Please find the draft programme for Collaborations Workshop 2026 below. Please note that the programme is subject to small changes.

CW26 will centre around one powerful theme and clear purpose: Strengthening the Research Software Community.

Research software is at the heart of discovery, innovation, and trust in research. Yet, its future depends on the strength of the people and communities behind it. Together, we will explore how to build a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable ecosystem that empowers practitioners, researchers, developers, and advocates alike.

We’ll focus on fostering national and international collaboration, supporting career development across all stages, and embedding equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility into our collective practices. We'll also examine the evolving role of shaping responsible, high-quality research, from AI and data infrastructure to reproducibility, policy, and public trust.

Through inspiring talks, interactive workshops, group discussions, and hands-on sessions, we’ll share knowledge, amplify diverse voices, and work together to ensure research software continues to thrive in an uncertain but opportunity-rich future.

The Software Sustainability Institute's annual Collaborations Workshop is an immersive, three-day unconference, which emphasises active collaborations, dynamic discussions, and hands-on problem-solving.

It brings together a diverse and passionate community, from researchers and software developers to funders and policy makers, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations. Networking is a central feature, with ample opportunities to meet, collaborate, and form partnerships that extend well beyond the event itself.

Keynotes and mini-workshops provide valuable insights, but the core of the event lies in interactive ideas and discussion sessions where diverse perspectives come together to shape the future of research software.

The final day is dedicated to the Hack Day, where creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving take centre stage. This isn’t just about coding; it’s a space where people from all backgrounds, technical or not, come together to experiment and co-create solutions to real-world challenges in research software and beyond. 

Previous attendees describe CW as simultaneously intense and fun, convivial yet highly productive. CW25 was no exception, with participants praising the event’s sense of community, strong organisation, and the real value they gained:

“Collaborations Workshop is one of my favourite conferences - every year I've been I've gotten such a lot out of it and this year was no different. The setting was beautiful, the programme was amazing, and the attendees fantastic.” 

“this was one of the most well organised and actively inclusive events I've been to.”

In essence, this event is more than a conference, it's a community-building experience and a catalyst for positive change in the research software sector. Delegates leave energised and connected, with new ideas to drive positive change in their fields.