Joomla World Conference 2026: More Than a Conference, a Family Reunion

I recently returned from the Joomla World Conference 2026, and once again I was reminded that Joomla is so much more than a content management system.

From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed by friends from around the world. There were hugs, smiles, and conversations that picked up as if no time had passed since we last met. That's one of the special things about the Joomla community. No matter where we live, when we come together it feels like family.

Before the conference officially began, I joined the Documentation Team sprint. I worked with a fellow contributor on a solution to automatically generate a table of contents from article headings, helping users navigate long documentation pages more easily. It was rewarding to contribute to a project focused on making Joomla more accessible and user-friendly.

The conference itself was filled with inspiring sessions, including a keynote from Joomla President Elisa Foltyn about the power of volunteerism and community. Her message reinforced something many of us already know: Joomla succeeds because of the people who generously give their time, skills, and passion to help others.

One of my highlights was presenting a case study about an event management system I built using primarily Joomla core features, including articles, workflows, and custom fields. What began as a solution for Rutgers University School of Arts and Sciences has grown into a system used across dozens of sites, demonstrating just how powerful Joomla can be.

Of course, some of the best moments happened outside the conference rooms. We shared meals, bowled together, laughed through Brian Teeman's always-entertaining PPT-Oke session, and spent time reconnecting with old friends while making new ones.

One memorable adventure came Saturday night when nearly twenty of us accidentally got off the bus at the wrong stop. Instead of a quick trip back to the hotel, we ended up walking almost two miles through dark paths and quiet streets. What could have been frustrating turned into a fun shared experience filled with stories, laughter, and plenty of jokes about whether we were actually heading in the right direction.

The weekend ended with productive "Make It Happen" sessions where contributors worked on Joomla User Groups, documentation, and community initiatives. Together, we accomplished work that has been on our to-do lists for years.

As always, I left feeling grateful. Joomla has given me professional opportunities, lasting friendships, and the chance to work alongside some incredible people. The software brought us together, but the community is what keeps us coming back.

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