One of the things that makes our community special is the way people keep showing up for each other.

Recently, a member of our community found themselves unable to attend RubyConf 2026 and generously offered to donate their ticket so that someone else could have the opportunity to join us in Las Vegas.

That act of generosity sparked a bigger idea among another community member.

We know there are Rubyists who would love to attend RubyConf this year but are facing budget constraints. Whether it's competing conference budgets, travel costs, or simply a challenging year financially, we don't want cost to be the only thing standing between someone and the people, ideas, and opportunities waiting for them at RubyConf.

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous community member, we have a limited number of complimentary RubyConf 2026 tickets available for Rubyists who otherwise would not be able to attend.

If attending RubyConf would be meaningful for you, but the ticket price has been the primary obstacle, this donation may help get you there.

How It Works

Please fill out the short form below and tell us a little about yourself and why you'd like to attend RubyConf 2026.

Three recipients will receive a complimentary conference ticket. Recipients will be responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses.

Applications will remain open until July 6, 2026, after which recipients will be notified directly.

Apply Here

Why We're Doing This

RubyConf has always been more than a conference. For me, it’s how I fell in love with this community. These conferences and our community are unlike any other I’ve attended in my career across industries.

It's where new contributors find mentors. It's where longtime friends reconnect. It's where career-changing conversations happen in hallways, over meals, between sessions, and at the hotel bar. It's where our community gathers to learn, collaborate, and shape the future of Ruby together.

If a complimentary ticket can help even a few more Rubyists be part of that experience, we think that's worth doing.

And if you don’t win one of the donated tickets, we still encourage you to apply. Understanding who wants to attend, and what barriers might be standing in the way, will help us continue finding new ways to make RubyConf accessible to more members of our community.

We're incredibly grateful to the generous community member who made this grant possible, and we're looking forward to welcoming as many Rubyists as we can to Las Vegas.

See you at RubyConf.

~Ran Craycraft & Ruby Central Staff