DrupalCamp Poland 2025: What to Expect from the June 7 Conference in Warsaw

If you work with Drupal—or in open source, PHP, content strategy, or digital infrastructure—DrupalCamp Poland is the kind of event you mark on your calendar early. It returns to Warsaw on June 7, 2025, for a one-day conference built around substance, not spectacle. You won’t find empty buzzwords or keynote theatre here. What you will find is a full day of technical insight, hands-on advice, honest discussion, and a community that doesn’t just show up but actively builds the experience.

This year marks the 14^th edition of the event. Over more than a decade, DrupalCamp Poland has grown into a well-respected fixture on the regional tech calendar. It’s not just for backend developers, though they’ll feel at home, but also for project managers, agency owners, marketers, and content professionals who work with Drupal or are interested in open-source web platforms. The agenda blends technical deep-dives with real-world case studies, strategic discussions, and open panel formats where anyone can raise a topic that matters.

The Drop Times spoke directly with the event organisers to understand how this year’s event is being shaped—and what sets it apart. In our conversations, Agata Charęza, a member of the organising team, walked us through the planning, priorities, and behind-the-scenes decisions that define DrupalCamp Poland 2025.

From Two Days to One: A Tighter Format That Prioritises Quality Over Quantity

There’s always a tradeoff when a multi-day event gets compressed into a single day. But for the DrupalCamp Poland team, that shift wasn’t about doing less—it was about doing only what matters most. Organiser Agata Charęza shared some background on how the one-day format came to be.

DrupalCamp Poland originally ran as a two-day event. The shift to one day happened in 2024. Organisers felt that while two days offered breathing room, the energy and logistics sometimes stretched too thin. They believed that with the right structure, one day they could still deliver everything attendees came for—and then some.

“We start a bit earlier and finish a bit later, and we make sure the program is well-balanced: not just technical talks, but also sessions focused on communication, case studies, and real-world experience. And the best part? After the sessions wrap up, everyone—organisers, speakers, and attendees—can head to the DrupalParty with a clear conscience and enjoy some well-earned relaxation. That social aspect is a big part of how we strengthen our community.”

This approach seems to be working. According to Agata, the challenge isn’t just cramming everything in—it’s knowing what to leave out so that what’s left actually resonates.

Planning the Conference: From Feedback to Focus

Every DrupalCamp is shaped by the one that came before it. After each event, the team collects structured feedback and runs an internal debrief.

The team sends out attendee surveys and holds retrospective meetings to evaluate what worked and what didn’t. They begin shaping the next edition around August or September, using that input as a blueprint.

“We definitely feel the growing saturation in the tech conference space, and that’s part of why we’ve made changes—like shortening the event to one focused day, and moving it to Warsaw. We're always adapting to the current landscape, while staying true to what makes this event special for the Drupal community.”

The Logistics Nobody Talks About: Calendars, Sponsors, and the Wedding Curse

Organising a conference in Poland in late spring comes with its own specific quirks. May and June are peak season for family gatherings, and the organising team knows the pain of scheduling around communions, weddings, and overlapping holidays.

One of the trickiest parts of planning is simply locking in a weekend. It’s become something of a running joke among the team—once a date is agreed on, someone almost always realises they have a wedding to attend that same weekend.

Beyond dates, much of the team’s energy goes into securing sponsorships. That effort is slow, often informal, and very human.

“Finding sponsors is a bit like dating—you send messages, hope for a reply, and celebrate every ‘yes’ like a small victory. Most of our promotion happens through social media and word of mouth, nothing too fancy, but it gets the job done.”

They also make room for fun: contests, giveaways, and visible sponsor booths that let attendees engage directly, not just glance at logos on banners.

More Than Developers: Making Space for Content, Strategy, and People Work

Despite its technical roots, DrupalCamp Poland’s team is intentional about creating a place where non-developers feel included.

“While the conference has a strong technical core, we make a conscious effort to include content that’s valuable for non-developers as well. A good example is Monika Branicka’s talk this year about content strategy in Drupal, or Mariia Voloshyna about the burn-out—it’s not code-focused, but it’s highly relevant to site builders, editors, and project managers.”

The team itself models that inclusivity by hosting non-technical sessions. That approach sets a tone, showing attendees from other disciplines that their voices—and use cases—matter too.

Newcomers Welcome: Lowering the Barrier to Entry

One of the easiest things to overlook at tech events is how intimidating they can be for newcomers. DrupalCamp Poland is actively reworking its intro session this year to avoid that.

The team plans to make the opening session more interactive and welcoming. It’s about setting the tone early: approachable, friendly, and not overly formal.

“We also have a strong team of volunteers who are really key to the newcomer experience. They’re easy to spot, always happy to help, and often take the first step to start conversations. Just having someone friendly come up and say hi can make a huge difference.”

Open Discussions, No Gatekeeping: You Can Propose a Panel

DrupalCamp Poland is also unique in how it handles discussion panels. Anyone can propose a topic. There’s no selection committee, no vetting process.

“The self-organised discussion panels are intentionally kept informal—we don’t apply strict curation or try to make them fit a particular standard. The idea is to give people space to share knowledge, talk about challenges, and connect without pressure.”

According to Charęza, attendees tend to rise to the occasion. Panels are often deeply relevant, based on problems people are actually working through, not just theory.

What the Program Says About Drupal in 2025

The agenda this year spans advanced Drupal modules, accessibility practices, and AI integrations—but also talks about burnout, content strategy, and cross-team collaboration.

“That balance reflects where the Drupal and open-source ecosystem is heading in 2025—more integrated, more inclusive, and with space for both deep technical work and broader collaboration across roles. Everyone can find something that speaks to their interests or challenges.”

Yes, AI and Decoupled Are Here — But Not Just for Buzz

“We are definitely seeing growing interest in emerging technologies like decoupled front ends and AI integrations. These topics are becoming increasingly relevant as the Drupal community explores new ways to extend and modernise the platform.”

These themes are carefully woven into the program to enhance, not distract from, Drupal’s core strengths.

Why Warsaw? A Location That Makes Sense

Warsaw was chosen for its central location and strong transport network. Many Drupal professionals are already based there, and it’s far easier for international attendees to reach compared to Wrocław.

The choice is less about prestige, more about practicality.

DrupalParty: Where the Formal Ends and the Real Community Happens

The DrupalParty isn’t a branding opportunity. It’s a laid-back, no-agenda hangout where attendees can connect, decompress, and share stories over a drink.

“The party has been a tradition for as long as we can remember, and we really value the friendly, open vibe it fosters. It’s a great way for the community to come together, build relationships, and just enjoy each other’s company in a casual setting.”

The Volunteer Backbone

“This year, we have around 10 volunteers, most of whom are well-known within the Drupal community. Many of them are Drupal developers themselves, so they really understand the vibe of the event and the needs of our attendees.”

The volunteers help shape the environment, from logistics to making newcomers feel like they belong.

Sponsors Who Actually Show Up

Sponsors this year won’t just be names on slides. Attendees can expect demo booths, informal chats, and prize giveaways. Some are even directly funding key aspects of the event, like the DrupalParty.

So What Do You Want People to Take Home?

“Ideally, we hope people leave with all three: a new piece of knowledge, a valuable connection, and a stronger sense of community. But more than that, we hope they feel inspired—to come back next year, to submit their own session, or maybe even to help us organise.”

At its core, DrupalCamp Poland isn’t trying to scale for growth—it’s trying to scale for meaning. And that’s a rare, valuable thing in tech today.

DrupalCamp Poland isn’t trying to be the flashiest tech event or the biggest. What it does do, and does well, is create a space where developers, strategists, and digital professionals can step out of their silos and actually talk to each other. It’s engineered to be practical, open, and grounded in the reality of working with Drupal and open-source platforms today.

Whether you're attending for the talks, the discussions, the people, or the DrupalParty, you’ll walk away with something that sticks: a new perspective, a better solution, or simply a connection that makes your work easier tomorrow than it was yesterday.

Thanks to the DrupalCamp Poland organisers—and especially Agata Charęza—for sharing the behind-the-scenes insight, challenges, and decisions that shape this year’s event.