I recently attended the 2026 Hackaday Europe event in Berlin, which was an incredible experience for hackers and curious minds alike. It’s not just about the technical projects and hacks—what truly made it stand out was the real-life connections we forged during the talks. While we could only record audio and slides, the visuals were stunning, and the energy was palpable. I’ve learned that staying connected to local hacker communities is essential, even when physical attendance is limited. For example, Open Hardware Summit (https://2026.oshwa.org/) in Berlin offers great opportunities to dive deeper into hardware innovation, while HOPE (https://www.hope.net/) in NYC provides a retrocomputing vibe. Even if you can’t attend a full event, exploring these local gatherings can give you fresh perspectives and meaningful experiences. I personally think that the best way to stay engaged is to look out for small, impactful moments in the community. What makes this particularly fascinating is how these events help us connect beyond what digital platforms offer. From my perspective, attending such events allows us to explore new ideas and collaborate in ways that online spaces often cannot. A detail that I find especially interesting is how these gatherings create a sense of shared purpose, which brings me back to the core message: connecting through hands-on experiences is the truest form of networking.
