Check system.

You can enter your contact and arrival info as well as an emergency contact. DEFNA board members will reach out to you via WhatsApp or Signal soon after your scheduled arrival to make sure you made it safely. If we’re unable to reach you, we’ll notify your emergency contact. Only DEFNA board members have access to the system, and we’ll delete the data 30 days after the conference.

If you’re traveling alone, it can feel especially overwhelming, and we want you to know you don’t have to navigate it on your own!

What happened last year?

Last year, there was a lot of posturing and public comment about the US federal government sending National Guard troops and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Chicago. Despite increased ICE activity, At 2025 DjangoCon no incidents or concerns were reported, and there was no National Guard presence in Chicago at that time.

In October 2025, National Guard troops were sent to Chicago but were never actually deployed due to lawsuits brought by the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois.

What’s the latest with federal activity in Chicago?

Since then, National Guard troop movements into Chicago have been completely blocked. There are no National Guard troops deployed to Chicago.
Unfortunately, less publicized ICE activity has been ongoing, but we do not expect them to be active in the downtown area where the conference is located. This activity has been away from downtown Chicago and more targeted in specific neighborhoods and collar suburbs. These agents tend to wear masks over their faces, baseball caps, and minimal uniforms that say “police.” If you see people fitting this description, avoid them. They are likely looking for someone particular rather than wanting to investigate the general population in the area.
You may see Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at the airport. ICE agents were temporarily stationed at many airports in March to assist the TSA, but that ended in April. However, across the country there have still been occasional minor reports about agent activity at airports.

Here's what else to know

The Chicago Police Department is completely separate from both these groups and has an official policy of not cooperating with ICE or the National Guard. Chicago Police officers will have patches on their uniforms that say “Chicago Police” and tend to wear a blue shirt with dark pants. They want all our attendees to have a great time in their city and are people you can approach for help should you need it.
In the United States, you are allowed to allowed to record the police and military in public. You also have the right to remain silent, refuse to sign any forms, and ask to speak to an attorney. If you or someone you’re with has an encounter with agents, take a video recording and please report the incident to the Code of Conduct team.
For more information,including how to handle interactions with ICE and local organizations you can support, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is a great place to start!

We do not expect any of these developments to directly impact you while you’re in Chicago for DjangoCon US, but we do want to be prepared. Please attend opening remarks each day during the conference as we will provide any updates to these situations at that time. We may also send emails to attendees if there are important developments to be aware of.

Start DjangoCon US at the Welcome Reception

2026-08-19T16:00:00Z

DjangoCon US 2026 is almost here! Start your conference week with us at the Welcome Reception on Sunday, August 23, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the 15th Floor Lobby.

Whether this is your first DjangoCon US or one of many, the Welcome Reception is a relaxed chance to meet fellow attendees before the talks begin. Stop by for conversation and beverages, make some new friends, and say hello to old ones.

Welcome Reception details

When: Sunday, August 23, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Central Time (view in your time zone)
Where: 15th Floor Lobby

We’re grateful to the sponsors who made this gathering possible:

Come as you are, stay for as long as you like, and help us kick off DjangoCon US 2026. We can’t wait to welcome you to Chicago!

Announcing Our Keynotes: Dawn Wages

2026-08-17T16:00:00Z

We're honored to announce Dawn Wages as a keynote speaker for DjangoCon US 2026

We had the opportunity to sit down with Dawn and ask her a few questions about her work, her journey through the Django community, and what attendees can expect from her keynote at DjangoCon US 2026.

How have Star Trek, Octavia Butler, and Afrofuturism influenced the way you approach leadership and community building?

This is the crux of the presentation! I'm shaking out the nuances and how I will be telling the story on stage, but the long and short of is: (1) reclaiming agency, (2) understanding history as a context for the present (3) not being afraid of fear (3) leaning on and building with your peers / contemporaries.

Your keynote asks, “Is there room for me on the Bridge?” How has the meaning of that question changed throughout your career?

Thanks for this question! This one has remained eerily consistent which is I think the conceit I will try to make on stage. Despite sci-fi and afrofuturism making me feel like I have something worthwhile to offer; 10+ years later I still feel like I'm met with signals that there is not room for me. There are not audible invitations to lead. It is different that imposter syndrome because I do feel capable in these spaces, but when I enter rooms as a Black woman my capabilities must be credentialed, verified and then reviewed; and even after still held under scrutiny. What does my space or the space of someone like me look like in 2026 and beyond. Is there space for us?

What does it mean to “build worlds worth living in” within open-source communities?

Anti-racist, not just gender-inclusive, but gender expansive, accessible, anti-fascist, community-oriented, prioritizing the voices of the marginalized first, intersectional.

You have served the Python community in many roles, including organizer, maintainer, speaker, entrepreneur, and PSF Board Chair. Which experiences have most shaped your approach to mentorship and governance?

They've all shaped me in different ways and its hard to tease out one or the other. Being on the Python Software Foundation Board was a milestone in my career and marked a big shift in legitimacy. But then that begs the question: Was it a symbol of legitimacy that I already embodied, or was the legitimacy earned due to the investments people saw me making on a larger scale?

Both mentorship and governance are important parts of a sustainable ecosystem. I tune my lens on those facets of open source every day with new information and experience.

What do you hope attendees will take away from your keynote?

The system we're building to support marginalized people in tech is working and that's why its a target. Sometimes in systems that intersect with capitalism, the cruelty is the point.

Where can attendees follow you or learn more about your work?

dawnwages.info ! I'm blogging more too :)

We can't wait to hear Dawn's keynote at DjangoCon US 2026! Stay tuned for more keynote announcements. If you haven't purchased your ticket yet, tickets are still on sale. We hope to see you in Chicago!

New One-Day and Online Tickets

2026-08-14T17:00:00Z

Can't make it to Chicago for the whole week? We've added new One-Day tickets to make it easier to join us for just the part you can get to.

What's New

One-Day tickets are available in both Individual and Corporate rates, the same way our regular tickets work:

One-Day Individual (In-person): $199
One-Day Corporate (In-person): $349

Pick the day that fits your schedule, and you're set.

And every One-Day ticket includes online access for the full week. So you're not just buying a day pass to come see us in Chicago, you're also getting to watch along with us online the rest of the week.

We know schedules are busy. People have work. School is starting back up for a lot of folks. This gives you an option that fits around all of that. Plus you can stream and watch at your leisure.

Online Tickets

We also have Online tickets. If travel isn't in the cards this year, you can still catch the talks and be part of the conference from wherever you are:

Online Individual: $99
Online Corporate: $199

Get Your Ticket

All ticket types, including One-Day, Corporate, Individual, and Online, are on our Tito page:

ti.to/defna/djangocon-us-2026

DjangoCon US 2026 runs August 24th through 28th at the voco Chicago Downtown. Whether it's for a day, the whole week, or from your couch, we'll see you soon!

Thanks, PyCon AU

Thank you to our friends at PyCon AU for the inspiration. They're in Brisbane August 26 to 30.

Introducing Open Spaces! (And Why You Should Host One)

2026-08-14T14:00:00Z

Some of the best parts of DjangoCon US have never been on the program but in the less structured part of the conference; the 'hallway track', a small group that forms around a table after a talk, or a conversation that wants to keep going after lunch.

These topics include technical debugging, brainstorming, career guidance, building interpersonal skills, sharing hobbies and interests, and more.

This year we moved to a single track, and that gives us the space to support those conversations directly. With that in mind, we're introducing Open Spaces to DjangoCon!

What Is an Open Space?

An Open Space is a patricipant-driven discussion where the topic and agenda is set by whoever shows up, as opposed to being planned in advance. It is intended to be more interactive and participatory than a regular presentation. The topics can range as widely as you'd like!

When and Where

Open Spaces will run on Monday, August 24 and Tuesday, August 25 in the Wolf Point Ballroom (15th floor), during these hours:

11:00am
2:00pm
3:00pm
4:00pm

All times are Central. Check the schedule to see how they line up with the talks.

How Will It Work? 👀

We'll have a board, markers, 14 tables and sticky notes in the room. To pitch an idea:

Write your topic and a brief description on a sticky note
Put it on the board, next to the table you'll be at
Show up at that table at that time

That's the whole process. Several Open Spaces can and will run at the same time at different tables, so you aren't competing with anyone for a slot.

Why should you host an Open Space? 🤔

The main stage is one shared experience for everyone, and Open Spaces are where you go deep with others on a specific thing you came to talk about! Its a chance to get more interactive and in depth.

Some Ideas to Get You Started 💡

Career conversations: sharing career journeys, exploring what's next, and how to get there
Practice job interview questions with each other
Trade AI adoption strategies that are actually working
Discuss/vent (perhaps even kvetch a little?) about AI and the pace of technological change, and how it's changing our everyday work
Get feedback or a code review on a project idea
Run a workshop or talk that didn't make it to the main stage, and gather feedback on it
Do a code kata or other coding challenge together

Or something else entirely. If you'd want to talk about it with other people, it belongs on the board!

Tips for Hosting 👍

Hosting an Open Space is closer to starting a conversation than giving a talk:

Consider framing your topic as a question Spend a couple of minutes setting it up, then let people talk
Make room for quieter voices, and gently steer things along if one person has been going for a while
It's ok to wander If the group topic has drifted somewhere more interesting than your original topic, its ok to follow that thread

Come and Go Freely 🚶

If this format is new to you, it's important to understand you are always free to leave. Some people call this the Law of Two Feet! 🦶 If a space turns out not to be what you needed, or there is a talk starting that you'd like to check out, feel free slip out. Just do it quietly, out of respect for the people still talking.

That goes both ways. If you're hosting and a few people wander off, it isn't a verdict on your session. It's the format working and is part of the benefit of a looser format.

Be Respectful and Inclusive 💯

Our Code of Conduct applies in Open Spaces exactly as it does everywhere else at DjangoCon US. These are unstructured, attendee-run conversations, which makes it all the more important that everyone in the room is treated well.

Bring Us Your Topic!

If there's a conversation you've been wanting to have with other people — a problem you're stuck on, an opinion you want tested, or a group you wish existed — write it on a sticky note and see who shows up!

We'll see you in Chicago! 📌

Get Active at DjangoCon US 2026

2026-08-13T17:00:00Z

🚴🏻🏃🏾🏊🏽🚶🏼 Looking to get active during DjangoCon US?

Having talks means a lot of time spent not moving while watching talks. It's important to take care of your body as well as your mind, and a good way to do that is to get moving.

If you would like a little social motivation (or an excuse to share your accomplishments), we've created a Strava group as we had in 2021-25. It's a different group from the last few years, so you'll have to join again even if you joined in previous years.

Once we send invitations to attendees to join the conference Slack instance (invitations will be sent out to ticket holders by Sunday, August 23), join the #outings channel if you'd like to join or plan a group exercise.

At the hotel

The voco Downtown has an indoor pool on the 16th floor. In addition, it has a 24-hour fitness center.

At the fitness center, you'll find:

Exercise Bike(s)
Free Weights
Sauna
Treadmill(s)
Yoga Mats, Medicine Balls, Weight Bench, Water Station

Most of the hotels nearby have a fitness center, so make sure you check with your hotel if you're staying elsewhere.

Walking/running/hiking/biking

The Lakefront Trail is an 18-mile long trail right along Lake Michigan that has excellent paved walking and cycling paths.

There are numerous Chicago Park District Parks nearby. To find some, go to the Chicago Park District and start browsing. As a visual landmark, the hotel itself is adjacent to the fork in the river just above the big C in Chicago when you zoom out.

Bicycling

There are numerous bike-friendly roads near the hotel in addition to the Lakeshore Trail from above. In addition, if you'd like to go on some longer treks, there are routes to Indiana (GPX, FIT) for those of you who want to check another box off your "states I've biked in" list, Northwestern University (GPX, FIT) if you want to go see the school's temporary football stadium, or a much shorter trek to Montrose Beach GPX, FIT.

Disclaimer: these routes had to be adjusted on the fly last year due to construction closures and other detours, but we did not save them. Use them at your own risk.

Sightseeing

There are lots of landmarks to go visit in Chicago, including the Cloud Gate (AKA the giant bean) in Millennium Park, the Lincoln Park Zoo which is free to enter, and the numerous museums at Grant Park, all of which are within a half hour transit ride or 15-minute bike ride from the hotel.

Swimming

The city beaches will be open to swimming until early September. Typical water surface temperatures are in the 70-75° F range (21-24° C).

If that water is too cool for you, there's always the voco Downtown indoor pool on the 16th floor.

We hope you enjoy your time while you are in Chicago and get a chance to get out and enjoy the area!

Why You Should Volunteer at DjangoCon US 2026

2026-08-11T18:00:00Z

Every year, DjangoCon US comes together because a group of people shows up early, stays late, and does the behind-the-scenes work that keeps everything running. Things like printing badges, timing rooms, setting up speaker support, and making sure speakers feel welcomed right before they step on stage don’t just happen automatically, volunteers make them happen.

This year, DjangoCon US is in Chicago from August 24–28, 2026, at the voco Chicago Downtown. And this year, we’re trying something a little different: instead of splitting the event into multiple tracks, we’ll be running a single track throughout the conference. That means one room, one talk at a time, and everyone is part of the same shared experience.

It’s a small change in how the schedule is structured, but it makes a big difference. Volunteer shifts won’t just impact one “section” of the community; you'll be supporting the entire event and everyone taking part in it.

The Job Nobody Sees (And Why It Still Matters)

Here’s the truth about volunteering at a conference: the best volunteer roles are often invisible.

A first-time attendee finds the right room quickly because someone helps them. A speaker who’s a little nervous gets reassurance from the timer and can focus on the talk. A small act like keeping coffee stocked or guiding someone to the right place helps the conference feel welcoming instead of confusing.

No one starts a blog post about the person who quietly made sure things worked. But ask any experienced attendee what makes a conference feel warm, and they’ll tell you: it’s the people quietly holding everything together.

That’s what volunteering lets you do. And honestly? It’s also one of the fastest ways to feel like you truly belong.

First-Time Volunteers: We’ve Got You

If this is your first time volunteering, don’t worry, Rachell and Monica will be there to help you get started. You won’t be handed a clipboard and expected to figure everything out on your own.

Each shift comes with guidance, an overview of what to expect, and someone you can check in with if anything is unclear. First-time volunteers aren’t an afterthought here—they’re planned for and supported.

You don’t need a lot of experience to be helpful. If you can greet people, point them in the right direction, or help keep a talk running on time, you already have what it takes. The rest is covered.

Ready to Join?

If you’ve been thinking about volunteering but haven’t signed up yet, consider this your nudge. You don’t need prior experience, and you don’t need to know everyone, you just need a few hours and the willingness to show up.

Ready to volunteer? We’ll see you in Chicago!

Image credit: Bartek Pawlik

Thinking About Giving a Lightning Talk?

2026-08-07T14:00:00Z

One of the most exciting traditions at DjangoCon US is our Lightning Talks (or, as we like to call them, ⚡ Talks).

Lightning Talks are short, five-minute presentations where anyone can share an idea, a lesson learned, a project, a story, or something that inspires them. They are fast-paced, fun, and one of the best ways to hear from members of our community.

If you've ever thought, "I don't have enough experience to give a talk," Lightning Talks are for you.

What Can I Talk About?

Almost anything related to Django, Python, open source, or our community.

Some ideas include:

A useful Django package you've discovered
A bug that taught you an important lesson
Your first open source contribution
A productivity tip
A project you're building
Something fun you've learned while programming
A community initiative you'd like others to know about

Not every Lightning Talk has to be deeply technical. Some of the most memorable talks are personal stories, demonstrations, or lessons learned from failure.

Need Some Inspiration?

If you're looking for advice on giving your first Lightning Talk, we highly recommend Trey Hunner's "Give a Lightning Talk" from PyCon US 2024.

In just a few minutes, Trey shares practical tips on choosing a topic, preparing your talk, and delivering it with confidence.

📺 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_Vx3gDHeUI&t=250s

Tips for a Great Lightning Talk

A few simple suggestions can go a long way:

Focus on one main idea.
Practice your talk a few times to stay within the five-minute limit.
Keep your slides simple—or skip them entirely if they aren't needed.
Don't worry about being an expert. Sharing your experience is valuable.
Have fun! Your enthusiasm is often the most memorable part of your presentation.

Remember, a Lightning Talk isn't about covering everything—it's about sharing one idea well.

How Do Lightning Talks Work?

Lightning Talks are open to all DjangoCon US attendees and take place during the conference.

Sign-up information and schedules will be announced during the conference, so keep an eye on announcements if you'd like to participate.

Give It a Try!

Many experienced conference speakers gave their very first talk as a Lightning Talk.

Whether you're sharing a Django tip, a Python trick, a lesson from your latest project, or a story from your open source journey, we'd love to hear from you.

Your five minutes might inspire someone else's next big idea.

We can't wait to see what you'll share at DjangoCon US 2026! ⚡

Announcing Our Keynotes: Karen Tracey

2026-08-04T16:00:00Z

We're honored to announce Karen Tracey as a keynote speaker for DjangoCon US 2026

We had the opportunity to sit down with Karen and ask her a few questions about her work, her journey through the Django community, and what attendees can expect from her keynote at DjangoCon US 2026.

Can you give attendees a short teaser about what they can expect from the keynote?

Excitement about the big features in Django 6.x

Django 6.0 introduces several exciting features, including Template Partials, the Background Tasks Framework, Content Security Policy, and the Modern Email API. Which of these are you personally most excited about, and why?

I'm most excited by Template Partials, because they solve an issue I noticed and disliked when I started using htmx -- they make using htmx (or other tech like that) much more pleasant in Django.

Your keynote is titled Django 6: The Most Exciting Release Ever? Without giving too much away, what makes Django 6 stand out from previous releases?

The large number of significant new features.

What do you hope attendees will take away from your keynote?

Django continues to grow and change with the overall web ecosystem. It may be getting up there in years but it is definitely not standing still.

For developers planning to upgrade, what's one tip or piece of advice you'd give them before making the move to Django 6?

As with any upgrade, read the docs about it including new things and removed things. And if you have not already, check out the django-upgrade project from Adam Johnson.

How has your experience contributing to Django shaped the way you think about major releases like Django 6?

I'm very aware of and appreciative of all the work that goes into producing new releases.

Can you tell us a little about your journey within the Django community?

I found Django in 2006, when I wanted to put a web front end on my crossword database. I immediately hit some oddities due to my existing database being a little "different". When I posted on the django-users mailing list asking questions, Malcolm Tredinnick provided quick answers and encouragement to get involved in improving Django. I did start getting involved, and my first contribution was quickly accepted by Adrian Holovaty (though he did have to adjust my code's Java accent to be more Pythonic :-) -- I was just learning Python as well as Django). In the following years I was active on both the mailing lists and in trac, I found digging in on problems posted by others a great way to learn. I became a core developer sometime after Django 1.0 was released. At some point a local web dev shop (Caktus) hosted a Django sprint weekend. I was excited to find others using Django local to me, while they were happy to find a Django core dev in their backyard. Eventually Caktus was needing more developers and I started working there in 2010. Going back to full-time "real work" limited the time I could spend contributing to Django, though I did serve on the board of the DSF for a while. More recently I've been trying to share what I've learned working for Caktus with Django via conference talks and keeping in touch with the community by attending conferences like DjangoCon.

What are you most looking forward to at DjangoCon US 2026?

Reconnecting with the Django community in person.

If someone is attending DjangoCon US for the first time, what advice would you give them?

Dive in, join lunch tables where you don't know others and get to know people.

Where can attendees follow you or learn more about your work?

Maybe the Caktus blog if I get better at getting around to writing posts. I don't post much to social media (I do Facebook but that's more the cat rescue side of my life than my Django/work life).

We can't wait to hear Karen's keynote at DjangoCon US 2026! Stay tuned for more keynote announcements. If you haven't purchased your ticket yet, tickets are still on sale. We hope to see you in Chicago!

Announcing Our Keynotes: Sarah Boyce

2026-07-27T16:00:00Z

We're honored to announce Sarah Boyce as a keynote speaker for DjangoCon US 2026

We had the opportunity to sit down with Sarah and ask her a few questions about her work, her journey through the Django community, and what attendees can expect from her keynote at DjangoCon US 2026.

Can you give attendees a short teaser about what they can expect from the talk?

It's a talk about code review. More generally it's about why feedback can feel so personal, how our past experiences shape the way we receive it, and why my Grandad is awesome. There will be stories, a few practical ideas, and hopefully a different way of thinking about criticism.

How has your relationship with feedback changed throughout your career?

Early in my career, I actively sought feedback, but I quickly learned that not all feedback is equally useful. Some comments were specific and helped me improve, while others, like being told that I "smile and laugh too much", said more about the person giving the feedback than about my work.

Over time, I've become much more intentional about the feedback I ask for. I try to seek out people who understand what I'm trying to achieve and who can give specific, constructive suggestions that help me improve.

Working as a Django Fellow has also changed my perspective. I spend a lot of time reviewing other people's code, and it's reminded me that thoughtful feedback is a gift. Someone is choosing to spend their limited time reading your work because they want to help make it better. When they spot a bug or edge case before it reaches users, they're doing you a favour, not trying to catch you out.

What do you hope attendees will take away from the keynote?

I don't expect people to suddenly love receiving criticism! But I do hope they'll pause before assuming feedback is an attack. Sometimes a review isn't saying "you're not good enough"; it's saying "I care enough to help make this even better."

How do you use Django in your current work?

I am a Django Fellow, one of the paid contractors responsible for maintaining the Django framework. My work includes reviewing and merging contributions, triaging issues, fixing bugs and security issues, and issuing new releases.

Can you tell us a little about your journey within the Django community?

I had been a Django developer for several years before I decided to start contributing to Django in my spare time. At first, it was mostly a way to challenge myself and deepen my understanding of the framework.

As I became more involved, I was invited to join the Django Triage & Review Team, which was a great recognition of my contributions.

Later, together with several other community members, I co-founded Djangonaut Space to help mentor and support new contributors to Django and the wider ecosystem.

I've also spoken at local meetups (including Django Cologne, where I'm a regular) and at several DjangoCons.

In 2024, I became a Django Fellow, and I now spend my days helping maintain the framework full-time.

What are you most looking forward to at DjangoCon US 2026?

It's a rare treat to attend a conference where almost every talk is relevant to what I do. I love meeting new people, catching up with friends from the community (including the other Fellows!) and hearing about what everyone has been working on. I always leave feeling energised and full of new ideas for improving Django.

What advice would you give someone who feels anxious about code review or receiving criticism?

I know people who have been nervous about opening their first pull request to an open source project. One thing I recommend is reading through both open and closed pull requests before contributing. You'll quickly get a feel for how the maintainers communicate, what they value in reviews, and what collaborating with the project is really like beyond what's written in the contributor documentation.

If you don't like the way contributors are treated, it's worth thinking carefully about whether that's a community you want to invest your time in. Fortunately, my experience of the Django ecosystem has been overwhelmingly positive. People are friendly, collaborative, and genuinely want contributors to succeed.

The same advice applies in a new workplace. Looking through older pull request reviews, especially those for other new team members, can help you understand the team's review culture before submitting your own work.

If your anxiety comes from a previous negative experience, remember that one person's review style doesn't define your abilities. Take a moment to look back at code you wrote a year or two ago - you'll probably be surprised by how much you've grown! If possible, ask someone you trust to review your work first. Constructive feedback from someone you have a good working relationship with is much easier to learn from than feedback you're already expecting to be negative.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your typical workday?

Playing badminton and catching up with friends.

Where can attendees follow you or learn more about your work?

They can follow me on Mastodon.

We can't wait to hear Sarah's keynote at DjangoCon US 2026! Stay tuned for more keynote announcements. If you haven't purchased your ticket yet, tickets are still on sale. We hope to see you in Chicago!

The DjangoCon US 2026 schedule has been released!

2026-07-21T17:00:00Z

We are beyond thrilled to unveil the DjangoCon US 2026 conference schedule! Join us in Chicago for three days of talks from Monday, August 24 through Wednesday, August 26, followed by two days of contribution sprints on Thursday, August 27 and Friday, August 28.

We will have three keynote speakers, who will be announced over the next several weeks. Stay tuned to our Mastodon and news feed for the announcements.

We have lots of great talks lined up, covering topics such as Django 6.0, GeoDjango at city scale, modern Django deployments, PostgreSQL and fuzzy name matching, Django and FastAPI, and user-centered AI adoption.

Wednesday is our Deep Dive day, featuring sessions on database routers with AWS Aurora, auto-prefetching in Django 6.1, Django's UUID story, HTMX with Django views, and more.

We'll also have lightning talks on all three conference days. Sign-up details will be shared in Chicago.

If you haven't purchased your ticket yet, tickets are still available.

The in-person conference runs August 24–28, 2026, at the voco Chicago Downtown. Talks take place August 24–26, and the free, open-to-everyone contribution sprints take place August 27–28.

We hope to see you in Chicago!

How to Prepare for Sprints as a Contributor

2026-07-21T16:00:00Z

📣 Get your ticket and join us!

Every year at DjangoCon US, we dedicate the final two days of the conference to gathering together as a community and taking part in contribution sprints. Django, along with so many other open source projects that we use every day, forms the backbone of modern software development. Without them, we would not be able to build so many of the amazing tools and applications that have come out of this community.

Sprints are a time to be curious, to see the inner workings of these projects, learn how they work, and, most importantly, have the opportunity to spot an issue and contribute code or documentation. Sprints are a lot of fun, especially when combined with the awesome and ever-welcoming Django community!

If you've never attended sprints before, or feel apprehensive about putting on your contributor hat alongside the other developers at the conference because you think you don't have enough experience, fear not, this blog post is for you! Here are three things to help you prepare for sprints as a contributor at this year's DjangoCon US.

Understand What Sprints Are

A common misconception about sprints is that it's every person for themselves, a showdown that only the strongest and most seasoned developers can endure! Fortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth. Sprints are not a competition; they're collaborative coding sessions where people of all skill levels are welcome.

Sprints are also not limited to developers looking to contribute code, so there's no need to focus solely on understanding the codebase. Contributions can include improving documentation, spotting and correcting typos, or updating sections that have become outdated over time. This is especially true for projects that have been around for many years. Accessibility improvements are another area where contributors can make a meaningful impact, and these are the kinds of contributions the community is always happy to welcome.

You can also apply a similar outside-the-box approach if you're specifically looking to work on code. Project maintainers can sometimes be overwhelmed, so reviewing pull requests, testing new features, or creating tutorials are all valuable ways to contribute to a project.

Come with a collaborative spirit, introduce yourself to other sprinters and project leads, and don't be afraid to ask questions. If you're attending on your own, it's perfectly acceptable to ask someone if they'd like to pair program with you. Django friends are the best friends!

Look Up the Projects Before the Conference

Some projects that will be present at sprints will be listed on the DjangoCon US website and social media channels before the conference. Checking out the various projects and learning more about them is great (although not mandatory) pre-sprint preparation.

Future you will probably thank you for identifying a project that aligns with your interests and skills before the conference and avoiding the mental load of decision paralysis on the morning of sprints. Once you've found a project that catches your interest, take some time to read through its contribution guidelines and setup instructions. You can even join its communication channels to get a feel for the conversations happening within the community and see which areas the maintainers are currently focusing on.

Getting involved with community discussions ahead of time will also give you plenty of talking points and questions to ask when sprint day arrives. As an added bonus, you might even become familiar with some of the active community members who end up attending DjangoCon US!

Set Up Your Development Environment Early

One of the biggest time sinks during sprints is getting a project running for the first time. Rather than spending your first hour troubleshooting missing dependencies or waiting for packages to install, try setting up your development environment before you arrive at the conference.

We are hosting three office hour style events where people can drop in and get help configuring their machine. If you're a first-time contributor, consider attending one of these. To participate, you will need to join Django's Discord server and attend the event on the #welcome voice channel.

Most projects have setup instructions in their documentation, so clone the repository, follow the installation steps, and make sure you can run the project locally. If you run into issues, don't panic; that's completely normal! You can ask questions in the project's communication channels before the conference or save them for the sprint itself. Having a head start means you'll be able to spend more time learning from maintainers, collaborating with other contributors, and making meaningful contributions instead of waiting for your environment to cooperate.

Final Notes

The Contribution Sprints are free and open to everyone. They will run August 27–28, 2026 from 9am to 5pm CDT at voco Chicago Downtown and online via Slack.

Want to lead or organize a sprint? Great!
Want to help? We’d love to have you.
Have questions? Email us at sprints@djangocon.us.

🎟️ Get your ticket now and be part of something awesome!

Childcare During DjangoCon US

2026-07-14T10:00:00Z

Childcare at DjangoCon US and tech conferences more generally is an important factor that helps folks attend who otherwise may not be able to. We want to make sure that parents feel welcome bringing their children to DjangoCon US and that the availability of childcare is not a barrier to attending.

To assist with that, DjangoCon US will reimburse you for childcare during the conference (up to $150 per day) with a receipt.

For nursing parents, we will provide a clean, comfortable, and private lactation space at the conference venue. The room will have a small refrigerator to store pumped milk, labeling supplies, and antibacterial wipes.

Please contact us at hello@defna.org if you are interested in utilizing DjangoCon US’s child care reimbursement or lactation space services.

We have also collected information on a few local childcare providers:

Jovie of Chicago

Offers full and part-time nannies and on-demand babysitters. They also provide childcare services for conferences and events.

Chicago Super Sitters

Provides experienced, trustworthy, and dependable babysitters for different needs and schedules, including one-time requests and events. They thoroughly vet all their sitters.

We look forward to seeing you -- and your kids -- soon in Chicago!

A First-Timer's Guide to Navigating America

2026-07-11T16:00:00Z

For many international attendees, DjangoCon US marks their very first visit to the United States. Whether you're here for the code or the community, this quick guide will help you navigate the essentials of everyday life during your stay.

Visa Requirements

Before you can get into the USA though, you may need a visa. Check the US State Department's Visa Wizard to determine the type of visa you will need, if any. Our Visa Support page offers more resources, and check out organizer Benedict Kofi Amofah's excellent blog post on the visa preparation process.

Here's a quick guide to navigating life in the United States as a newcomer:

Payments & Currency

Credit and Debit Cards

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted throughout the U.S.—including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and usually Discover. Before you travel, notify your bank to avoid any unexpected fraud alerts that might freeze your account. Tap to Pay/mobile pay is generally available in the US, but it is not recommended to rely on it soley.

Currency Choice

When making payments, some card machines will give you the option to pay in USD or your home currency; generally your bank will give you a more favorable exchange rate (even after conversion fees) than the merchant, so you should probably pick USD.

Carrying Cash

There are some cases where cards are not accepted, so it's a good idea to carry a small bit of cash just in case. You will typically get better exchange rates at ATMs over airport currency exchange shops.

Most but not all vending machines will take cards and NFC payments (e.g. Apple Pay and Google Pay), so it's useful to have a few small bills ($1 is a paper note in the US, unlike most countries) just in case.

Mobile Phones & Data

Most modern phones that support Voice over LTE (VoLTE) or 5G should work in the U.S. via international roaming. That said, roaming can be expensive—especially for data.

If you're planning a short stay and want to avoid high roaming charges, consider getting a temporary U.S. mobile plan. While the major carriers primarily offer postpaid plans (which typically involve long-term contracts and credit checks), many providers offer flexible prepaid options without contracts:

These providers often support "bring your own device" (BYOD) plans, where you simply insert a new SIM card into your current phone. You can usually order a SIM card online and have it shipped to your U.S. hotel or pickup location. Alternatively, some airport shops in major hubs may sell SIM cards — check the airport directory for availability, especially if you're connecting through a large hub before arriving in Chicago.

Doing some internet searches (or asking your friends) might yield some handy discount codes, too.

Sales Tax

Many countries have some form of value added tax or goods and services tax rolled into the retail price that you pay, so a bottle of water that's listed as costing $2 is exactly what you pay. In the US, this is very much not the case. Instead, each state charges its own sales tax, and in many states, counties and municipalities add their own tax on top of that. Some places charge different tax rates for different classes of goods, such as a discount for food.

In Chicago, Illinois, the combined sales tax rate is 10.25%. This is made up of the 6.25% Illinois state tax, 1.75% Cook County tax, 1.25% Chicago city tax, and a 1.0% Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) tax. So, for example, a $2 bottle of water will cost you $2.21 after tax.

Tipping

Tipping (gratuities) culture in the United States is rampant. Here's a rough idea of how much you'll be expected to add on top of your goods and services in Chicago:

Restaurants: 18-20% for everything except for the big-name fast food restaurants (e.g., McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King).
Even some self-serve kiosk ordering places will try to ask for a tip! This money will theoretically go to the staff preparing and/or delivering your food, but it definitely feels odd. If service is exceptional, you might consider tipping more than 20%. Some restaurants may automatically add a gratuity for large parties, so always check your bill.
Coffee shops: $1-2 per complicated drink order. For a simple cup of coffee or tea, tipping is not strictly expected but appreciated, especially if there's a tip jar.
Bars: $1-2 per beer/glass of wine, $2-4 per cocktail, or 15-20% of the total tab.
Rideshare and taxis: 15-20% of the fare. While optional on apps, it's highly encouraged. Drivers often prefer cash tips.
Hotel room cleaning: $2-5 per night for mid-range hotels, $5-10 per night for luxury hotels. It's generally recommended to leave it daily, perhaps on your pillow or a designated envelope, to ensure the person who cleaned your room that day receives it.
Hotel valet parking: $3-5 each time they retrieve your car. If service is exceptional (e.g., very fast retrieval, difficult weather), consider tipping a bit more.

Transportation, or Getting from the Airport to the Hotel

There are 3 ways to get from the ORD airport to voco Chicago Downtown:

Rideshare apps (Lyft and Uber generally have nationwide coverage; which you use is largely up to you) will generally get you where you need to go. It's about a $40-60 ride (plus tip) from the hotel to the airport in the absence of surge pricing. You'll pay using your phone. Use the app to find out where to get picked up. The ride should take about 30-50 minutes, depending on traffic, once you're in the car.
Traditional taxis may be hailed on the curb outside the airport. Follow signs for Ground Transportation and then look for the taxi stand. Fares will typically be a little more expensive ($50-70 perhaps plus tip), but licensing is stricter. Much like an Uber/Lyft, the trip should take about 30-50 minutes, depending on traffic.
The CTA Blue Line train is a cost-effective and direct option. Fares are typically $5.00 from O'Hare to downtown. The trip itself takes approximately 45-60 minutes from the airport to the Clark/Lake station, which is a short walk from voco Chicago Downtown. You can pay with a Ventra Card (which can be purchased at the airport CTA station) or a contactless credit/debit card. NOTE: The CTA Blue Line runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Identification/Purchasing Alcohol

In the United States, you must be 21 or older to legally purchase alcohol or enter establishments that primarily serve it (such as bars or pubs). Be prepared to show valid identification, even if you clearly appear to be of legal age. While some places may accept a national ID card, your passport is the most reliable form of ID. Importantly, photocopies or digital scans are not accepted — only the original document will work.

Recycling

Recycling is extremely hit or miss in public facilities. Airports typically have some sort of recycling setup, and urban cores typically have recycling for plastic types #1 or #2 and aluminum cans and not much else.

All other waste goes into a single trash stream.

Public Restrooms

Unlike many European cities, you're not likely to find public paid toilets. If you find yourself in need of a trip to the restroom while out in public, you have a few options:

Public parks often have free restroom facilities (though cleanliness and availability can vary).
Retail businesses such as coffee shops, grocery stores, and convenience stores typically have restrooms — but you're generally expected to make a small purchase first.
Public libraries are an excellent option; they almost always have clean, free restrooms accessible during business hours.

Flying Home

For your return flight from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), plan to arrive at the airport at least two hours before your scheduled departure for international flights. Security lines often move quickly, but occasional disruptions can cause unexpected delays. Giving yourself extra time ensures a stress-free departure, especially during peak travel periods.

Workshop Sponsorships Now Open for DjangoCon US 2026

2026-07-06T16:00:00Z

Workshop Sponsorships Now Open for DjangoCon US 2026

Workshop sponsorship at DjangoCon US is an opportunity to bring a hands-on tutorial or training session you have already built to an audience that is ready to go deep.

If your team has a strong internal workshop, onboarding flow, product tutorial, or technical training session, DjangoCon US gives you the room, the audience, and the schedule. You bring the workshop.

Workshops are one of the most valuable formats at DjangoCon US because they attract people who have already chosen depth over breadth.

The audience self-selects for depth. Someone who picks a workshop instead of a talk has already decided they want to invest time in learning a topic well.

It is a working session, not a pitch room. Developers are quick to tune out sales theater, but they respond to useful instruction and practical examples.

The room is practitioner-heavy. DjangoCon US draws the people who write tickets, evaluate tools, and influence purchasing decisions.

The experience is sticky. A 90-minute workshop creates a working mental model that a talk or logo placement usually cannot match.

For companies, workshop sponsorship is a business investment as well as a community contribution. It helps you:

Put your engineers in front of an audience that is already engaged
Earn goodwill through useful teaching instead of promotional noise
Reach practitioners who influence technical decisions
Turn an internal tutorial into visible brand trust
Create durable awareness through hands-on experience

If you already have a workshop worth sharing, DjangoCon US can help you present it to the right room.

Applications are open through July 28

We are currently accepting workshop sponsorship applications for DjangoCon US 2026.

If your organization is interested in bringing a workshop to DjangoCon US, contact sponsors@djangocon.us to get started.

Workshop sponsorship applications close July 28, 2026.

View sponsorship information →

Join us in Chicago

DjangoCon US 2026 will bring the community together for five days of talks, workshops, open spaces, sprints, hallway conversations, and collaboration.

We can't wait to see you in Chicago.

August 24–28, 2026
voco Chicago Downtown

Get your ticket →

DjangoCon US 2026: Creating a Safe and Inclusive Community

2026-06-19T06:00:00Z

DjangoCon US 2026: Creating a Safe and Inclusive Community

As we gear up for another exciting DjangoCon US in Chicago this year, we want to take a moment to highlight one of the most important aspects of our conference: our Code of Conduct. At DjangoCon US, we believe that fostering a respectful, inclusive environment is essential to creating a valuable experience for everyone.

Our Commitment to You

The DjangoCon US 2026 Code of Conduct serves as the foundation for how we interact with one another, both during the conference and in related online spaces. It's designed with one goal in mind: ensuring that every participant feels welcome, respected, and safe.

What We Expect

Our community values professional behavior, courtesy, and respect among all attendees. This applies whether you're attending talks, participating in sprints, networking at social events, or engaging in conference-related online discussions.

Specifically, our code prohibits:

Harassment in any form
Offensive language or jokes
Unwelcome attention or advances

We also ask that attendees be mindful about photography and recording - always obtain permission before capturing someone's image or voice.

Reporting Concerns

If you experience or witness behavior that violates our Code of Conduct, we want to know about it. You can report incidents by emailing conduct@djangocon.us with detailed information about what occurred. Our team takes these reports seriously and will respond appropriately.

The conference organizers reserve the right to take action against anyone who violates these standards, which may include expulsion from the conference without a refund.

A Note on Safety

For everyone's safety and peace of mind, weapons are not permitted at DjangoCon US events.

Building on Strong Foundations

Our Code of Conduct was adapted from the Geek Feminism wiki and PyCon's Code of Conduct, reflecting best practices developed across the tech community.

Join Us in Creating Something Special

DjangoCon US isn't just about technology—it's about people coming together to learn, share, and grow. By adhering to our Code of Conduct, you're helping us create an environment where everyone can participate fully and comfortably.

We're looking forward to welcoming you to Chicago for DjangoCon US 2026, where we'll celebrate not just Django, but the diverse, respectful community that makes it special.

For complete details, please review our full Code of Conduct before attending the conference.

International Travel to DjangoCon US 2026

2026-06-12T16:00:00Z

Are you attending DjangoCon US 2026 in Chicago, Illinois, but you are not from US and need some travel information? Here are some things to consider when planning your trip.

Visa Invitation Letter: If you need a visa invitation letter, please use our visa letter form to request one.
Visa: Check the State Department's website for information about US visas, and review the estimated visa appointment wait times when planning your travel. You may be eligible for a visa waiver program (which is an online form—no embassy visit required) or you may need to apply for a visa at the US embassy or consulate in your country or a neighboring country.
Valid Passport: Many travelers are recommended to have a passport that remains valid for at least six months after their intended departure from the United States. Requirements vary by nationality and country specific agreements, so check with your local embassy or consulate for the most up to date information.
Accommodation: If you are staying in the conference hotel, book your room here. Our conference rate expires on Aug. 3, 2026.
Money Conversion: Most places in the US will take major credit cards, such as Visa and Mastercard. You can withdraw local currency from your bank account using an ATM if you need cash while you are in the United States.
Travel Paperwork: It is a good idea to bring as much evidence as possible to show the reason of your visit to the US, where is the conference going to take place, when are you going to go back to your home country and what you do in your home country. Please bring this paperwork with you. These documents can be helpful when going through US Customs and Border Protection:
- Printout of your invitation letter.
- Printout of conference ticket.
- Lodging reservation confirmation.
- Flight reservation, especially the return date.
- Printout of conference schedule.
- If you are a speaker, bring a printout of the invitation email and the schedule section where your talk or tutorial is shown.
- Proof of address: Utility bill to show where you live, copy of lease or mortgage bill, or state and/or federal tax payment bills.
- Proof of employment or school enrollment.

If you are denied entry at the US border with a valid visa, we will refund 100% of your conference ticket. If you are also an Opportunity Grant recipient, we will also still reimburse travel expenses incurred in getting that far.
Please be sure to review the criteria for B-1 Temporary Visa if you are eligible.
Make sure to review the criteria for any other type of visa necessary for your home country nationals. There is more information in the USCIS site.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Chicago in August!

Preparing for sprints as a project leader

2026-06-10T16:00:00Z

This article outlines the things you should consider doing when preparing to lead a project at sprints to maximize connection and collaboration. This is for people who are attending sprints at a conference who intend to collaborate and lead others to contribute to a given project.

If you're looking for general information on sprints, see "Contribute to Django at the Contribution Sprints!"

Promote your participation!

This was originally at the end, but I moved it up. This is the main thing you should do. People contribute at sprints because they want to collaborate and connect. You don’t have to wait until the conference to start that process, so get started now!

Here are some ideas:

Post on your social media regularly with the conference hash tag that you’ll be there
Write a blog post that you’ll be there
Talk about what issues you’re excited about
Make it clear you want help from the community and where your needs are

This step is immensely helpful to you, your project and the conference. People are more likely to attend sprints and the conference if they know what is going on. You’re more likely to find contributors if more people attend. The conference needs new and returning attendees to be sustainable.

Talking about your project and how you’ll be at the conference is a win for everyone. Please do it!

Prework reflection

Similar to preparing for a conference, you need to ask yourself a few questions:

What are you looking to get out of sprints?
What does your project need?
What are you capable of doing?

There are no right or wrong answers. Having an understanding of where you and the project stand will help you communicate what you’re looking for and build off-ramps for incompatible individuals so everyone can have their expectations met.

An example answer set would be:

To meet new people, grow my network and learn something new.
More regular contributors
Answer basic questions about running the project, know who to ping when things get hard, can teach others how to run the tests and build the docs locally.

In the above case, there’s nothing about being an expert on the project or being the sole maintainer. Those things certainly help, and are critical when you want to collaborate on big projects at sprints, but for the purposes of growing the community and contributor base, they are unnecessary.

Prepare the contributing documentation

With your understanding of the goals for the sprint, it’s time to take a look at the project itself to determine if it’s prepared for new contributors. It’s worth doing the basics:

Read the contribution docs and freshen them up
1. Include how to install dependencies
2. Include how to run tests locally
3. Include how to build the documentation locally
4. Include how to run linters, formatters and/or type-checking locally
5. Include where to look for issues to work on
Create a fresh environment and confirm any code works

Identify the available work

One of the challenges to open source software is finding something to work on. Depending on the types of contribution you’re looking for and that you’re capable of supporting, consider:

Reviewing issues and adding newcomer friendly / beginner labels
Identifying issues that are well-contained and could be completed in a day’s worth of effort
Identifying ideas/features that could be implemented or explored

It can be helpful to create a single issue for the sprint that links to the various issues, features and ideas that you’re looking to work on. This has the benefit of communicating to your other contributors that these will be iterated on in the sprint, allowing them to add their own or ask questions. It also provides you with a single link to use when promoting your participation in sprints or when you’re speaking with sprinters.

Identify what you will need the day of

Imagine what it will be like during the sprints. You have the ideal number of participants who want to participate exactly as you’re hoping. What will you be doing? What will you be using? Do you need to bring anything with you? You can ask the conference organizers for help with materials as well.

Some examples of materials may be:

Paper and pens
Whiteboard
TV

While extra materials can be helpful, it’s also beneficial to prepare as if you only have your computer. Don’t be entirely reliant on the organizers because they are likely volunteers and people can make mistakes.

Communicate with the organizers

Depending on the conference, you may be able to get your project listed on the sprints page. At DjangoCon US, we would love to know if you plan to be at sprints and which project you’re leading.

Let us know on your sprints ticket(s) or email us directly at sprints@djangocon.us.

The organizers at DjangoCon US will be hosting a few virtual office hour sessions before the conference for attendees to get their laptops ready to contribute to a project. Knowing that you’ll be there allows us to steer people towards your project so they can clone the repo, set up a virtual environment and run the tests, all before the conference, allowing you more time to collaborate. So please, let us know if you’re coming!

Do something extra

This is entirely optional, hence the “extra”. The people who attend sprints to contribute want to feel connected to the community and help build something meaningful. The challenge is that it’s intimidating to do in public. People let judgement creep in and worry about perception. Consider what you can do to eliminate that fear and make them feel welcomed.

At DjangoCon US, when someone gets their PR merged, the entire room breaks out into applause. Apparently in the past there was a gong for a person to ring. That’d be even cooler. The point is to have a ritual that signals, “hey this person did something challenging and we should celebrate their accomplishment!” It also forms a memory for that person. They will remember that the community applauded their efforts no matter how small.

The BeeWare project takes the above even further. They award challenge coins to anyone who participates. While I haven’t done this on any of my projects, the idea is still inspirational.

What can you do to make your sprint event memorable for others?

Sprint leader checklist

In case it’s helpful here is a checklist with the above ideas.

Announce that you’ll be at sprints and want to people to collaborate with on your project
- Post on your social media
- Write a blog post
Reflect on what you are looking to get out of sprints
Reflect on what your project need
Reflect on what you are capable of doing
Review the contribution docs
- Does it show how to install dependencies
- Does it show how to run tests locally
- Does it show how to build the documentation locally
- Does it show how to run linters, formatters and/or type-checking locally
- Does it show where to look for issues to work on
- Create a fresh environment and confirm any code works
Review issues and add newcomer friendly / beginner labels
Identify issues that are well-contained and could be completed in a day’s worth of effort
Identify ideas/features that could be implemented or explored
Create a single issue for the sprint that links to the various issues, features and ideas
Pack the materials you’ll need (paper, pen, whiteboard, etc)

Announcing Our DjangoCon US 2026 Talks!

2026-06-08T12:00:00Z

We are delighted to present our tutorial and talk lineup!

The final talk and tutorial schedule will be announced soon. If you haven't purchased your ticket yet, they're still on sale.

Congratulations to the presenters of the tutorials and talks below!

Talks (Monday, August 24 through Wednesday, August 26)

All talks will be available live for those with online-only tickets. They will be posted to YouTube after the conference for free.

Abigail Afi Gbadago (website) - Polyglot Persistence with Django: When One Database Isn't Enough
Andrew Selzer (website) - Enter the Ecosystem: Contributing to Django Open Source Projects
Angufibo Lincoln (website) - Fail Your CI in Performance Regressions: Bringing Performance Testing to Django
Barkha Jain - Scientists Meet Django: Building Bridges Between Research and Software
Calvin Hendryx-Parker (mastodon, website) and Frank Wiles - Batteries vs. Speed: The Django/FastAPI Debate
Chrissy Wainwright (website) - One URL to Rule Them All: Dynamic Landing Pages in Wagtail
Dan Ryan (mastodon, website) - Good Conduct: How Django Modernized Its Code of Conduct
Drishti Jain - GeoDjango at City Scale: Spatial Data for Urban Systems
Eduardo Felipe Castegnaro - Keeping Pace with Django: Evolving Through 15 years of Updates
Elizabeth Christensen (mastodon, website) - What's New in Postgres 18 & 19
Jack Linke (mastodon, website) - Yes, we allow substitutions. No, we don't serve spaghetti.
Jacob Walls - Auto-prefetching with model field fetch modes in Django 6.1
James Stuckey Weber (mastodon, website) - But did you know the browser already does that?
Josh Thomas (mastodon, website) - Agents All the Way Down: How AI Coding Agents Changed How I Write Django
Karen Tracey (mastodon) - Django 6: The Most Exciting Release Ever
Kasey Kelly - Taming Your Templates: Component-Based Frontends in Django
Kumar Shivendu (website) - Beyond REST: Implementing the Model Context Protocol (MCP) in Django
Leonardo Batista (website) - Scaling Django: Mastering Database Routers with AWS Aurora
Matías Bordese - Teach Django Tasks to speak Celery: Building a Celery backend for Django Tasks
Meagen Voss (mastodon, website) - Pragmatic AI: How to gain trust with user-centered AI adoption
Mohammad Ahtasham ul Hassan - Breaking the Request Chain: Rethinking Service Communication in Django Systems
Monica Oyugi (mastodon, website) - The Testing Pyramid in Practice for Django
Natalia (mastodon) - Wishlist granted: HTMX without betraying your Django views
Paolo Melchiorre (mastodon, website) - The Django UUID Story
Sarah Abderemane (mastodon, website) - 50 shades of green - One contribution to the Django world
Scott Cranfill (website) - Using Django to deliver public transit benefits securely and privately
Tobias McNulty - Search-as-you-type for 54 Million Names: PostgreSQL + Django for Fuzzy Name Matching at Scale
Will Vincent (mastodon, website) - Modern Django Deployments in 2026

Congratulations to all our speakers!

If you'd like to check out these talks and more, tickets are still on sale.
We hope to see you in Chicago!

Announcing a Focused Experience: DjangoCon US 2026 is Going Single-Track!

2026-06-04T16:00:00Z

DjangoCon US 2026 Goes Single-Track

After years of running multiple simultaneous talk tracks, DjangoCon US 2026 will move to a single-track conference format.

It's a significant change for the conference and one we didn't make lightly.

Why we're making this change

The simple answer is financial sustainability.

Running conferences has become substantially more expensive over the last several years, and sponsorship has not kept pace. Audio/visual production alone scales rapidly with each additional room: recording crews, switching equipment, livestream infrastructure, microphones, staging, and dedicated technical staff all multiply with every added track.

At the same time, sponsorship budgets across the tech industry have tightened considerably, and ticket sales have not returned to their pre-covid levels.

Like many community-led events, we reached a crossroads: either continue stretching resources across multiple simultaneous tracks and risk diminishing the overall conference experience, or make a focused investment to deliver a stronger, more sustainable DjangoCon US.

We chose to focus on an opportunity to try something different.

What a single-track DjangoCon US means

For attendees, the shift comes with an immediate benefit:

No more choosing between two great talks happening at the same time.

Every attendee, from first-time Django developers to longtime community members, will experience the same talks, keynotes, and announcements together. The hallway conversations after sessions become richer because everyone shares the same context. Discussions continue naturally between talks, over lunch, and throughout the week.

That kind of shared experience is increasingly rare at technical conferences.

A single-track format also allows us to invest more deeply in each selected session. With fewer presentation slots available, the program becomes more intentional, with additional attention on talk quality, pacing, and the overall flow of the event.

Rather than trying to run multiple competing talk rooms at once, we want to make every hour of DjangoCon US feel meaningful.

Expanding the conversations beyond the stage

Moving to a single talk track does not mean a smaller conference experience.

Alongside the main-stage talks, DjangoCon US 2026 will include open spaces, round tables, hallway discussions, and collaborative problem-solving throughout the conference.

Beyond those staples, we're exploring some new ideas for the space and time a second track used to fill: unique experiences and activities you simply can't get online or anywhere outside this conference. We're still shaping what those will look like, so stay tuned for announcements as plans come together.

Some of the most valuable moments at DjangoCon US happen away from the podium entirely when a small group gathers around a table to discuss scaling challenges, accessibility, hiring, testing strategies, community organizing, or the future of Django itself.

This year, we want to create even more intentional space for those conversations while keeping the main conference program unified.

Hands-on workshops remain one of the most impactful parts of attending conferences.

If your company wants to support practical, in-depth learning or help bring expert educators to the community, workshop sponsorship is one of the most direct ways to contribute.

Workshops help keep tickets accessible while supporting high-quality educational content for attendees at every experience level.

View sponsorship information →

Join us in Chicago

DjangoCon US 2026 will bring the community together for five days of talks, open spaces, workshops, sprints, hallway conversations, and collaboration.

We can't wait to see you in Chicago.

August 24–28, 2026
voco Chicago Downtown

Get your ticket →

Contribute to Django at the Contribution Sprints!

2026-06-03T16:00:00Z

We are excited to talk to you about contribution sprints at DjangoCon US! They are being held Thursday, August 27th and Friday, August 28th, 2026, from 9am to 5pm CDT each day at the voco Chicago Downtown, the same venue as the main conference and virtually on our conference Slack. They are free to attend and open to everyone.

📣 Get your ticket and join us!

What is a contribution sprint?

Contribution Sprints are a superset of Development Sprints. They serve the same purpose while increasing the range of contribution types and opportunities.

Let’s start with what some people already know: Development Sprints are an opportunity for people who maintain open source projects (or want to get involved in doing so) to sit and work together on that goal. They have mostly focused on contributing code, tests, and documentation. However, open source projects often need more than those things. This is especially true as a project grows. Development Sprints are one type of Contribution Sprint.

Many of the new things a project needs as it grows fall under the idea of project governance. Here’s a short list of general governance issues a project may face as it grows:

General project governance (Who leads the project? How? How are decisions made? How are new leaders developed? How are conflicts resolved?)
Onboarding new contributors
Funding/Finance: does your project want it? Is it needed? Who will manage it? How will they manage it?
Project marketing
Graphic/logo design
Legal/licensing questions
Clarifying code, documentation, and testing conventions (metadata that guides the rest of your contribution process)

There is an excellent video on this topic by Shauna Gordon-McKeon, part of the PyCon US 2023 Maintainers Summit. If you maintain a project, or are interested in helping maintain one, we recommend checking it out.

How & Why To Lead a Contribution Sprint

The "why" is clear: if you’ve realized your project needs help, especially with things beyond code, this is a great opportunity to find that help.

The "how" can be trickier, so here are some specific suggestions:

Think about the non-code needs your project has.
Ask for help in those areas.
Document the need for that help in your project's CONTRIBUTING documentation.
Make it clear in all of your communications that you’re looking for more than just code contributions. Many people still think contributing to an open source project only means writing code.

How & Why to Join a Contribution Sprint

The "why" can vary. Maybe you don’t feel confident enough to contribute code (you probably are, but we understand the feeling). Or maybe you have skills in non-code areas that you would love to use to help a project thrive.

The "how" starts with identifying your strengths, then connecting with projects that might need them. Shauna’s video is a great starting point. Once you identify a project that interests you, reach out! Sometimes a project doesn’t realize what kind of help it needs until someone offers it.

Preparing for a Contribution Sprint

Preparing to Lead or Organize a Sprint

If you’re a project maintainer or contributor, a bit of preparation can help make the most of the sprint and avoid burnout. Most open source maintainers are unpaid volunteers, we appreciate you.

Here are some steps you can take ahead of time:

Make sure your CONTRIBUTING guide is up to date. If your project doesn’t have one, check out Django REST Framework, pytest, Django, or CPython for inspiration.
Include setup instructions, test commands, code style, CI guidelines, and PR templates.
Rather than just flagging "beginner-friendly" issues, try breaking down large issues into smaller, approachable tasks.

Supporting Contributors as a Non-Maintainer

If you're an active contributor (even without commit access), you can:

Help mentor newcomers with patience and empathy.
Gauge each contributor’s experience level and tailor your help.
Update documentation as needed to reflect your mentoring experience.
Break down complex issues into bite-sized contributions.
Let someone co-pilot an issue with you.

Tips for Hybrid Participation

We are continuing the hybrid format: virtual and in-person. This brings both challenges and opportunities. While you might miss the spontaneity of in-person collaboration, working synchronously online is a powerful experience. Make sure:

Your project uses real-time chat (Slack, Zulip, Discord, etc.)
Your docs are easily accessible to virtual attendees.
You’re ready to share screens, links, and tasks in real time.

Final Notes

The Contribution Sprints are free and open to everyone. They will run August 27–28, 2026 from 9am to 5pm CDT at voco Chicago Downtown and online via Slack.

Want to lead or organize a sprint? Great!
Want to help? We’d love to have you.
Have questions? Email us at sprints@djangocon.us.

🎟️ Get your ticket now and be part of something awesome!

DjangoCon US 2026: Early Bird Tickets End May 31st!

2026-05-27T15:00:00Z

Don't miss your chance to save. Early bird ticket sales for DjangoCon US 2026 are ending soon on May 31, 2026. Secure your spot now to join the community at a discounted rate.

Grab your early bird ticket here.

DjangoCon US is where the Django community comes together, from maintainers and contributors to teams running production apps and newcomers. Expect community-selected talks, Django contribution sprints, and a welcoming space for everyone.

Join us for five days of inspiration and learning at the voco Chicago Downtown.

How DjangoCon US Selects Talk Proposals

2026-03-19T10:55:00Z

The DjangoCon US schedule is always highly anticipated. But how does it all come together?

The journey from an open Call for Proposals (CFP) to the final lineup of talks and keynote sessions is a thoughtful and collaborative process designed to foster fairness and showcase the best of the Django community.

2026 Program Timeline

*Subject to change depending on the number of submissions and other factors.

CFP Deadline Extension: March 23
Reviewer Deadline: April 10
Panel Finalization: April 28
Speaker Notifications: June 8
Schedule Announcement: June 22
Start of Keynote Announcements: July 1

Call for Proposals Opens

The community proposes talks and tutorials by filling in the CFP. We use Pretalx, a platform designed for conferences that support anonymous review and structured scoring. Thus, each submission is evaluated based on content, not the speaker's name or background.

Anonymization & Code of Conduct Compliance

Once the CFP closes, the program team carefully reviews every submission to:

Anonymize any unique identifying details.
Ensure Code of Conduct compliance.

This step is crucial for fair and unbiased reviewing. The person responsible for anonymization does not participate in the anonymous review process.

Community Reviews Talks

Once proposals are anonymized, we open the review process to a team of volunteer reviewers from the community. They follow guidelines that promote consistency, fairness, and awareness of potential bias.

Reviewer Guidelines Emphasize:

Focusing on content, not style, grammar, or speaker identity
Leaving a comment for all "No" ratings (and encouraged for "Maybe")
Flagging known proposals using a BIAS: prefix and skipping scoring
Identifying any remaining personal info
Disclosing conflicts of interest

Reviewers have until April 10 to provide feedback on as many proposals as possible.

Committee Deliberation & Selection

Once the reviews are in, the committee will lift the anonymization and meet to create the final schedule. At this stage, we look at:

Review scores and written feedback
Topic coverage (e.g., avoiding repetition like six HTMX talks)
Speaker diversity (especially elevating underrepresented voices and first-time speakers)
Company representation (ensuring one organization doesn't dominate)
Prior speaking history and organizer involvement

Some talks are accepted or declined based on strong consensus. The most difficult decisions often revolve around the final handful of slots, which we may reserve in case of scheduling conflicts or withdrawals.

The speakers will receive notifications about the decision on or before May 15. Speakers need to reply to acceptance emails to confirm their talks.

At this point, we evaluate the suggested panelists and hosts who will participate in the last conference day and the discussion topic.

Keynote Speaker Selection

Keynote speakers follow a separate, invitation-based process that begins well before the CFP closes. As outlined by previous DjangoCon US Chair Drew Winstel in his blog post, we look for individuals who bring:

Emotional resonance and the ability to connect and engage with the audience
A compelling, unique perspective—reflective, funny, challenging, or inspiring
Stage presence, though extensive speaking experience isn't required
Representation of the community, especially those who've contributed significantly or brought underrepresented viewpoints to the forefront

Keynote announcements typically occur after the talk schedule is shared.

DjangoCon US is more than a conference. It's a reflection of the community that makes Django special. Every part of our program, from anonymous reviews to committee deliberations and keynote invitations, is rooted in care and intentionality. We aim to surface new voices, avoid bias, and curate a meaningful and engaging conference experience.

The Call for Proposals for DjangoCon US 2026 has been extended one week!

2026-03-12T11:00:00Z

We've received many great proposals already but want to give folks a little extra time to submit their talks. The call for proposals deadline has been extended to March 23, 2026 at 11AM CDT.

We welcome proposals no matter your background or experience level with Django. Your proposal can be from a wide range of topics; non-Django and community topics are welcome. You can look at our talk lineup from last year for reference. You are also welcome to submit more than one proposal. (Though we'll likely only select one per speaker.)

Also, if you know someone you think would be a good speaker at this conference, this is the time to reach out and tell them you'd love to see them submit a talk!

We are excited to see more awesome proposals and can't wait to see you in Chicago!

The Call for Proposals for DjangoCon US 2026 Is Now Open!

2026-02-20T12:00:00Z

We are excited that DjangoCon US 2026 is now open for talk submissions: call for proposals! The deadline for submissions is ~~March 16th~~ March 23, 2026 at 11AM CDT.

We invite you to submit your proposal no matter your background or experience level with Django. Proposals can be from a wide range of topics; non-Django and community topics are welcome. You can look at our talk lineup from last year for reference.

We fancy first-timers! If you haven't spoken at a conference or given a tutorial before, this is your invitation to do so. Don't let the idea that you're not famous or an expert stop you from submitting. It certainly won't stop us from selecting your talk or tutorial and it won't stop the audience from enjoying it! If you still need help deciding on a topic take a look at our own Drew Winstel's blog post for some ideas.

Plus there are perks! Presenters get free admission to DjangoCon US! Grants to assist with your travel and lodging expenses are available as well. The form for Opportunity Grants is now live, and the application deadline is March 16th, 2026.

For more information on talk and tutorial formats, please check out our speaker information page.

We want everyone attending DjangoCon US to feel safe, welcome, and included. To that end, we have a Code of Conduct for all speakers and attendees.

If you have questions, feel free to contact us.

We are excited to see your proposals and can't wait to see you in Chicago!

Date change announcement for DjangoCon US 2026

2026-02-12T18:00:00Z

DjangoCon US is changing dates!

Due to a very large conference happening in Chicago the week of September 14 that is causing hotel prices to skyrocket (over $400 per night for nearby hotels), DjangoCon US is moving to the week of August 24.

This will help keep costs more affordable for our guests, and maybe Lake Michigan will be warm enough for people who would like to take a morning swim!

Schedule

Monday, August 24 through Wednesday, August 26: Talks
Thursday, August 27 and Friday, August 28: Sprints

We apologize for the inconvenience for anyone who has already made travel plans.

We look forward to seeing you in Chicago!

Image credit: Bartek Pawlik

It’s my first DjangoCon US. What should I bring?

2025-07-10T16:00:00Z

It’s your first DjangoCon US (or maybe even your first tech conference). Are you concerned about what you should pack? Well we have some thoughts!

📓 Notepad and ✒️ Pen/Pencil, or a 💻 Laptop and Charger

Perhaps you like your notes a bit more analog? A notepad is exactly what you need. Many people like to leave their laptops in their rooms entirely during talks and take notes on paper instead. Plus, it’s great for logging contact info of people you meet if you don’t have the time or patience to log their contact info into your phone’s contacts immediately.

If you can't live without your laptop, make sure you bring your charging cable. There’s ample Wi-Fi at the conference provided by the voco Chicago Downtown, so you’ll have the internet at your disposal. Many attendees will have their laptops open to take notes, follow along with slides, and/or test out the concepts being presented during talks. Plus, it’s much easier to post live updates about talks from your computer than your phone if you’re into that sort of thing.

💧 Refillable Water Bottle and/or Coffee Cup

It’s pretty annoying getting thirsty in the middle of a conference talk. There will be access to all the water you can drink! Plus, you can be greener by reusing your own vessel instead of single-use disposable cups.

There are coffee and tea in the conference center as well, so if you're a coffee/tea drinker, bring your own tumbler if you want extra for the talks.

👕 Comfortable Clothes

Everyone is welcome, and dress casually and comfortably, whether that's shorts, pants, a dress, or whatever makes you feel good. It’s up to you to decide what you would like to wear. As long as it isn’t a Code of Conduct violation, it’s pretty much up to you.

Some of the rooms can get a bit chilly, so you might want to have a jacket or sweater handy, but don't forget the weather outside! August in Chicago is often delightful, with warm days and comfortable evenings. Average daily highs are around 78°F (26°C) and lows around 61°F (16°C). However, temperatures can fluctuate, and a cool breeze off Lake Michigan is always possible, so layers are key!

📱 Cell Phone

It’s practically essential for survival in America. The mobile coverage is great in the venue area for all three major providers, so about any device will work.

🕶️ Sunglasses, Sunscreen, and Maybe a Raincoat

August in Chicago generally brings pleasant weather, but it's still smart to be prepared. Sunny days are common, so sunglasses and sunscreen are a good idea, especially if you plan to enjoy outdoor activities. While it's typically a relatively dry month, rain showers can occur, so a light raincoat or umbrella could be useful just in case. For a more accurate forecast closer to the conference date, check a reliable weather source like weather.com or your preferred weather app for Chicago.

🍿 Snacks

The voco Chicago Downtown will have full breakfast, lunch, and snacks during the breaks (10:10 AM and 3:00 PM) on all conference days (Monday through Wednesday). If you’re an early riser like me, you might want a snack before breakfast (7:30 AM on Monday, 8:00 AM Tuesday and Wednesday). Also, if you have special dietary needs, it can’t hurt to have a spare snack on hand just in case.

🎽 Exercise Clothes

Before or after a long day of conference talks, I like to at least get a brief workout in. Chicago offers fantastic opportunities to get out and explore the city! August is an ideal time to enjoy walks or runs along the Chicago Riverwalk, through Millennium Park, or along the scenic Lakefront Trail. You might also find outdoor events or festivals happening in the city during this time. Go for a run, walk, or even a bike ride!

📖 Looking for More Chicago Inspiration?

Want to hear about Chicago from someone who's experienced DjangoCon US firsthand? Benedict Kofi Amofah shares his reflections on attending and helping organize DjangoCon US 2025, along with his favorite places to explore around the city.

👉 Read: The Windy City Welcome: DjangoCon US 2025 in Chicago

DjangoCon US 2026

Code of Conduct Transparency Report for DjangoCon US 2026

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Wrap-up

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Call for Organizers: DjangoCon US 2027

Conference Leadership

Program Committee

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Opportunity Grants Committee

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Community Team

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Sponsorship Committee

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Code of Conduct Committee

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Venue Committee

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Online Committee

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Audio/Video (A/V) Committee

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Swag Committee

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Volunteer Committee

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Marketing Committee

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Website Committee

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Automation Team

Sprints Team

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Wrap-up

Almost Time: What to Know Before You Head to Chicago

📬 Watch your inbox on Friday

Before you leave home

Finding your way once you arrive

Sunday: the Welcome Reception

🎟️ Sprints-only ticket? You're invited too

Monday: Board Game Night

Lightning talks

Open Spaces

Thursday and Friday: contribution sprints

🛠️ Sprints are free, but they need their own ticket

A few other things worth knowing

See you very soon

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What happened last year?

What’s the latest with federal activity in Chicago?

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Start DjangoCon US at the Welcome Reception

Welcome Reception details

Announcing Our Keynotes: Dawn Wages

We're honored to announce Dawn Wages as a keynote speaker for DjangoCon US 2026

How have Star Trek, Octavia Butler, and Afrofuturism influenced the way you approach leadership and community building?

Your keynote asks, “Is there room for me on the Bridge?” How has the meaning of that question changed throughout your career?

What does it mean to “build worlds worth living in” within open-source communities?

You have served the Python community in many roles, including organizer, maintainer, speaker, entrepreneur, and PSF Board Chair. Which experiences have most shaped your approach to mentorship and governance?

What do you hope attendees will take away from your keynote?

Where can attendees follow you or learn more about your work?