PyCon US 2026: AI and Security in Long Beach

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Key Takeaways

1PyCon US 2026 will take place in Long Beach from May 13 to 19, marking a return to California after 13 years.

2Two new sessions on AI and security will enrich the program, featuring experts like Silona Bonewald and Zac Hatfield-Dodds.

3The event attracts over 2,000 participants and remains community-focused, with activities such as lightning talks and sprints.

💡Why it matters — PyCon US is crucial for the Python community, providing a space for sharing and innovation around the language and its applications.

PyCon US 2026: A Much-Anticipated Return to California

PyCon US 2026 will take place from May 13 to 19 in Long Beach, California. This event marks a significant return to the West Coast, with the last edition held in Portland, Oregon, in 2017, and in California in Santa Clara in 2013. The main conferences will be held from May 15 to 17, surrounded by days dedicated to tutorials and sprints.

For California residents, this is a unique opportunity to connect with the Python community, meet enthusiasts, and expand their knowledge in an inspiring environment.

New Sessions on AI and Security

This year, PyCon US is innovating with two new thematic sessions: one dedicated to artificial intelligence on Friday, and another focused on security on Saturday. These sessions aim to enrich the traditional conference program.

The AI sessions are orchestrated by Silona Bonewald from CitableAI and Zac Hatfield-Dodds from Anthropic. As the session lead, I will ensure that the presentations run smoothly and that the speakers are well introduced.

Detailed AI Session Program

The AI session features a varied and rich program:

11:00: Paolo Melchiorre will discuss AI-assisted contributions and the burden on maintainers.
11:45: Sonny Mupfuni will present approaches for adaptive and inclusive Python learning.
12:30: Gift Ojeabulu will address the identification of low-resource African languages using Python.
14:00: Aayush Kumar JVS will explain how to run large language models on laptops using quantization techniques.
14:45: Fabio Pliger will explore AI distribution in the browser for edge inference.
15:30: Aditya Mehra will talk about asynchronous Python models for AI agents.
16:30: Santosh Appachu Devanira Poovaiah will provide an overview of essential hardware aspects for Python developers.
17:15: Camila Hinojosa Añez and Elizabeth Fuentes will explain how to build a real-time voice agent in Python.

A Community-Focused Conference

Having participated in PyCon since 2005, I can attest that this event remains one of the most community-oriented, despite its 2,000 attendees. PyCon US stands out for its less "corporate" atmosphere compared to other large conferences.

The talks are enriching, but it’s the side activities that truly captivate. The lightning talks always draw a large audience, and the PyLadies auction is a must-see entertainment moment. The sprints offer a unique chance to contribute to projects under the supervision of their maintainers.

Open Spaces and Community Initiatives

In addition to the conferences, PyCon US offers open spaces where anyone can organize discussions on various topics, a sort of "unconference." This year, I plan to spend time in these spaces discussing Datasette and agent engineering.

As a board member of the Python Software Foundation, I understand how crucial PyCon US is for our mission to promote Python and support a diverse international community. This event is not only a source of funding but also a pillar for the growth and evolution of the language.

If you plan to come to Long Beach, we encourage you to book your accommodation in the official hotel block, as explained in a post on the PSF blog.