JCON EUROPE 2026 | April 20–23, 2026 | Cinedom Cologne
Anyone talking about modern software development today can hardly avoid Java. Few technologies have shaped the enterprise world as sustainably, and few communities are as vibrant, diverse, and innovation-driven. This is exactly where JCON comes in: as a meeting point, a platform, and an experiential space for developers from all over the world. With participants from more than 70 countries, JCON has long since become an international gathering. Openness, knowledge sharing, and a strong sense of community remain at its core.
Cinematic Coding: Live Hacking on the Big Screen
One of JCON’s defining characteristics in Germany is its unique setting: a conference held in a multiplex cinema. What may sound unusual at first quickly proves its value: live coding, architectural diagrams, and complex concepts are displayed on a massive cinema screen – crisp and clearly visible from every seat. This “cinematic coding” concept is not just a visual highlight; it reinforces JCON’s ambition to make content truly tangible – not just consumable.
Your Individual Journey: Flexibility as a Principle
JCON does not follow a rigid structure. Instead, participants create their own experience by selecting from parallel tracks, sessions, and workshops. Using the central schedule tool, attendees can plan and prioritize content according to their interests. The result: a conference that adapts to its participants – not the other way around.
Deep Dives into Practice: From Core Java to Production AI
With more than 100 sessions and international top speakers, JCON covers the full spectrum of modern Java development – from Core Java and cloud-native architectures to current topics such as AI and platform engineering. The keynotes set the direction: from Sharat Chander’s perspective on 30 years of Java, to Johann Strauss and Markus Kett positioning AI within production architectures, to Markus Eisele shifting the focus toward software quality in the age of AI.
The focus is on practical solutions from real-world projects:
- Modernizing existing systems
- Performance and scalability in cloud environments
- Integrating AI into existing architectures
- Best practices from production systems
This strong focus on real-world application is particularly evident in the workshop program.
Workshop Day: Rolling Up Your Sleeves and Writing Code
The dedicated workshop day is not an add-on, but the practical foundation of JCON. Across two time slots, participants work intensively on real-world challenges.
Highlights of the masterclasses include:
- Sven Ruppert guiding participants through building a fully Java-based, self-hosted RAG system – with a focus on security and data control.
- Florian Habermann demonstrating how to build GenAI architectures using JVector and EclipseStore without additional infrastructure.
- Christian Kümmel presenting “Caching and Beyond – Smarter Data Processing with Java”, focusing on reducing system complexity.
- Sandra Ahlgrimm and Bruno Borges showing how to modernize existing Java applications using AI-assisted workflows – from analysis to migration.
- Tim te Beek and Rick Ossendrijver challenging traditional testing approaches in “Break Your Testing Habits”, introducing modern JUnit strategies.
- Don Bourne and Michal Broz demonstrating how AI agents can be effectively applied in Java environments.
- Mohammad-Ali A’rabi covering supply chain security in “Java Supply Chain Security with Docker”.
- Cristian Schuszter showing how AI tooling can be used to maintain and evolve legacy systems.
The combination of hands-on formats, small groups, and experienced speakers makes the workshops one of the most effective learning formats at JCON.
Future Focus: The Premium AI Track for Enterprise Systems
A key component of JCON is the Premium AI Track, spanning two days and focusing on real-world production systems. This is not about short-lived hype, but about architecture, operations, and responsibility.
Key questions include: How can AI models be meaningfully integrated into existing systems? Which architectural decisions are sustainable? And how can code remain maintainable despite AI assistance?
The track features a wide range of high-quality sessions, including:
- Jonathan Vila (Sonar) with “Seven Habits of Highly Effective AI Java Coding”, focusing on quality and handling of AI-generated code.
- Kevin Dubois (IBM) with “Local Development in the AI Era”, exploring controlled local AI usage with regard to cost, privacy, and reproducibility.
- Brian Sam-Bodden (Redis) with “Design Patterns for Multi-Agent Systems”, comparing architectural patterns for agent-based AI systems.
- Emily Jiang (IBM) with “Building Intelligent Enterprises: AI-Powered Java with LangChain4j & CDI”, demonstrating AI in enterprise architectures.
- Ronald Dehuysser with “Green AI with JobRunr”, focusing on sustainable AI on the JVM.
Networking & Mentorship: Connecting with Java Champions
Beyond the sessions, JCON offers direct access to experts to discuss individual project challenges – including dedicated 1:1 speaker meetings for more focused, in-depth conversations.
The Mentorship Hub – featuring Java Champions such as Bruno Souza – gives participants the opportunity to engage directly with experienced developers on architecture, career paths, and real-world challenges. This is complemented by spontaneous discussions in the expo area and hallway track conversations. Events like the Happy Hour and the VIP Party create additional space for exchange in a more informal setting.
Additional perspectives come from formats such as the interview booth hosted by Baruch Sadogursky and podcast interviews by Frank Delporte, which extend and deepen conversations from the sessions and capture participants’ perspectives.
Even small details reflect the community spirit – such as the annually designed JCON T-shirts, which have long become collector’s items and conversation starters.
It is this mix of structured and spontaneous interaction that makes JCON a place where discussions continue beyond the talks – and often truly begin there.
Sustained Knowledge: More Than a One-Time Event
JCON is not limited to just a few days per year. Many sessions are recorded and later published via JAVAPRO on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@JAVAPRO-channel), complemented by interviews and additional content formats.
At the same time, topics are expanded both before and after the event: on javapro.io, not only speakers but also developers and experts from the community regularly publish articles on key topics – from AI and architecture to concrete best practices.
JCON thus becomes a hub within a year-round ecosystem for Java professionals.
Conclusion
In a world of rapidly evolving technologies, developers need places that provide orientation. JCON is exactly such a place:
A meeting point for people who don’t just write software – but shape it.
A space for exchange on equal footing – and an event that demonstrates how vibrant and future-proof the Java community is.
Save the Date
The date for the next JCON is already set:
JCON 2027
📅 May 31 – June 3, 2027
