🏁 Sprint Day at PyConDE & PyData Darmstadt 2026

📅 Monday, 13 April 2026, 08:30-18:00 📍 hessian.AI, Landwehrstrasse 50a, 64293 Darmstadt

Join us for a full day of open-source hacking, learning, and collaboration! The sprints take place Monday, April 13th, 2026 — the day before PyCon DE & PyData 2026 kicks off. The sprints team provides lunch and Coffee/Mate/Diet-Coke— you bring the energy, ideas, and code. Whether you’re maintaining a major library or making your first contribution, there’s something for everyone.

 

💡 What Are Sprints?

Sprints are informal coding sessions (think: mini hackathons) where people gather to work on open-source projects, share ideas, and solve problems together. For maintainers, it’s a chance to onboard new contributors and tackle long-standing issues. For participants, it’s a low-barrier way to dive into real projects and see your work make an impact right away.

• Make your first open-source contribution
• Get help from project maintainers directly
• Push forward features, fix bugs, or improve documentation
• Meet other contributors and collaborators in-person

 

Schedule

• 08:30 – 09:00 – Doors open
• 09:00 – 09:30 – Opening session: Project lightning intros
• 09:30 – 12:30 – Sprint time
• 12:30 – 13:30 – Lunch break
• 13:30 – 17:30 – Sprint time
• 17:30 – 18:00 – Closing session: Demos and reflections

 

How to Attend

Everyone who wants to participate in the sprints – whether as a contributor or a project lead — needs a sprint ticket.

• Ticket sales open: Monday, February 16th, 2026
• Cost: €5
• Capacity: Limited seats, first-come-first-served

Propose a Sprint Project

Want to lead a sprint? Awesome! We’re looking for open-source projects of all sizes and experience levels.

Note: Project leads also need to register as attendees (see above).

​➡️ Submit Your Sprint Project

Submission deadline: 6th, April, 2026

Accepted projects will be announced on a rolling basis — no need to wait until the deadline to find out! Submit early, and we’ll review and publish your project as soon as possible.

What Makes a Good Sprint Project?

Not sure if your project is a good fit? Here’s what works well:

• Has open issues labeled for newcomers (e.g., good first issue, help wanted)
• Clear onboarding — A README and CONTRIBUTING.md help participants get started quickly
• A sprint lead present — You (or a co-maintainer) should be there to guide contributors
• Welcoming to all skill levels — Even if your project is advanced, having a few beginner tasks helps

What Will You Be Asked?

When submitting, we’ll ask for:

• Project name & repository link
• Brief description
• What contributors will work on during the sprint
• Skill level(s) welcome (beginner / intermediate / advanced)
• Prerequisites (if any)
• Your contact info

⚠️ Depending on the number of submissions, the organizing team may limit projects based on capacity. Accepted projects will be listed below.

 

FAQ

Do I need to choose a project when I register?

No! You don’t need to decide beforehand. During the Opening Session, all projects will introduce themselves, and you can choose which one to join based on your interests and skill level.

You’re also free to switch projects during the day—maybe you want to try something new after lunch, or help out where there’s extra need. Flexibility is part of the fun!

Do I need a sprint ticket if I already have a PyConDE ticket?

Yes, the sprints require a separate registration. Your PyConDE conference ticket does not include sprint access. Sprint tickets are €5 and capacity is limited.

I’m new to open source—is this for me?

Absolutely! Many projects welcome first-time contributors. Look for projects marked „Beginner-friendly“ in the project list. Sprint leads are there to help you get started.

What should I bring?

• Your laptop (fully charged)
• Charger
• Your development environment ready (check project READMEs beforehand)
• Curiosity and good vibes!

Do I need to stay the whole day?

No, but we encourage you to join the Opening Session (09:00) to find a project, and the Closing Session (17:30) to celebrate everyone’s contributions.

 

Questions?

Contact us at sprints AT pycon DOT de

The Sprints are proudly supported by our Community Partner