Berlin Buzzwords is an annual open source conference in Berlin for developers, data engineers, and architects working with search, NoSQL, big data, and machine learning. It combines structured talks, workshops, and a barcamp format across three days.
Berlin Buzzwords is a three-day, English-language conference focused on modern data infrastructure, search, machine learning, and open source software. It targets the practitioner community: developers, data engineers, IT architects, analysts, and data scientists working with large-scale or distributed data systems. The event takes a community-oriented format and is organised by Plain Schwarz UG, a Berlin-based producer specialising in open source events.
Berlin Buzzwords occupies a specific niche on the European technical conference calendar: it concentrates on the engineering and infrastructure layer of data work rather than on business strategy or product marketing. The programme centres on open source tooling, search technologies, NoSQL systems, and big data pipelines, with a recurring emphasis on community practice and sustainability of open source projects. With an estimated attendance of around 800, it remains a focused, practitioner-scale event rather than a large trade show, which shapes both the format and the depth of technical exchange on offer.
Berlin Buzzwords 2026 confirmed sponsors include Deutsche Bahn and OpenSearch. Official media partners are not publicly disclosed as of verification.
| Attendance (estimated) | ~800 (organiser figure) |
| Duration | 3 days |
| Ticket tiers available | 10 |
| Lowest full-access ticket (early) | EUR 550 (Trust Us tier, closed 31 Dec 2025) |
| Standard ticket | EUR 860 |
| Online-only ticket | EUR 52 |
| Diversity ticket | Complimentary |
| Speakers expected | ~105 (self-reported, subject to CFP outcome) |
Berlin Buzzwords is an annual open source conference for data practitioners held in Berlin. It is produced by Plain Schwarz UG, which traces 15 years of experience in open source community event management. The conference focuses on search, NoSQL, big data, and machine learning, and uses a mixed format of talks, workshops, panels, and a barcamp.
The event is oriented toward open source practitioners rather than enterprise buyers or business-side audiences. The barcamp element and community-governance themes reflect its roots in the open source contributor culture. It is not a vendor showcase or a business intelligence event; the content targets engineers and architects making implementation decisions.
Yes. The conference programme and all official communications are in English.
Kulturbrauerei is a large repurposed brewery complex located at Schönhauser Allee 36 in the Prenzlauer Berg district of Berlin. The site comprises multiple interconnected brick buildings and courtyard spaces, making it suitable for a multi-format conference that runs talks, workshops, and barcamp sessions in parallel. It is well served by Berlin public transport on the U-Bahn network.
Plain Schwarz UG is a small Berlin-based event production company with between five and ten employees, specialising in events for open source communities. The company describes itself as a non-code contributor to open source projects, supporting community infrastructure through event management, programme coordination, and community management. It originated from the events department of newthinking communications and carries approximately 15 years of accumulated experience in this field.
In addition to Berlin Buzzwords, Plain Schwarz produces FOSS Backstage, another open source-focused conference. The company's website is plainschwarz.com and its founding year is not publicly disclosed as of verification.
Berlin Buzzwords sits at the practitioner end of the European data conference spectrum, combining a community barcamp format with structured technical sessions; at an estimated 800 attendees, it is one of the more focused open source data gatherings on the EMEA calendar.
Tickets for Berlin Buzzwords 2026 are available via the official ticketing page. The following tiers apply:
| Tier | Price (EUR) | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Trust Us | 550 | Until 31 December 2025 |
| Early Bird | 690 | Until 15 February 2026 |
| Early Bird Group (5+ tickets) | 620 per ticket | Until 15 February 2026 |
| Standard | 860 | Until 3 June 2026 |
| Standard Group (5+ tickets) | 775 per ticket | Until 3 June 2026 |
| Last Minute | 1,100 | From 4 June 2026 |
| Conference and Dinner | 1,450 | Limited availability; includes Speakers and Sponsors Dinner on 7 June |
| Reduced | 160 | For pupils, students, trainees, people on social welfare, retirees, and disabled people |
| Online Only | 52 | Livestreams and online event 8–9 June; no venue access |
| Diversity | Complimentary | Fully sponsored; open to women, people of colour, LGBTQIA people, disabled people, and people facing economic or social hardship within the Berlin Buzzwords community |
Group discounts of 10% apply automatically when purchasing five or more tickets on the Early Bird Group or Standard Group tiers.
Berlin Buzzwords does not offer structured B2B matchmaking or advance meeting scheduling tools. An official networking app is not publicly disclosed as of verification. Replay access is available, allowing attendees and those who could not attend in person to view session recordings after the event. An Online Only ticket tier (EUR 52) provides access to livestreams and the online programme on 8–9 June 2026 for those unable to travel. A newsletter exists and is distributed on an ad hoc basis; subscription details are available via the official website.
The Call for Papers for Berlin Buzzwords 2026 is currently open. Submissions can be made via the programme portal. The submission deadline is not publicly disclosed as of verification. Approximately 105 speakers are expected across the programme, subject to the outcome of the selection process.
Topics invited include:
Yes. A Diversity ticket is available at no cost for members of underrepresented groups within the Berlin Buzzwords community, specifically women, people of colour, LGBTQIA people, disabled people, and people facing economic or social hardship. A Reduced ticket at EUR 160 is available for pupils, students, trainees, people receiving social welfare, retirees, and disabled people. An Online Only ticket provides digital access for EUR 52.
Yes. The Online Only ticket (EUR 52) covers livestreams and the online programme on 8 and 9 June 2026. Replay access is also available after the event for those who wish to view sessions on demand.
The lowest published full-access price was the Trust Us tier at EUR 550, which closed on 31 December 2025. The next available discounted tier is Early Bird at EUR 690, open until 15 February 2026. After that date, the Standard price of EUR 860 applies until 3 June 2026, rising to EUR 1,100 for Last Minute purchases from 4 June onwards.
| Official website | https://2026.berlinbuzzwords.de/ |
| Register | https://tickets.plainschwarz.com/bbuzz26/ |
| https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/berlin-buzzwords | |
| Programme / Call for Papers | https://program.berlinbuzzwords.de/ |