Announcing Code for America Summit 2026

At this moment in our country, it can feel like the only constant is change. For the civic community, however, certain tenets—being human-centered, agile, and committed to a fundamental belief that government should work for everyone—keep us grounded and are more important now than ever before. These tenets connect us to our work and to the civic tech community—and they’re the heart of our flagship annual event: Code for America Summit.

From May 7-8, 2026, leaders in the civic tech and government innovation community will meet in Chicago for Summit 2026. Summit is a space for us to network with, learn from, and inspire one another. People from all across the country will meet for two days and make memories that will last a lifetime. Regardless of whether you’re new to civic tech, a Summit alum who’s been counting down to Summit since the last conference ended, or somewhere in between, we’re excited to see you in Chicago! 

The theme for Code for America Summit 2026 is: The Future We Build. This theme is a reminder that our collective future is not something that happens to us. It’s something we build through having bold ideas and through working to transform our vision into a reality.

Registration for Summit will launch in early 2026. To keep up with the latest news about the event, please visit our Summit website. And for a taste of what’s to come in May, check out our Summit 2025 recap!

If you want to share your knowledge at Summit, consider submitting a proposal for a breakout session, lightning talk, or mainstage idea during our open call for proposals happening November 13-24, 2025. While we welcome all levels of proposals, remember that Summit is your time to nerd out! Are you passionate about a government innovation project but apprehensive about losing people if you get too into the weeds? That project probably is perfect for the Summit audience. Like last year, proposals for Summit 2026 should fall into one of four tracks: Emerging Technology + Innovation, Service Design + Delivery, People Power + Community, and Policy + Administration. For more information on these tracks and to submit a proposal, check out our Call for Proposals page on the Summit website.

This year, we’re once again accepting nominations for our Code for America Innovator Awards, which honor people or teams in government who are setting an example about how to deliver for the future. Celebrating wins is one of our favorite parts of Summit, and we look forward to hearing some inspiring stories of how this community’s work is changing lives across the country. 

Last but not least, we’re bringing back a hit from Summit 2025: the Demo Lab! The Demo Lab, which made its debut earlier this year, is an interactive showcase designed to bring together tech innovators, government problem-solvers, and creative thinkers. Modeled after the high school science fair, the Demo Lab gives Summit attendees an interactive opportunity to showcase their work for their peers. Participants will have a dedicated space to demo a project in an informal, approachable setting. To learn more about Demo Lab submission criteria and to submit a proposal, visit the Demo Lab page on the Summit website. Submissions will be open November 13-24, 2025.

To get a sense of what Summit is all about, take a look at footage from last year’s event. The words our CEO Amanda Renteria said on mainstage then—“It’s time not to just fix what’s broken, but to build what’s possible”—continue to ring true. We look forward to convening, innovating, and building together with you all in May.