Hackaday Europe is days away, with last-minute workshop changes, a Friday pre-party on Lago di Lecco, and new lightning talks.
The clock is ticking toward Hackaday Europe in 2026, and organisers are using the final days before doors open to tie up the loose ends—especially around workshop timing, the Friday pre-party, and what’s still available for reservations.
Tickets remain on sale for the event itself, the workshops, and the Friday night pre-party, with reservations required. Organisers note that availability is still open for those who want to lock in their place.
The pre-party kicks off on Friday, May 15 at Soqquadro Restaurant in Lecco, Italy, at Piazza Era 7.. Set along the Lago di Lecco waterfront. the evening is framed as a low-pressure start to the weekend with Italian aperitivi. snacks. and time to meet other attendees.. The pre-party ticket includes two drinks and an array of snacks, and guests are encouraged to pre-register as well.. Organisers also remind attendees that pre-registration information is available on the preregistration page, specifically after the workshop listings.
One of the biggest schedule shifts involves workshops: the Let’s Mesh workshop has been canceled.. In place of that slot, the organisers say they’ve added two new sessions thanks to sponsors.. On Saturday, May 16, the workshop lineup will now include Tiny Tapeout, When Code Needs a Body, and Fault Injection 101.
Sunday, May 17 brings another workshop block: EchoGlow: Arduino UNO Q Workshop, built around the brand-new Arduino Q devices. The session is scheduled from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. As with the rest of the programming, full details and workshop descriptions are available through registration.
After the hands-on days, organisers are also planning Lightning Talks on Sunday afternoon.. These are seven-minute presentations that can include slides or be delivered without them.. The format is designed for whatever attendees are most interested in at the moment. whether that means sharing a hack or discussing deeper ideas.. Talk slots are allocated on a first-in, first-out basis, and organisers advise registering now.
Organisers also emphasise the event’s community feel.. For first-time attendees, they point out that a major part of the experience is the crowd itself.. If someone wants to bring a hack for informal show-and-tell. it’s described as an effective icebreaker. and attendees are told they won’t need to bring food or drinks because those are covered throughout the weekend.
For returning attendees, the organisers are leaning into a new tradition for this edition.. They say that. for the first time at Hackaday Europe. they’ll be bringing a large fraction of their SAO collection and fitting as much as possible into carry-on luggage.. Alongside that, they’re planning a “sweet-looking” SAO wall built by Hackaday Superfriend [Thomas Flummer].. Anyone who has an SAO they’d like to add to the growing pile can bring one along to contribute to the collection.
Beyond the weekend’s activities, the organisers are also looking ahead to a photo gallery and a write-up capturing everything that arrives and gets displayed. They close by thanking a broad array of sponsors that make the event possible.
With the Let’s Mesh cancellation already in motion and two new workshops slotted in. the next practical step for attendees is checking availability for workshop reservations and reviewing the latest schedule before committing time.. For newcomers. the pre-party functions as a straightforward way to get oriented and start networking before the technical sessions begin. especially since the ticket includes food and drinks and the vibe is intentionally casual.
Meanwhile. the Lightning Talks format is likely to draw a wide mix of topics because it’s built around short presentations that can be slide-based or entirely spoken.. Since slots are first-come. first-served. attendees who are eager to present a hack or share a technical thought may want to register early to avoid missing the opportunity.
Finally. the emphasis on SAO sharing and informal display suggests organisers are aiming to make this edition feel interactive even outside formal workshops and talks.. If you’re planning to attend. bringing an SAO for the wall—or simply spending time around the SAO collection—could become one of the weekend’s most memorable moments. especially with the planned photo documentation afterward.
Hackaday Europe 2026 pre-party Lecco Tiny Tapeout workshop Arduino UNO Q lightning talks fault injection