NI Tech Awards 2026

⌖ Belfast · International Convention Centre (ICC Belfast)

Hosted by Practitioners

NIDC 2026 brings Northern Ireland’s developer community to ICC Belfast on 21 November for a full day of technical talks, workshops and hands-on villages. Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, the Northern Ireland Developer Conference is designed to broaden your technical knowledge while connecting you with people working across the technology industry. Organised by Practitioners and run by volunteers, NIDC combines serious learning with the welcoming community atmosphere summed up by its theme: “Technical talks, great craic, tech community.” What to expect The conference takes over the International Convention Centre in Belfast, with sessions spread across two halls, two rooms and a dedicated workshop space. The programme covers seven broad tracks: - Engineering - Product - Design and UX - Security - AI - Data - Wildcard topics That wide remit also extends to software, cloud, games, infrastructure and open source. It makes NIDC relevant to enthusiasts, students and experienced professionals alike, whether you want practical insight for your current role, exposure to adjacent disciplines or ideas to take back to your team. The day begins with registration at 08:30, followed by coffee and an opening session. Talks run in 30-minute slots across several parallel stages, while longer, one-hour workshops offer space for deeper exploration. Lunch and an afternoon break are built into the schedule, before closing remarks and prizes at 16:15. A four-hour after-party begins at 18:00, extending the opportunity to meet speakers, volunteers and fellow attendees. The full session agenda is due to be published in September. Community-led, hands-on and open to new voices NIDC’s community villages set it apart from a conventional multi-track conference. These themed, hands-on spaces are run by local community members and may focus on making, children’s coding, cyber, games and more. Anyone with an idea can propose a village. The event is also inviting practitioners to share work that broadens the community’s collective knowledge. Proposals can cover any technology-industry subject, with options for both talks and workshops. Prospective contributors can submit a session.… Register for this event

⌖ Sheffield · The Edge, University of Sheffield, 34 Endcliffe Crescent, Sheffield, S10 3ED

Hosted by APRIL

The APRIL AI Hub Annual Summit 2026 brings together researchers, practitioners, and innovators at the forefront of artificial intelligence and machine learning for a full day of knowledge sharing and collaboration in Sheffield. Taking place at The Edge at the University of Sheffield, this conference serves as the flagship annual gathering for the APRIL (AI for Precision Medicine and Healthcare, Privacy, Reproducibility, Interpretability, and Learning) community. As the second annual summit following the inaugural event in Edinburgh, this conference continues APRIL AI Hub's mission to advance responsible AI research and practice across healthcare, precision medicine, and beyond. The summit provides a vital platform for cross-sector dialogue between academic researchers, industry partners, healthcare professionals, and policy makers working at the intersection of AI, ethics, and real-world applications. What to Expect While the detailed programme is still being finalised, attendees can expect a comprehensive agenda featuring: - Keynote presentations from leading figures in AI research and healthcare innovation - Research showcases highlighting cutting-edge work in precision medicine, privacy-preserving AI, reproducible research methodologies, and interpretable machine learning - Panel discussions exploring the ethical, regulatory, and practical challenges of deploying AI systems in sensitive domains - Networking opportunities to connect with peers across academia, industry, and healthcare sectors - Poster sessions and demonstrations of ongoing research projects Who Should Attend This summit is designed for: - AI and machine learning researchers working on healthcare applications - Data scientists and engineers building trustworthy AI systems - Healthcare professionals interested in AI-driven precision medicine - Policy makers and ethicists concerned with responsible AI deployment - PhD students and early-career researchers in AI and related fields - Industry partners exploring AI applications in regulated environments About APRIL AI Hub The APRIL AI Hub represents a collaborative initiative advancing responsible AI research with particular emphasis on healthcare applications, data privacy, reproducible science, interpretable models, and robust learning systems. Previous APRIL events have established a strong reputation for bringing together diverse perspectives on the challe

⌖ Mexico City

Hosted by Rafael Mendiola

AI Builders Meetup brings React and AI developers to Mexico City on 27 October 2026 during Mexico Tech Week and Día de Muertos. This planned meetup offers developers a timely opportunity to connect with Mexico’s technology community, compare what they are building and spend time discussing the intersection of React and artificial intelligence. Organised by Rafael Mendiola, it is designed to bring local builders together with developers travelling from outside Mexico. What to expect The concept is deliberately community-focused: gather strong developers in one place, invite interesting speakers and create space for conversations about React, AI and current projects. While the detailed programme and speaker line-up have not yet been announced, the meetup is expected to centre on: - React development and the evolving tools and practices around it - AI products, applications and developer-led experimentation - What attendees are currently designing, coding and shipping - Connections between Mexican developers and visiting builders - Exposure to one of the world’s most energetic technology communities The event is being timed to coincide with Mexico Tech Week and Día de Muertos, making it particularly relevant for people who want to combine a developer meetup with several days in Mexico City. That wider context gives international attendees an opportunity to experience the local technology scene while the city hosts other activity and one of Mexico’s most significant cultural occasions. Who should attend? The meetup is aimed specifically at React and AI developers. It should appeal to working engineers, independent builders and technically minded product creators who want to exchange ideas with peers and learn what others are building. The published announcement does not specify a required experience level, so prospective attendees should register their interest and follow future updates as the agenda takes shape. Current event status… Register for this event

⌖ Location TBC · Hyatt Regency Burlingame, CA

Hosted by ODSC

ODSC AI West 2026 returns to the San Francisco Bay Area for three days of cutting-edge AI training and networking at the Hyatt Regency Burlingame from October 27-29, 2026. This flagship event brings together 3,500+ data practitioners, AI engineers, machine learning specialists, and business leaders in the heart of Silicon Valley's AI innovation hub. As the 1 AI builders conference since 2015, ODSC AI West offers an unmatched combination of expert-led sessions, hands-on training, and real-world insights into deploying production AI systems. The conference features comprehensive tracks covering the most in-demand skills in AI today. What You'll Learn The 2026 program includes specialized tracks across seven key areas: Agentic AI & Workflow Automation – Build autonomous AI agents that handle complex workflows and decision-making processes LLMs, GenAI, & RAG – Master large language models, generative AI applications, and retrieval-augmented generation techniques for production deployments AI Engineering & MLOps – Learn best practices for deploying, monitoring, and scaling machine learning systems in production environments Data Science & Machine Learning – Deep dive into advanced ML algorithms, statistical methods, and data analysis techniques Data Engineering – Build robust data pipelines and infrastructure to support AI/ML workloads AI for Robotics – Explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics applications Hands-On Training – Practical workshops where you'll build and deploy real AI solutions AI Accelerator Program The event includes an intensive AI Accelerator bootcamp with specialized tracks designed for practitioners looking to level up their skills rapidly. This immersive program offers deep-dive sessions with industry experts and hands-on labs. Who Should Attend ODSC AI West attracts: - AI engineers and machine learning practitioners - Data scientists transitioning into AI roles - Software developers building AI-powered applications - Technical leaders implementing AI strategies - Professionals reskilling for AI careers - Startup founders leveraging AI technology Networking & Expo Beyond the technical sessions, the conference features an AI Expo showcasing the latest tools and platforms, an AI Startup Showcase highlighting emerging companies, and the AI X Leadership Summit for business leaders. Structured networking events thr

⌖ Dublin · UCD Innovation Academy, O'Brien Centre for Science

Hosted by Innovation Academy UCD

UCD students can tackle real campus challenges at this three-hour, in-person hackathon in Dublin on 27 October 2026, working ideas into potential solutions. Make an idea for UCD more tangible The UCD Student Hackathon offers a focused opportunity to explore how campus life could be improved through student-led ideas. Rather than working with an abstract brief, participants will address genuine challenges faced by UCD students and consider practical ways to respond. Taking place from 4pm to 7pm at the UCD Innovation Academy in the O'Brien Centre for Science, this hands-on session is designed around collaboration and active problem-solving. You will have three hours to examine a challenge, exchange perspectives with other students and develop an idea into a potential solution that could make UCD better. What to expect The event uses a compact, in-person hackathon format. Participants can expect to: - Tackle a real challenge affecting students at UCD - Generate and develop ideas within a focused three-hour session - Collaborate with other students and draw on different perspectives - Move beyond discussing a problem towards shaping a possible solution - Meet fellow students interested in improving the university experience You can come on your own or arrive with a team. Everyone is welcome, making the event suitable both for students who already enjoy hackathons and collaborative projects and for those trying this kind of format for the first time. No named speakers or specific technology requirements are listed; the emphasis is on participation, teamwork and making progress on an idea. Venue and practical details The hackathon takes place on Tuesday 27 October 2026, from 4pm to 7pm, in the Shackleton Lounge at UCD Innovation Academy, O'Brien Centre for Science, Belfield, Dublin, D04 N2E5. It is organised by Innovation Academy UCD. Free drinks and snacks will be provided during the event. The combination of a real UCD-focused brief, an open invitation to solo participants and teams, and a short working format makes this a practical way to contribute ideas while connecting with other students. Get tickets for the UCD Student Hackathon

◎ Online

Hosted by Dot NET Liverpool

.NET Liverpool’s annual community lightning-talk evening brings rapid-fire .NET sessions, open speaker slots and hybrid access to Liverpool on 27 October. Hosted by Dot NET Liverpool, this fast-moving meetup gives local developers and community members a platform to share useful ideas, technical discoveries and personal experiences from across the .NET ecosystem. It is also an opportunity to support first-time public speakers in a welcoming community setting. Talks and format Each speaker receives 15 minutes to present, followed by a five-minute window for audience questions and equipment preparation. The concise format means attendees can hear several different perspectives in one evening without sitting through long presentations. The announced programme opens with Simon Jackson presenting “The 3.7 Billion Token Diet”, a session focused on LLM token consumption. Several further slots remain available, so the final line-up will be shaped by members of the community who volunteer to speak. This makes the evening particularly relevant to: - .NET, C and software development practitioners - Developers interested in AI and large language models - Community members who enjoy discovering new technical ideas - New or aspiring speakers looking for a short, supportive first presentation The current running order begins with introductions at 18:30 and the first talk at 18:40. Sessions continue in 20-minute blocks, with a ten-minute break before the second half of the programme. Attend in Liverpool or online This is a hybrid event at The Acorn Group, Atlantic Pavilion, Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AE. Doors open at 18:00, pizza is served at 18:30, talks begin at 18:40 and the meetup closes at approximately 21:00. Food includes vegan options; attendees with questions about catering or evacuation assistance can contact the organisers through Meetup before the event.… Register for this event

Sponsors: Hyperloop Recruitment · JetBtrains +1