Celebrating 25 Years: The Sessions We’re Bringing to DrupalCon Chicago 2026
A fresh breeze of innovation is set to sweep through Chicago this spring. As March 23–26 draws near, the Windy City is gearing up to host DrupalCon 2026, the world’s largest Drupal gathering.
As a Champion Plus sponsor, and with Rosie our VP, Marketing as a member of the steering committee, we’re proud to help make this event happen and we're bringing multiple speakers to the stage, ready to unleash gusts of bold ideas and fresh perspectives on top Drupal topics. Rooted in Drupal’s spirit of sharing and building together, we’re honoured to be involved in every way we can.
This event is extra special: Drupal’s 25th anniversary meets our own 25th anniversary! Sharing this milestone with the community makes the celebration even brighter. Anticipation is building, and we can’t wait to reveal what our speakers have been preparing for you at DrupalCon Chicago.
Our sessions at DrupalCon Chicago 2026
The Human Edge in AI Content: Crafting Connections Amid Algorithms
Some inventions change the world forever, and AI is one of them. Drupal is fully in the game, and you’ll have plenty of chances to be amazed by its new AI capabilities, just as we saw at Driesnote Vienna 2025 and other standout presentations.
No wonder DrupalCon Chicago 2026 has a dedicated AI Summit, and AI is a central theme across the conference. Leading experts will share their perspectives in multiple sessions, and our team is part of that conversation. AI is a special topic for us as we are proud to be a Drupal AI Certified Partner, providing expert consulting services to help you build the best AI solutions while supporting the Drupal code and community.
Let’s kick off our AI lineup for DrupalCon Chicago by exploring the new rules for content marketing. AI is reshaping the ways content is created and discovered, and your strategies need to evolve with it. The big question: how do we make content deeply human and still discoverable in an increasingly algorithm-driven world?
Guided by Richard Nosek, this AI Summit session will provide the answers. You’ll gain a clear path forward as a marketer, content strategist, or UX professional. Explore the shift from traditional keyword-driven SEO to AI-powered discoverability, where context and intent guide the way. Be sure to get your add-on ticket for the AI Summit at DrupalCon Chicago to catch the sessions it includes.
Bringing Semantic Search to Life with Drupal AI
The Higher Education Summit will see another AI focused highlight of DrupalCon Chicago 2026: a session that will guide you through the intricacies of AI-powered search.
Keyword-based approaches often fall short when it comes to understanding intent. To address this, we built a semantic search solution powered by the Drupal AI module.
John Tran and Aaron Christian will share the story of our semantic search integration. It will cover everything from the architectural choices we made to the modules and APIs that we used.
You’ll learn how semantic search differs from traditional methods and why it matters for content-rich Drupal websites. John and Aaron will share the challenges we faced, the lessons learned, and the practical steps that can help you experiment with AI-driven search in your own projects. This is real-world experience designed to give the Drupal community insights that go beyond documentation.
Increasing Enrollment Amidst Changing Student Demographics
Higher education is navigating a turning point. Shifting student demographics, rising competition, and evolving expectations are reshaping how universities and colleges attract and engage students. Growth is possible, but it requires new approaches.
Since web development for higher education is one of our key areas of expertise, we’re excited to share insights from the field. Hopefully, they help our long-term and future higher-ed customers boost their student recruitment and admissions.
Led by Chris Gray and C.J. Pagtakhan, you’ll learn how Drupal can become a powerful ally in meeting enrolment goals. Join us to discover how technology and thoughtful design can help your institution thrive in a changing landscape.
The session will explore content personalization, accessibility, streamlined user journeys, and data-driven decision-making, everything that helps institutions connect with students more effectively. Drawing on insights from over 500 digital projects with colleges and universities across North America, they will share proven strategies, real-world examples, and practical takeaways you can apply immediately.
Open Y: A Drupal-Powered Platform for Good
Nonprofits are among our most valued long-term partners, too. And we have something inspiring in store for them at DrupalCon Chicago 2026. One session spotlights one of the world’s most recognized nonprofit organizations and a Drupal solution built specifically for it.
The YMCA, one of the world’s largest youth organizations, has always focused on strengthening communities. Delivering that impact at scale requires a powerful, unified digital presence. So what kind of platform can meet that challenge? The answer is Open Y, an open-source, Drupal-based platform designed to streamline content management, marketing efforts, and integrations across multiple YMCA websites.
Delivered by Avi Schwab who will be joined by Sarah Halby from YMCA of the North, this session will focus on how Open Y empowers local YMCAs to deliver scalable, accessible, and user-friendly websites while reducing development overhead through shared community resources. You’ll gain:
- an overview of the Open Y distribution built on Drupal 10
- insights into how the YMCA network collaborates to enhance the platform
- real-world examples of YMCAs increasing engagement and reducing tech debt
- a roadmap for getting started with Open Y, whether upgrading or launching a new site
We’ll also cover key modules, architecture choices, and ways to contribute or customize Open Y for your organization.
From Chaos to Clarity: Building a Sustainable Content Governance Model with Drupal
As websites expand and more teams contribute, organizations often face fragmented content, inconsistent messaging, and editorial bottlenecks. So how do you move from scattered content to a system that scales?
The answer lies in a clear roadmap for content governance, one that turns complexity into structure and collaboration. With Richard Nosek and C.J. Pagtakhan, you’ll gain practical insights into it.
Their impactful session describes designing and implementing a content governance model in Drupal that keeps content organized, high-quality, and ready for the future. Attendees will learn workflows tailored for authors, editors, and administrators, including strategies for approval processes, audits, and lifecycle management. Richard and C.J. will also explore frameworks for defining roles, responsibilities, and standards that scale across departments.
Real-world examples from Drupal sites of different sizes will show how structured governance improves collaboration, reduces technical debt, and strengthens long-term digital strategy.
Beyond Chatbots: Creating Smarter, Personalized Experiences in Drupal with AG-UI
Chatbots have been around for a while, simplifying website support and taking the load off teams’ shoulders. However, AI has revolutionized this sphere as well. The era of simple, text-based chatbots is giving way to intelligent AI Agents, digital assistants that can reason, use tools, and collaborate with humans in real time.
For Drupal site owners, marketers, and content teams, this shift opens up exciting opportunities. Imagine your website as a collaborative workspace, where AI interacts with visitors to personalize experiences as they engage with your content.
John Tran and Aaron Christian, the stars of our team’s AI-focused lineup at DrupalCon Chicago 2026, have prepared yet another incredible session for you. In this session, you’ll be introduced to a new approach for bringing these interactive assistants into Drupal using a component-based toolkit built on AG-UI.
The technology works behind the scenes, while the experience feels natural and intuitive, AI woven directly into your content rather than appearing as a disconnected pop-up. Join John and Aaron to explore how Drupal can embrace this new generation of AI Agents, creating dynamic, user-centered experiences that evolve with every interaction.
See You In Chicago?
We can’t wait to welcome you to DrupalCon Chicago 2026 at the Hilton! Be sure to swing by booth 210 for a chat, grab some swag or enter the prize draw! Better yet, book your time in advance to secure a spot with our team. We love helping Drupal projects shine at their brightest, and we’d be thrilled to explore how we can bring yours to life.
And of course, don’t miss our sessions! We hope you’ll walk away from DrupalCon Chicago with fresh insights, bold ideas, and plenty of inspiration to fuel your Drupal journey.
