Home-turf conference season
Smashing Magazine’s in-person conferences are back in Freiburg, the city where the publication itself started. The 2026 edition runs 7-10 September and follows the familiar two-day single-track format that keeps the audience together for every talk.
Freiburg has always been treated as home ground. Organizers describe the event as worth attending even for people who have never been to a SmashingConf before. The program mixes well-known speakers with newer voices and includes at least one surprise guest that past attendees often cite as a highlight.
Practical details
The conference is single-track, so there is no need to choose between parallel sessions. Exact speaker names were still being finalized at the time of the announcement, but the organizers promise a mix of familiar names and fresh faces from the front-end and design communities.
Readers of CSS-Tricks receive a discount on tickets. Those who cannot travel can watch for later online options, yet the organizers encourage anyone who can make the trip to experience the event in person.
Why the location matters
Holding the conference in Freiburg is more than nostalgia. It keeps the event close to the roots of Smashing Magazine and to a city that has hosted the community for years. For many attendees the combination of strong talks, a walkable location and the single-track format is the reason they return.
Tickets and the full speaker list are available through the SmashingConf site. CSS-Tricks readers should look for the discount code when registering.