We’ve talked a lot lately about governance, sustainability, accountability, and the future of Ruby Central. Those conversations were necessary, but they were largely conversations about the past.

This year’s RubyConf feels different.

This RubyConf is going to be a conversation about the future.

For the first time, we will be inducting the inaugural class of Ruby Fellows. Leaders from Ruby Alliance companies will gather to discuss how they will be collectively investing in Ruby's future. We'll officially launch Steering Committees that create new opportunities for community members to get directly involved. We'll host Ruby Runway and showcase founders building exciting new businesses on Ruby.

None of those things, by themselves, is revolutionary. Taken together, though, they represent that people are investing in Ruby again.

We'll also have one of the strongest programs we've seen in years. Matz will open the conference. Dave Thomas will close it. Between them are speakers and maintainers who have helped shape Ruby, Rails, open source, and software development for decades. The schedule is packed with the kind of deeply technical content RubyConf has always been known for, from Ruby internals and performance to AI, security, concurrency, accessibility, and the future of programming itself.

I also want to address something that may surprise people. While RubyConf is technically in Las Vegas, it isn't really a Vegas conference. We're at Red Rock Resort, a short car ride from the action, but surrounded by mountains just outside of the city. Everything is in one place, the talks, the meals, the hallway conversations, game night, evening events, and the people you came to spend time with. Our goal is for this to feel more like a retreat than a convention.

And that's important because the best parts of RubyConf probably won’t happen on stage. They’ll happen over breakfast, after a talk, during game night, or while sitting outside talking with someone who shares your passion for building great software.

A lot of people have asked how they can help Ruby Central and the Ruby community. There are many answers to that question. You can contribute to open source. You can mentor new developers. You can volunteer. You can support ecosystem projects.

But right now, one of the most meaningful things you can do is show up.

Because five years from now, I suspect many of us will look back and realize that RubyConf 2026 was a transformational event. These changes will help launch new companies. Welcome new contributors. Form new partnerships. Inspire new ideas. And kick off new initiatives.

If you've been waiting for the right year to attend RubyConf, I think this is it.

Join us in Las Vegas. Bring a coworker. Book a room at the conference hotel.

Be part of the new beginning.

Get Your Ticket Here

Ran, Jey, Brandon, Freedom, and David
Ruby Central Board of Directors