Codegarden 2026 is nearly here and I can't quite believe it's finally happening. After years of making the trip to Odense, this year Umbraco's conference is heading back to Copenhagen — and I'm honestly stupidly excited about it.
I'm Speaking!
Before I get into anything else, I should mention that I'm taking to the stage this year. I'll be giving a 20-minute talk on the Management API with Umbraco CMS — a topic I've been working with a lot lately and one I think is genuinely underused by a lot of developers.
If you want to come and watch, I'm on Stage 4: Moose on Thursday 11th at 10:25am. I'd love to see some familiar faces in the crowd.
The MVP Summit
The week actually kicks off early for me — I'll be attending the Umbraco MVP Summit on Monday and Tuesday before the main conference begins. It makes for a long week of learning and conversations, but it's always worth it.
Copenhagen — A Fresh Start?
There's something genuinely interesting about Codegarden returning to Copenhagen after so long. I never attended when it was here before, so this is a first for me in more ways than one.
I'm curious what the change of venue will mean for the atmosphere. Odense had a particular kind of organised chaos to it that became part of the Codegarden identity. The walk down to DOK, the evenings that went on a little too long. In Copenhagen, we're right in the city centre. I suspect people will spread out more in the evenings, explore the city, find their own corners of it. Whether that's a loss or a liberation probably depends on who you ask.
What I won't miss is the train. That journey from Copenhagen to Odense was always a logistical headache, particularly on the Friday when you were tired, slightly broken, and desperately trying to make a flight. Having the conference in the city I'm flying in and out of means more time on Friday to actually talk to people rather than watching the clock.
The Running Club
I'll be leading the CGRunners for a few 5k morning runs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. If you fancy starting your conference days with a run around Copenhagen before the sessions kick off, come and join us.
Meet at Øksnehallen. Halmtorvet 11, 1700 Copenhagen (where Codegarden will be held)
- Tuesday 7am
- Wednesday 6:30am
- Thursday 6:30am
The Lineup
The speaker lineup this year is genuinely one of the strongest I've seen.
There are a couple of clashes I'm already agonising over, so I'll be leaning on the recorded sessions for anything I can't catch in person.
Pacing Yourself (and Myself)
One thing years of Codegarden has taught me is the importance of pacing. Between the MVP Summit and the main conference, this is a long week, and it's easy to burn out by Thursday if you go too hard early on.
My honest advice: step outside when you need to. Get some air. And if the noise gets too much, there's usually a Silent Room at Codegarden. Somewhere quiet where you can put on headphones and just decompress for a bit. I've used it more times than I can count. There's no shame in it; in fact it's one of the things I think Codegarden gets right.
Come and Say Hi
Whether this is your first Codegarden or your tenth, if you spot me please do come and say hello. I'm genuinely terrible at starting conversations myself, so I'll probably be the one hovering awkwardly near the coffee, but if you come over, I promise I'll be happy to chat.
I've had moments at past Codegardens where I've felt completely alone in a room full of people, and I know how quickly that can go from uncomfortable to overwhelming. If you're having one of those moments, come and find me. You don't need a reason. This is your open invitation.
Are you heading to Codegarden this year? Catch me on socials or head over to the Umbraco discord channel where people are already chatting about CG26. See you there!