DrupalCon Vienna 2025: What the Organizers Revealed About the Program, Keynotes, and What’s Ahead

Something bigger than a conference happens when DrupalCon comes around. From 14 to 17 October 2025, the Austria Centre Vienna will host the latest edition, bringing together the Drupal community not just to present and attend sessions, but to help shape what comes next.

While the schedule is full of talks, workshops, and contribution sprints, DrupalCon isn't only about what's on the agenda. It's where new ideas are tested publicly, features are introduced to the ecosystem, and community-driven decisions turn into roadmap-defining announcements. In recent years, this is where we saw Drupal CMS 2.0 formally launched (Portland 2024) and site templates introduced (Atlanta 2025). With Vienna now in focus, the community is watching closely for what comes next.

Alongside technical updates and collaboration, recurring community recognitions continue, including the Splash Awards for outstanding Drupal projects, and the Women in Drupal Award, celebrating contributions in Define, Build, and Scale. Nomination details are available here.

To understand how DrupalCon Vienna 2025 is being built , and what's driving the sessions, keynotes, and community efforts behind it, The Drop Times spoke directly with the organisers. Aikaterine Tsiboukas, Gábor Hojtsy, Imre Gmelig Meijling, Marine Gandy, Nico Grienauer, and Hilmar Kári Hallbjörnsson offered a detailed look at the thinking, priorities, and structure behind the event

Over 100 Sessions, 7 Tracks - How the Program Comes Together

DrupalCon Vienna will have over 100 sessions spread across 7 tracks. With so much packed into just four days, how do the organisers ensure everything is relevant, well-structured, and high-quality?

Aikaterine explained that they use a track team model, where each track has its own set of chairs. These chairs define the focus of the track, help select the right mix of sessions, and coordinate closely with the program leads.

"Each of the seven DrupalCon tracks is paired with track chairs who take responsibility for shepherding that content," Aikaterine said. "They ensure that submissions are judged consistently to align with the track's goals."

The team prioritises sessions that deliver value to the community. That includes:

• Sessions on critical topics like performance, security, sustainability, AI, and new Drupal features
• Case studies from real-world projects with measurable impact
• Deep dives and hands-on workshops that give attendees skills they can apply right away
• A wide range of speaker voices from different backgrounds, regions, and experience levels
• A balanced mix of fresh content and evergreen topics

"This has been a longstanding practice for DrupalCon Europe," she added. "Putting together a good conference is not magic. It is process, structure, editorial oversight, and human judgment."

What to Expect From the AI Keynote

One of this year's keynote sessions is the Drupal CMS Spotlights, with a strong focus on AI integration and how Drupal is evolving in this space.

Gábor Hojtsy explained that the keynote will explore not only how AI is being embedded within Drupal, but also how Drupal itself can plug into larger AI systems.

"We often demo how we integrate AI inside Drupal," he said, "but we speak much less about how Drupal can be a very productive component in a larger AI ecosystem."

A key part of the session will be on Drupal's MCP (Model Context Protocol) module, an open-source standard that connects AI applications to external systems.

"Think of it like a USB-C port for AI applications," Gábor said. 

The talk will be presented by Giorgi Jibladze, CTO of Omedia and maintainer of the MCP module.

Attendees can also expect to see concrete demos, experimental modules, and upcoming AI-related features being previewed. Beyond the keynote, there will be several dedicated AI sessions and workshops, including one focused on building custom AI features with Drupal.

Accessibility, Neurodiversity, and Inclusion Efforts

Making DrupalCon fully accessible is a top priority for the organisers just at the venue, but across the full attendee experience.

Imre Gmelig Meijling connected it back to Drupal's guiding principles.

"DrupalCon, as part of the Drupal ecosystem, is always looking to honor its core values, which are based on the Open Web principles," he said. "The Open Web must be more than an ideal or a set of principles: to achieve its full potential as a global, digital public good, the Open Web must prove it's a better web."

He added that DrupalCon continues to be a space where a diverse, global community can collaborate to "create the code, solve the problems, and form the bonds that sustain it."

Marine Gandy outlined what that looks like in practice.

"When talking about accessibility, it's also about making everyone welcome," she said. "Every year, we provide a lactation room (kids are very welcome to our events!) and a prayer room. We make sure to provide separate meals for those who require special diets."

DrupalCon also supports neurodiverse and first-time attendees through a few key efforts:

• Trained Code of Conduct volunteers are available on site
• Onboarding mentors help new contributors get started
• A new welcome tour will guide first-time attendees through how to make the most of the event

"And don't forget the Pac-Man rule," Marine added. "When chatting in a circle, always leave room for a new person to join in!"

Community Highlights You Shouldn't Miss

Beyond sessions and keynotes, the social and community-focused events are a big part of the DrupalCon experience.

Nico Grienaur encouraged attendees not to miss the DrupalCon Community Party, happening October 15 at Palais Wertheim.

"Live band, Drupal songs, DJs, and the chance to celebrate and connect with friends from all over the world," he said. "There will also be a dedicated chill area for relaxed conversations and networking."

Hilmar Kári Hallbjörnsson pointed to Trivia Night, set for October 16. It's a regular feature that brings fun and friendly competition.

"Even if you really don't know any trivia, your attendance could be vital to your team," he said. "Bribing judges is both allowed and encouraged!"

Imre also spoke about the International Splash Awards, which showcase some of the best Drupal work being done across industries.

"They celebrate the people and agencies behind those projects," he said. "It also brings organisations that have adopted Drupal for their digital experiences centre stage."

Ticket Value and Financial Accessibility

We asked the organisers how ticket costs translate into value-and what's being done to help those who may need support attending.

Hilmar pointed out that DrupalCon often delivers insights that attendees can immediately apply back home.

"Every single year that I have attended DrupalCon, there has been some kind of epiphany that I can bring back home and it makes my working life so much easier," he said. "One year it was the discovery of the Stage File Proxy module, another year it was the Scald module (that later became Media)."

He also emphasised the value of Contribution Day, where attendees get the chance to collaborate directly with core maintainers. 

"How valuable do you think it is to have a direct hotline to Gábor Hojtsy or Jess?! That could happen, if you attend DrupalCon!"

Marine detailed how the team is working to keep the event financially accessible. Each year, grants and inclusion scholarships are offered.

"The recipients receive a free ticket and a fixed amount of money that they can spend however they need (transportation, accommodation, food…)," she explained.

There are two types:

• Community grants: for active contributors or initiative leads
• Inclusion scholarships: for underrepresented or financially challenged participants

Funding comes from the Drupal Association, Kuoni, and sponsors who support this initiative directly. 

"The more money we raise, the more people we can send to DrupalCon," Marine said.

DrupalCon Vienna is shaping up to be a well-structured, content-rich, and community-driven event. Whether you're attending for the sessions, the collaboration, or just to see where Drupal is heading next, the team behind it is focused on making sure there's space-and value-for everyone.