KohaCon26 Proposals
Summary
Proposals are invited to host the 2026 Koha conference.
The closing date for bids is 28 March 2025 23:59 UTC (date and time in your time zone).
Information about hosting KohaCon
See Processes for KohaCon for the rules previously established for KohaCons, including proposal eligibility, voting, and so on.
Since 2020, conference format must be either:
- hybrid with an in-person conference streamed online, or
- entirely online.
For hybrid conferences, the rules for continent rotation apply. Therefore, for 2026, the following continents are eligible:
Continent Eligability, KohaCon26
See Continent rotation.
Eligable Continents, KohaCon26
- Africa
- Asia
- Europe
- South America
Initially Ineligable Continents, KohaCon26
Continents not eligible unless there are no KohaCon26 proposals from eligable continents.
- North America [Not eligible for hosting KohaCon26 after hosting KohaCon24.]
- Oceania [not eligible for hosting KohaCon26 after hosting KohaCon25.]
If a fully online conference is proposed, the continent can host a hybrid conference in future years.
Deadline for proposals
The closing date for bids is 28 March 2025 23:59 UTC (date and time in your time zone)
Voting
Decision
Information to include in your proposal
Add your proposal under the proposals heading. Use these headings to provide the information required for your bid.
Hosting organization
- Organisation name:
- Contacts:
- Organiser website:
- Email:
- Venue:
- Proposal website:
Format
Format details including: Hybrid in-person and online, or online only.
Proposed dates for the conference
Local information
[Helpful information about where the conference is set.]
Destinations
[Your places of interest in nearby area.]
Proposals
Add your proposal here using the headings from the information to include in your proposal.
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
- Organisation name: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
- Contacts:
- Michaela Sieber
- Clemens Tubach
- Organiser website: https://www.bibliothek.kit.edu/english/index.php
- Email: koha@bibliothek.kit.edu
- Venue: TBD, on the campus of the KIT
- Proposal website: TBD
Format
Hybrid in-person and online.
Proposed dates for the conference
End September 2026, exact dates TBD.
Local information
- Multiple libraries in Karlsruhe are using Koha
- Arrival:
- By plane to Frankfurt, then in about an hour by Deutsche Bahn to Karlsruhe (other airports)
- By train: there are many direct connections to Karlsruhe, for example from Berlin, Hamburg, Paris, Marseille, Basel and Vienna
Destinations
- The Karlsruhe Palace (Schloss) is an interesting piece of architecture; the adjacent Schlossgarten includes the Botanical Garden with a palm, cactus and orchid house, and walking paths through the woods to the north.
- Karlsruhe is near Heidelberg
PROPOSAL No 2
Cyprus University of Technology Library
1. Organization name: [Cyprus University of Technology Library, CYPRUS]
2. Contacts:
- Barbara Aristidou
- Antonia Nicolaou
3. Organization Website : https://library.cut.ac.cy/en / https://www.cut.ac.cy/?languageId=1
4. Email: [[1]]
5. Venue: [Tasos Papadopoulos]
6. Proposal Website : KOHA ConCY 2026 (not created yet)
Format
Hybrid in-person and online.
Proposed dates for the conference
[End of September / first week of October 2026 ] exact dates KOHA ConCY 2026
Local information
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limassol
- Multiple libraries in Cyprus are using KOHA and many union catalogs created
- Arrival : By plane (information will be given in the KOHA ConCY 2026)
https://www.hermesairports.com/ (Larnaca and Pafos airports)
Attractive Destinations / places in Cyprus – Limassol:
Limassol Marina (www.Limassolmarina.com ) Limassol Castle (Limassol Castle - Wikipedia), Amathus (Amathus - Wikipedia), Kourion (Kourion - Wikipedia) ,
Target Audience: Librarians, IT professionals, library administrators, Koha developers, and information management professionals.
Introduction
Koha, the world’s first open-source Integrated Library System (ILS), has revolutionized library management with its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and community-driven development. This conference aims to bring together Koha users, developers, and stakeholders to discuss best practices, new advancements, and future opportunities in open-source library automation. Cyprus University of Technology Library was the pioneer among academic libraries in adopting Koha ILS system back in 2020. In the last five years two union catalogs have emerged in Cyprus and most libraries are using Koha as their main ILS.
Objectives
- Knowledge Sharing –Koha experts and new users to share experiences, challenges, and solutions.
- Technical Training – Offer workshops on Koha installation, customization, programming and troubleshooting.
- Community Engagement – Strengthen the global and local Koha community through networking opportunities.
- Innovation & Development – Discuss new features, integrations, and future enhancements in Koha.
- Case Studies – Highlight successful Koha implementations in various institutions.
Conference Structure
The event will include:
- Keynote Sessions – Talks from Koha experts and contributors.
- Workshops – Hands-on training for beginners and advanced users.
- Panel Discussions – Debates on Koha’s future, challenges, and opportunities.
- Technical Sessions – Deep dives into Koha development, security, and integrations.
- Networking Sessions – Opportunities for collaboration and partnership building.
Expected Outcomes
- Increased adoption and understanding of Koha.
- Strengthened community collaboration.
- Identification of key challenges and innovative solutions.
- Enhanced technical skills for participants.
Budget & Sponsorship
The event will require funding for venue, logistics, and promotional materials. Potential sponsors include library associations, academic institutions, IT companies, and government agencies.
Conclusion
This conference will provide valuable insights into the power of Koha and its role in the future of library automation, especially in Cyprus community. We invite all stakeholders to participate and contribute to the growth of open-source solutions in the library sector.