The Polyglot Software Unconference is back for its 11th year, bringing together Vancouver's tech community for a day of participant-driven discussions on October 11th at UBC Robson Square.
Unlike traditional conferences with predetermined speakers and vendor booths, this event flips the script entirely. There are no keynotes, no sales pitches, and no passive audiences. Instead, 200 to 300 developers, data scientists, product managers, and founders will shape the day themselves using an open space format.
"There's no speakers talking at a passive audience, and no recording," says Tavis Rudd, director of the Polyglot Software Association, the registered non-profit behind the conference. "It's face-to-face, intimate discussions between fellow software builders."
Here's how it works: participants pitch session ideas in the morning, the group votes to allocate rooms based on interest, and then attendees dive into five 50-minute time slots with eight or more sessions running simultaneously. If someone finds themselves in a discussion where they're neither learning nor contributing, they're encouraged to exercise what organizers call "the law of two feet" and find a better fit.
Vancouver Tech Journal readers can enter to win tickets to this year's conference.
To enter, email [email protected] with your name, company, and answer to this question: What's one tech topic you'd pitch for discussion at an unconference?
The conference has evolved significantly since its launch in May 2012. While early sessions focused purely on technical topics, a core group of 80 to 100 regulars has returned year after year, and as they've progressed through their careers, discussions have expanded to cover broader aspects of building software and companies. To keep perspectives fresh, organizers offer subsidized tickets for students.
The event draws mostly local tech talent, but regulars from Victoria, Seattle, and Portland make the trip, with past participants joining from as far as Colombia, Brazil, and Slovenia. Despite this growing reach, organizers have no plans to expand beyond 350 participants.
This year's sponsors include Durable, Adaptech, momentum.io, The Pearlfisher Group, Steamclock Software, Forestwalk Labs, and vancouver.dev. The conference is organized by Rudd alongside Kyle Young and Tony Jackson, with support from volunteers.
The Polyglot Software Association also runs DevOpsDays YVR, supports several local tech meetups with video recording and cross-promotion, and hosts the YVR chapter of Papers We Love, a technical reading group. Over the years, the organization has organized more than 150 events, all run by volunteers.
The conference runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 11th. Next year's event is already scheduled for October 17th, 2026.