PyCon US will be hosted in Pittsburgh in 2024 and 2025. Here’s what to expect

Python Conference US, aka PyCon US, was first scheduled to be held in the Steel City in 2020. Yet, as you may not be surprised to learn, the pandemic necessitated that it be held online that year. Now, with restrictions lifted, the convention is slated to be held in Pittsburgh in both 2024 and 2025 — and bring thousands of attendees along with it.

PyCon US Conference Chair Mariatta Wijaya and PyData Pittsburgh co-organizer Patrick Harrison told Technical.ly that bringing the convention to the city is a long time in the making.

“We’re really excited,” said Harrison, a RealLIST Engineers honoree who is also an independent AI consultant, researcher and educator.

First up: 2024. Should you find yourself in Pittsburgh this May, Wijaya and Harrison say you can expect networking, tutorials, in-person collaboration, social events and more at the conference, which is produced by the Python Software Foundation. You can also expect a series of nods to the city’s status as the City of Bridges within the convention’s programming. And there will be no shortage of pastel and bubblegum in the color scheme at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

By hosting PyCon US in Pittsburgh, members of the local Python community have the opportunity to showcase their work, Harrison said. Developers, scientists, engineers and influencers from all over the world can also see that work, which could lead to beneficial opportunities.

Not only that, but Harrison wants non-residents to be exposed to what Pittsburgh’s tech ecosystem has to offer.

“When all of those thousands of folks from all over the world come to Pittsburgh, they’ll see the best of what Pittsburgh has to offer and all of the amazing work that’s happening here,” Harrison said. “Pittsburgh also has all of the ingredients for an incredible local technology community. We’ve got leading research universities, we’ve got outposts of all of the major technology companies, we’ve got a dynamic startup ecosystem, we’ve got one of the best robotic sectors in the world.”

PyData Pittsburgh co-organizer Patrick Harrison. (Patrick Harrison)

However, he noted, sometimes even people who live in the city can be left unaware of what its tech sector can offer. By bringing so many different people together, he hopes PyCon US can make Pittsburgh’s tech community stronger even after the convention finds a new host city.

“I think that PyCon can be a galvanizing moment for our local technology community,” Harrison said. “And I hope that the relationships and connections that we’re able to build through welcoming a premier national technology conference like PyCon, will endure and will continue to support the local Python and technology community long after the conference moves on.”

As some plans are still being finalized, registrations won’t open until later in 2023. But this week, Python enthusiasts interested in the convention can attend PyData Pittsburgh’s online meeting with the PyCon US organizing team and Python Software Foundation leadership.

The organizers’ ultimate goal is to ensure PyCon is a convention where there’s something for everyone who loves Python, and everyone is welcome. Especially volunteers: “We will need lots of help,” Wijaya said. “People can help staff, the registration desk, and staff, the green room, become MCs to introduce speakers at the conference.” Join the virtual meetup on Dec. 7 to learn more.