DrupalCon Chicago is coming up March 23-26, 2026, and this year feels bigger, clearer, and more community-charged than ever.
Every DrupalCon has its own rhythm, but Chicago 2026 already feels like it has momentum. Early bird tickets are currently open, the community is sketching t-shirt ideas, teams are planning their meetups, and first-time attendees are eyeing Drupal in a Day. It's that stage where everything is still taking shape. And it's the best time to get involved!
If you already know you're going, GREAT! Book it now. If you're still on the fence, let's walk through what's happening this year because there's a lot you'll want to plug into.
Early Bird Tickets Are Live…
..And they disappear on January 5th! Early bird pricing is the one thing people always think they'll get to… and then forget until the price jumps. Don't do that to yourself. Early bird tickets get you the full DrupalCon experience, like sessions, keynotes, community events, Expo Hall, networking, meals, coffee, the whole rhythm of the event, at the absolute lowest rate.
Why bother booking early?
- You save real money! Now you just get to decide what to do with the extra $125.
- You commit to going instead of "thinking about it."
- You secure your spot for certain limited-capacity activities before they fill up.
DrupalCon only happens once a year in North America. Missing it usually comes with a weird mix of regret and FOMO when the photos start rolling in. If you know you want to grow, connect, or contribute this year, lock in the ticket before January 5, 2026, 7:59 am CST!
The DrupalCon Chicago T-Shirt Contest Is Open (Your Design Could Be Everywhere!)
Every conference has a shirt. DrupalCon shirts, though, tend to take on a life of their own. They show up at Meetups, at Camps, in airport lounges, and at offices years later. They become little time capsules of a moment in the community.
This contest is your chance to shape that moment.
What's the reason to enter?
It's one of the few ways to contribute to DrupalCon that blends creativity, culture, and community identity. You're designing the shirt that thousands of people will wear, remember, and probably argue about (in a friendly way, of course) long after the event.
If your design is selected:
- It becomes the official DrupalCon Chicago 2026 t-shirt.
- You get attendee bragging rights for the next decade.
- You get a complimentary DrupalCon ticket.
- And four finalists get spotlighted for a community vote (which is always lively).
It's open to everyone: designers, hobbyists, devs who doodle in meetings, anyone with an idea that captures the spirit of Drupal. The deadline is December 21, 2025, so if inspiration strikes, don't wait! Find out more here.
Drupal in a Day - A Free, Hands-On Way to Learn Drupal
On March 26, the last day of the conference, Drupal in a Day returns after a very successful event at DrupalCon Vienna. It's a free, practical workshop where attendees build a fully working Drupal site from scratch with guidance from people who build and teach Drupal for a living.
What are your key takeaways from this workshop?
- Get a simple, hands-on intro to one of the world's most trusted CMS platforms
- Pick up the core ideas and basics of Drupal at a comfortable pace
- Build a fully working Drupal site right from your laptop
- Walk away with an official participation certificate (always nice to have)
- Meet the community, make connections, and join in during Contribution Day
You need to register for the workshop, and spots are limited. It fills quickly because it's genuinely hands-on, not a lecture.
This All Adds Up to One Thing
DrupalCon Chicago is the annual reset button for the Drupal community. It's a time where people reconnect, compare notes, learn what's coming next, and remember why this whole open-source thing works in the first place.
So, before everything fills up, expires, or slips your mind (because it always does), here's your early heads-up:
-
The early bird ticket deadline is coming up fast - before Jan 5, 2026, 7:59 am CST.
-
The t-shirt contest is already underway - by Dec 21, 2025.
-
Drupal in a Day will fill up soon.
If you're planning to be part of it, now's the moment to commit.
Authored By: Shefali Shetty, DrupalCon Chicago 2026 Marketing & Outreach Committee Member