From April 20 to 23, 2026, JCON EUROPE took place at the Cinedom Multiplex Cinema in Cologne. As in previous years, the conference was co-organized and supported by XDEV.
Developers from more than 60 countries came together to discuss current topics, tools, and approaches in the Java ecosystem – from Core Java and cloud-native topics to modern architectural approaches.
Big screen: clear view of the code
A key feature of JCON remains its special location. Talks are deliberately held on large cinema screens – a format that has proven itself. Live-coding sessions and code examples are easy for all attendees to follow. Especially with more complex topics, the advantage becomes clear: details are not lost, and following code together in real time creates a very different quality compared to traditional presentation formats.
New this year: the Hallway Track
Alongside the sessions, another part of the conference moved more strongly into focus this year: the so-called Hallway Track.
We know from our own experience that many of the most valuable moments do not happen on stage, but between the talks. After a session, small groups form in the hallway, where discussions continue: questions become more specific, experiences are shared, and ideas from the talk are applied to real projects.
What starts as a quick follow-up question often turns into a deeper exchange – and not rarely into the most valuable minutes of the entire conference!
That is hard to plan and impossible to stream. At the same time, it is one of the main reasons why in-person conferences like JCON remain relevant. Conversations happen spontaneously and often lead to practical answers faster than any prepared session.
One key factor: many of the people whose tools you use every day are on site and part of these conversations. That can quickly turn a general discussion into a very practical exchange – with direct relevance to your own application or architecture.
Focus topic: Premium Track AI
With the Premium Track AI, this year’s program was expanded by an additional focus topic. The emphasis was less on AI as a buzzword and more on how the corresponding tools can be used sensibly in everyday development – from AI-assisted coding to architectural and integration questions in existing Java systems. Alongside current technical approaches, the track also discussed how teams can stay in control, for example by running models locally to better manage cost, latency, and sensitive data.
JCON EUROPE 2026 in numbers and pictures
Attendees: 1000+
Countries / continents: 60+ / 5
Sessions: 100+
Speakers: 100+
Workshops: 8
Impressions from all conference days are available in the
JCON Flickr photo album
Thank you – and see you next year
Thank you to all attendees, speakers, and organizers who made JCON EUROPE 2026 a success again. We will see you next year in Cologne. Save the date: May 31 – June 03, 2027!
2027.europe.jcon.one
Stay in touch
Maybe you met us at our JCON booth as { Best Buddys in Code } – that is also how we see the exchange beyond the conference. If you would like to explore topics from the conference further or talk through specific approaches together, feel free to get in touch.
