In 2026, the Open edX Conference comes to the American West, taking place from May 19 to 22 at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. The conference is hosted by Western Governors University (WGU), a Mission Aligned Partner of the Open edX project and a pioneer in competency-based education serving more than 193,000 students.
The event brings together educators, developers, instructional designers, and technology leaders from around the world to explore how the Open edX platform is shaping the future of skills-based, learner-first education.
Registrations are currently open with tickets ranging from $327.30 to $1,067.84. You can reserve your room at the Little America Hotel during registration for discounted rates. All participants must be 18 or older.
Schedule at a Glance
The conference spans four days:
- May 19: Workshops (Developer’s Workshops + Skill & Scale the Future Workshop)
- May 20–21: Keynotes and session talks
- May 22: Open edX Town Hall
Workshops (May 19)
Skill & Scale the Future Workshop
What does the future of skills-based learning look like — and how can the Open edX platform help get us there?
This workshop brings together product, UX, and ed tech leaders alongside instructional designers, course authors, and Open edX providers for a candid conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing learners worldwide. The day includes:
- A panel discussion moderated by the Axim Collaborative team, featuring experts from across the ed tech and corporate upskilling spaces
- An interactive session exploring the future of skills-forward learning on the Open edX platform, including a preview of upcoming features launching in the Willow release (December 2026) and expanding in Xylon (June 2027)
- A hands-on demonstration of new capabilities, with Open edX product working group leaders available to answer questions and gather feedback
Developer’s Workshops
Two hands-on developer workshops will run on May 19. Bring a laptop and a willingness to learn.
One Plugin to Rule Them All: Building Full-Stack Open edX Extensions
Ever wondered how best to leverage the platform’s various extension points — events, filters, frontend plugin slots, Django signals, Tutor plugins? In this workshop, participants use the sample-plugin repo as a template to build a full-stack plugin that ties them all together. Whether you’re new to the platform or a seasoned contributor, you’ll leave ready to extend any layer of the stack.
*Aimed at software developers comfortable on the Linux command line. Some knowledge of Open edX software is useful but not required.
Make It Extensible: Adding Extension Points Where You Need Them
Sometimes the extension point you need just isn’t there yet. This workshop walks through what makes a strong extension point, the nuts and bolts of creating one, and how to get it merged upstream so the whole community can benefit. Participants will learn how to modify an MFE to add a new frontend plugin slot, how to add a new event or filter, and when to leverage Tutor plugins.
*Aimed at software developers with familiarity with the Open edX software. Comfort with Python and/or JavaScript is useful for the hands-on portion.
Conference Themes
The 2026 conference will showcase sessions across three areas:
Cutting-Edge Educational Innovation
- Skills-forward, learner-first education models at scale
- AI-powered personalized learning experiences
- Advanced data analytics for student success
- Next-generation assessment and instructional design methodologies
Real-World Success Stories
- WGU’s transformation of competency-based higher education
- How institutions customize and deploy the Open edX platform at scale
- Proven strategies for career-focused national upskilling
Technical Excellence
- Latest Open edX platform developments and extensions
- Scalable architecture for massive student populations
- Integration strategies for emerging technologies
- Community-driven innovation highlights
Registration & Participation
Registration is open now. Ticket categories include student rates, non-profit options, and corporate packages. You can register for the conference here. International attendees should review U.S. visa requirements early. Visa denial refunds are available upon proof.
Sponsorship Opportunities are available. Contact oscm@axim.org for more information.
Class Central is a media partner of the Open edX Conference 2026.
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